Exposure to air pollution from human sources in Moldova
Moldova: Exposure to air pollution from human sources was 10.9 micrograms per cubic meter in 2024. ▼ Falling
Exposure to air pollution from human sources in Moldova, 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 Moldova stood at 10.9 micrograms per cubic meter. That is the lowest value across all 27 years on record.
The figure is down 5.8% on the previous year and down 24.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, exposure to air pollution from human sources in Moldova peaked at 19.37 micrograms per cubic meter in 2002 and was at its lowest, 10.9 micrograms per cubic meter, in 2024.
That places Moldova 129th 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.
Exposure to air pollution from human sources in Moldova, year by year
| Year | micrograms per cubic meter | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1998 | 18.4 micrograms per cubic meter | — |
| 1999 | 17.98 micrograms per cubic meter | -2.3% |
| 2000 | 15.85 micrograms per cubic meter | -11.8% |
| 2001 | 17.52 micrograms per cubic meter | +10.5% |
| 2002 | 19.37 micrograms per cubic meter | +10.6% |
| 2003 | 16.06 micrograms per cubic meter | -17.1% |
| 2004 | 16.1 micrograms per cubic meter | +0.2% |
| 2005 | 16.39 micrograms per cubic meter | +1.8% |
| 2006 | 18.31 micrograms per cubic meter | +11.7% |
| 2007 | 14.99 micrograms per cubic meter | -18.1% |
| 2008 | 14.43 micrograms per cubic meter | -3.7% |
| 2009 | 14.87 micrograms per cubic meter | +3.0% |
| 2010 | 14.1 micrograms per cubic meter | -5.2% |
| 2011 | 16.04 micrograms per cubic meter | +13.8% |
| 2012 | 16.67 micrograms per cubic meter | +3.9% |
| 2013 | 14.34 micrograms per cubic meter | -14.0% |
| 2014 | 14.52 micrograms per cubic meter | +1.3% |
| 2015 | 13.27 micrograms per cubic meter | -8.6% |
| 2016 | 13.22 micrograms per cubic meter | -0.4% |
| 2017 | 15.31 micrograms per cubic meter | +15.8% |
| 2018 | 12.86 micrograms per cubic meter | -16.0% |
| 2019 | 11.41 micrograms per cubic meter | -11.3% |
| 2020 | 12.05 micrograms per cubic meter | +5.6% |
| 2021 | 12.64 micrograms per cubic meter | +4.9% |
| 2022 | 12.23 micrograms per cubic meter | -3.2% |
| 2023 | 11.57 micrograms per cubic meter | -5.4% |
| 2024 | 10.9 micrograms per cubic meter | -5.8% |
Moldova compared with similar countries
- Moldova's 10.9 micrograms per cubic meter is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 15.58 micrograms per cubic meter, 70% of the median. (58 countries reporting)
- Moldova's 10.9 micrograms per cubic meter is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 11.25 micrograms per cubic meter, 97% of the median. (56 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 18.19 micrograms per cubic meter | 17.98 micrograms per cubic meter | 18.4 micrograms per cubic meter | 2 |
| 2000s | 16.39 micrograms per cubic meter | 14.43 micrograms per cubic meter | 19.37 micrograms per cubic meter | 10 |
| 2010s | 14.17 micrograms per cubic meter | 11.41 micrograms per cubic meter | 16.67 micrograms per cubic meter | 10 |
| 2020s | 11.88 micrograms per cubic meter | 10.9 micrograms per cubic meter | 12.64 micrograms per cubic meter | 5 |
Countries ranked near Moldova
- 126 Singapore 11.12 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 127 Panama 10.98 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 127 Russia 10.98 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 130 Vatican 10.88 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 131 Lithuania 10.6 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 132 Haiti 10.43 micrograms per cubic meter compare
More environment data for Moldova
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual 0.0661 % 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 -0.0108 % 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 0.8634 % change on previous year (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Building (Energy) (Mt CO2e), per unit of 0 Mt CO2e per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Building (Energy) (Mt CO2e), per capita 0 Mt CO2e per person (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Fugitive Emissions (Energy) (Mt CO2e) 1.92 % change on previous year (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is exposure to air pollution from human sources in Moldova?
- Exposure to air pollution from human sources in Moldova was 10.9 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 Moldova?
- The highest recorded value was 19.37 micrograms per cubic meter in 2002.
- What is the lowest exposure to air pollution from human sources recorded in Moldova?
- The lowest recorded value was 10.9 micrograms per cubic meter in 2024.
- How does Moldova rank for exposure to air pollution from human sources?
- Moldova ranks 129th out of 240 countries with data for 2024.
- Is exposure to air pollution from human sources rising or falling in Moldova?
- Over the last ten years it is down 24.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Moldova 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.