Exposure to air pollution from human sources in Netherlands
Netherlands: Exposure to air pollution from human sources was 8.93 micrograms per cubic meter in 2024. ▼ Falling
Exposure to air pollution from human sources in Netherlands, 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
Netherlands recorded 8.93 micrograms per cubic meter for exposure to air pollution from human sources in 2024.
That represents a change of up 11.1% on the previous year and down 30.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, exposure to air pollution from human sources in Netherlands peaked at 16.04 micrograms per cubic meter in 2003 and was at its lowest, 8.04 micrograms per cubic meter, in 2023.
That places Netherlands 143rd 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 Netherlands, year by year
| Year | micrograms per cubic meter | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1998 | 15.38 micrograms per cubic meter | — |
| 1999 | 13.66 micrograms per cubic meter | -11.2% |
| 2000 | 14.11 micrograms per cubic meter | +3.3% |
| 2001 | 13.35 micrograms per cubic meter | -5.4% |
| 2002 | 14.31 micrograms per cubic meter | +7.2% |
| 2003 | 16.04 micrograms per cubic meter | +12.1% |
| 2004 | 14.01 micrograms per cubic meter | -12.7% |
| 2005 | 13.43 micrograms per cubic meter | -4.1% |
| 2006 | 13.97 micrograms per cubic meter | +4.0% |
| 2007 | 14.15 micrograms per cubic meter | +1.3% |
| 2008 | 14.86 micrograms per cubic meter | +5.0% |
| 2009 | 15.28 micrograms per cubic meter | +2.8% |
| 2010 | 15.34 micrograms per cubic meter | +0.4% |
| 2011 | 15.43 micrograms per cubic meter | +0.6% |
| 2012 | 12.63 micrograms per cubic meter | -18.1% |
| 2013 | 13.14 micrograms per cubic meter | +4.0% |
| 2014 | 12.88 micrograms per cubic meter | -2.0% |
| 2015 | 11.59 micrograms per cubic meter | -10.0% |
| 2016 | 11.26 micrograms per cubic meter | -2.8% |
| 2017 | 11.3 micrograms per cubic meter | +0.4% |
| 2018 | 11.86 micrograms per cubic meter | +5.0% |
| 2019 | 10.29 micrograms per cubic meter | -13.2% |
| 2020 | 8.54 micrograms per cubic meter | -17.0% |
| 2021 | 9.4 micrograms per cubic meter | +10.1% |
| 2022 | 8.73 micrograms per cubic meter | -7.1% |
| 2023 | 8.04 micrograms per cubic meter | -7.9% |
| 2024 | 8.93 micrograms per cubic meter | +11.1% |
Netherlands compared with similar countries
- Netherlands's 8.93 micrograms per cubic meter is above the median for high income countries, which is 8.08 micrograms per cubic meter, 1.1× the median. (83 countries reporting)
- Netherlands's 8.93 micrograms per cubic meter is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 11.25 micrograms per cubic meter, 79% of the median. (56 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 14.52 micrograms per cubic meter | 13.66 micrograms per cubic meter | 15.38 micrograms per cubic meter | 2 |
| 2000s | 14.35 micrograms per cubic meter | 13.35 micrograms per cubic meter | 16.04 micrograms per cubic meter | 10 |
| 2010s | 12.57 micrograms per cubic meter | 10.29 micrograms per cubic meter | 15.43 micrograms per cubic meter | 10 |
| 2020s | 8.73 micrograms per cubic meter | 8.04 micrograms per cubic meter | 9.4 micrograms per cubic meter | 5 |
Countries ranked near Netherlands
- 140 Monaco 9.23 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 141 Libya 9.1 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 142 Madagascar 9.06 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 144 Dominican Republic 8.71 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 145 Gibraltar 8.7 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 146 Germany 8.54 micrograms per cubic meter compare
More environment data for Netherlands
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual -3 % 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 -0.1867 % 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 -0.2541 % 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) -6.03 % change on previous year (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is exposure to air pollution from human sources in Netherlands?
- Exposure to air pollution from human sources in Netherlands was 8.93 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 Netherlands?
- The highest recorded value was 16.04 micrograms per cubic meter in 2003.
- What is the lowest exposure to air pollution from human sources recorded in Netherlands?
- The lowest recorded value was 8.04 micrograms per cubic meter in 2023.
- How does Netherlands rank for exposure to air pollution from human sources?
- Netherlands ranks 143rd out of 240 countries with data for 2024.
- Is exposure to air pollution from human sources rising or falling in Netherlands?
- Over the last ten years it is down 30.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Netherlands 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
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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.