Exposure to air pollution from human sources in Mauritania
Mauritania: Exposure to air pollution from human sources was 7.55 micrograms per cubic meter in 2024. ▬ Flat
Exposure to air pollution from human sources in Mauritania, 1998–2024
Source: Energy Policy Institute at the University of Chicago (EPIC) (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in micrograms per cubic meter.
Analysis
In 2024, exposure to air pollution from human sources in Mauritania stood at 7.55 micrograms per cubic meter.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 4.2% on the previous year and up 3.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, exposure to air pollution from human sources in Mauritania peaked at 8.68 micrograms per cubic meter in 2003 and was at its lowest, 6.65 micrograms per cubic meter, in 2015.
Mauritania ranks 159th of 240 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
Exposure to air pollution from human sources in Mauritania, year by year
| Year | micrograms per cubic meter | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1998 | 7.7 micrograms per cubic meter | — |
| 1999 | 8.23 micrograms per cubic meter | +6.9% |
| 2000 | 7.61 micrograms per cubic meter | -7.5% |
| 2001 | 7.26 micrograms per cubic meter | -4.6% |
| 2002 | 7.12 micrograms per cubic meter | -1.9% |
| 2003 | 8.68 micrograms per cubic meter | +21.9% |
| 2004 | 7.95 micrograms per cubic meter | -8.4% |
| 2005 | 7.83 micrograms per cubic meter | -1.5% |
| 2006 | 7.68 micrograms per cubic meter | -1.9% |
| 2007 | 7.42 micrograms per cubic meter | -3.4% |
| 2008 | 7.11 micrograms per cubic meter | -4.2% |
| 2009 | 8.14 micrograms per cubic meter | +14.5% |
| 2010 | 8.51 micrograms per cubic meter | +4.5% |
| 2011 | 7.78 micrograms per cubic meter | -8.6% |
| 2012 | 7.28 micrograms per cubic meter | -6.4% |
| 2013 | 7.05 micrograms per cubic meter | -3.2% |
| 2014 | 7.28 micrograms per cubic meter | +3.3% |
| 2015 | 6.65 micrograms per cubic meter | -8.7% |
| 2016 | 7.14 micrograms per cubic meter | +7.4% |
| 2017 | 7.38 micrograms per cubic meter | +3.4% |
| 2018 | 6.79 micrograms per cubic meter | -8.0% |
| 2019 | 7.36 micrograms per cubic meter | +8.4% |
| 2020 | 7.59 micrograms per cubic meter | +3.1% |
| 2021 | 8.36 micrograms per cubic meter | +10.1% |
| 2022 | 7.69 micrograms per cubic meter | -8.0% |
| 2023 | 7.88 micrograms per cubic meter | +2.5% |
| 2024 | 7.55 micrograms per cubic meter | -4.2% |
Mauritania compared with similar countries
- Mauritania's 7.55 micrograms per cubic meter is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 20.17 micrograms per cubic meter, 37% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Mauritania's 7.55 micrograms per cubic meter is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 18.28 micrograms per cubic meter, 41% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 7.96 micrograms per cubic meter | 7.7 micrograms per cubic meter | 8.23 micrograms per cubic meter | 2 |
| 2000s | 7.68 micrograms per cubic meter | 7.11 micrograms per cubic meter | 8.68 micrograms per cubic meter | 10 |
| 2010s | 7.32 micrograms per cubic meter | 6.65 micrograms per cubic meter | 8.51 micrograms per cubic meter | 10 |
| 2020s | 7.81 micrograms per cubic meter | 7.55 micrograms per cubic meter | 8.36 micrograms per cubic meter | 5 |
Countries ranked near Mauritania
- 156 United Kingdom 7.76 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 157 Luxembourg 7.67 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 158 Spain 7.63 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 160 Portugal 7.43 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 161 Maldives 7.17 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 162 Andorra 7.16 micrograms per cubic meter compare
More environment data for Mauritania
- Standard Deviation, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Standard Deviation 0.465 °C (2025)
- Temperature change 1.85 °C (2025)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual 1.9 % change on previous year (2024)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), per unit 0 Mt CO2e per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), per capita 0 Mt CO2e per person (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Agriculture (Mt CO2e), annual growth rate 0.4893 % change on previous year (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Agriculture (Mt CO2e), per unit of GDP 0 Mt CO2e per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Agriculture (Mt CO2e), per capita 0 Mt CO2e per person (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Building (Energy) (Mt CO2e), annual 0.0349 % change on previous year (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is exposure to air pollution from human sources in Mauritania?
- Exposure to air pollution from human sources in Mauritania was 7.55 micrograms per cubic meter in 2024, according to Energy Policy Institute at the University of Chicago (EPIC) (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest exposure to air pollution from human sources recorded in Mauritania?
- The highest recorded value was 8.68 micrograms per cubic meter in 2003.
- What is the lowest exposure to air pollution from human sources recorded in Mauritania?
- The lowest recorded value was 6.65 micrograms per cubic meter in 2015.
- How does Mauritania rank for exposure to air pollution from human sources?
- Mauritania ranks 159th out of 240 countries with data for 2024.
- Is exposure to air pollution from human sources rising or falling in Mauritania?
- Over the last ten years it is up 3.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this Mauritania data come from?
- The figures come from Energy Policy Institute at the University of Chicago (EPIC) (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Exposure to air pollution from human sources. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Annual population-weighted average concentration of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) in the air, measured in micrograms per cubic meter (µg/m³). Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) are particles with a diameter of 2.5 micrometers or less, which can pose significant health risks. This data excludes natural sources of PM2.5, such as dust and sea salt, to focus on human-caused pollution.