Exposure to air pollution from human sources in Mexico
Mexico: Exposure to air pollution from human sources was 17.4 micrograms per cubic meter in 2024. ▼ Falling
Exposure to air pollution from human sources in Mexico, 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 Mexico stood at 17.4 micrograms per cubic meter.
The figure is up 7.1% on the previous year and up 14.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, exposure to air pollution from human sources in Mexico peaked at 18.91 micrograms per cubic meter in 1998 and was at its lowest, 14.01 micrograms per cubic meter, in 1999.
That places Mexico 75th out of 240 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 27 years of available data.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 16.46 micrograms per cubic meter | 14.01 micrograms per cubic meter | 18.91 micrograms per cubic meter | 2 |
| 2000s | 16.91 micrograms per cubic meter | 15.7 micrograms per cubic meter | 18.65 micrograms per cubic meter | 10 |
| 2010s | 15.89 micrograms per cubic meter | 14.95 micrograms per cubic meter | 16.47 micrograms per cubic meter | 10 |
| 2020s | 16.36 micrograms per cubic meter | 15.92 micrograms per cubic meter | 17.4 micrograms per cubic meter | 5 |
Countries ranked near Mexico
- 72 Palestine 17.83 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 73 Indonesia 17.67 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 74 Cambodia 17.56 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 76 Nicaragua 17.37 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 77 Sri Lanka 17.33 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 78 Ecuador 16.98 micrograms per cubic meter compare
More environment data for Mexico
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF 686.78 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF per capita 5.25 t CO2e/capita (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Agriculture 87.24 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Building (Energy) 2.11 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Fugitive Emissions (Energy) 11.8 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Industrial Combustion (Energy) 0.0973 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions (total) excluding LULUCF 150.68 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Power Industry (Energy) 0.2057 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Transport (Energy) 0.6771 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Waste 48.48 Mt CO2e (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is exposure to air pollution from human sources in Mexico?
- Exposure to air pollution from human sources in Mexico was 17.4 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 Mexico?
- The highest recorded value was 18.91 micrograms per cubic meter in 1998.
- What is the lowest exposure to air pollution from human sources recorded in Mexico?
- The lowest recorded value was 14.01 micrograms per cubic meter in 1999.
- How does Mexico rank for exposure to air pollution from human sources?
- Mexico ranks 75th out of 240 countries with data for 2024.
- Is exposure to air pollution from human sources rising or falling in Mexico?
- Over the last ten years it is up 14.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Mexico 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.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 27 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
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.