Exposure to air pollution from human sources in Norway
Norway: Exposure to air pollution from human sources was 5.81 micrograms per cubic meter in 2024. ▼ Falling
Exposure to air pollution from human sources in Norway, 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
Norway recorded 5.81 micrograms per cubic meter for exposure to air pollution from human sources in 2024.
That represents a change of up 7.8% on the previous year and down 10.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, exposure to air pollution from human sources in Norway peaked at 7.95 micrograms per cubic meter in 2003 and was at its lowest, 4.42 micrograms per cubic meter, in 2020.
Norway ranks 177th of 240 countries on this measure, 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 Norway, year by year
| Year | micrograms per cubic meter | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1998 | 7.81 micrograms per cubic meter | — |
| 1999 | 7.62 micrograms per cubic meter | -2.4% |
| 2000 | 7.45 micrograms per cubic meter | -2.2% |
| 2001 | 6.98 micrograms per cubic meter | -6.3% |
| 2002 | 7.37 micrograms per cubic meter | +5.6% |
| 2003 | 7.95 micrograms per cubic meter | +7.9% |
| 2004 | 6.42 micrograms per cubic meter | -19.2% |
| 2005 | 6.21 micrograms per cubic meter | -3.3% |
| 2006 | 7.59 micrograms per cubic meter | +22.2% |
| 2007 | 6 micrograms per cubic meter | -20.9% |
| 2008 | 6.4 micrograms per cubic meter | +6.7% |
| 2009 | 6.81 micrograms per cubic meter | +6.4% |
| 2010 | 7.02 micrograms per cubic meter | +3.1% |
| 2011 | 6.91 micrograms per cubic meter | -1.6% |
| 2012 | 6.03 micrograms per cubic meter | -12.7% |
| 2013 | 6.06 micrograms per cubic meter | +0.5% |
| 2014 | 6.48 micrograms per cubic meter | +6.9% |
| 2015 | 5.22 micrograms per cubic meter | -19.4% |
| 2016 | 5.65 micrograms per cubic meter | +8.2% |
| 2017 | 5.24 micrograms per cubic meter | -7.3% |
| 2018 | 6.12 micrograms per cubic meter | +16.8% |
| 2019 | 5.51 micrograms per cubic meter | -10.0% |
| 2020 | 4.42 micrograms per cubic meter | -19.8% |
| 2021 | 5.74 micrograms per cubic meter | +29.9% |
| 2022 | 5.23 micrograms per cubic meter | -8.9% |
| 2023 | 5.39 micrograms per cubic meter | +3.1% |
| 2024 | 5.81 micrograms per cubic meter | +7.8% |
Norway compared with similar countries
- Norway's 5.81 micrograms per cubic meter is below the median for high income countries, which is 8.08 micrograms per cubic meter, 72% of the median. (83 countries reporting)
- Norway's 5.81 micrograms per cubic meter is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 11.25 micrograms per cubic meter, 52% of the median. (56 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 7.71 micrograms per cubic meter | 7.62 micrograms per cubic meter | 7.81 micrograms per cubic meter | 2 |
| 2000s | 6.92 micrograms per cubic meter | 6 micrograms per cubic meter | 7.95 micrograms per cubic meter | 10 |
| 2010s | 6.02 micrograms per cubic meter | 5.22 micrograms per cubic meter | 7.02 micrograms per cubic meter | 10 |
| 2020s | 5.32 micrograms per cubic meter | 4.42 micrograms per cubic meter | 5.81 micrograms per cubic meter | 5 |
Countries ranked near Norway
- 174 Estonia 6.1 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 175 French Guiana 5.92 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 176 Western Sahara 5.82 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 178 Mauritius 5.69 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 179 Ireland 5.64 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 180 Isle of Man 5.5 micrograms per cubic meter compare
More environment data for Norway
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly 0.9857 Percentage change (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly 0.8118 Percentage change (2025)
- Standard Deviation, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Standard Deviation 0.738 °C (2025)
- Temperature change 2.52 °C (2025)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual -3.08 % 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 -0.28 % change on previous year (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Agriculture (Mt CO2e), per unit of GDP 0 Mt CO2e per US$ of GDP (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is exposure to air pollution from human sources in Norway?
- Exposure to air pollution from human sources in Norway was 5.81 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 Norway?
- The highest recorded value was 7.95 micrograms per cubic meter in 2003.
- What is the lowest exposure to air pollution from human sources recorded in Norway?
- The lowest recorded value was 4.42 micrograms per cubic meter in 2020.
- How does Norway rank for exposure to air pollution from human sources?
- Norway ranks 177th out of 240 countries with data for 2024.
- Is exposure to air pollution from human sources rising or falling in Norway?
- Over the last ten years it is down 10.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Norway 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.