Exposure to air pollution from human sources in Philippines
Philippines: Exposure to air pollution from human sources was 18.36 micrograms per cubic meter in 2024. ▲ Rising
Exposure to air pollution from human sources in Philippines, 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
The most recent figure for exposure to air pollution from human sources in Philippines is 18.36 micrograms per cubic meter, measured in 2024.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 5.5% on the previous year and up 2.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, exposure to air pollution from human sources in Philippines peaked at 19.12 micrograms per cubic meter in 2005 and was at its lowest, 13.7 micrograms per cubic meter, in 1999.
That places Philippines 67th out of 240 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 27 years of available data.
Exposure to air pollution from human sources in Philippines, year by year
| Year | micrograms per cubic meter | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1998 | 14.65 micrograms per cubic meter | — |
| 1999 | 13.7 micrograms per cubic meter | -6.5% |
| 2000 | 16.02 micrograms per cubic meter | +16.9% |
| 2001 | 16.3 micrograms per cubic meter | +1.7% |
| 2002 | 16.31 micrograms per cubic meter | +0.1% |
| 2003 | 17.07 micrograms per cubic meter | +4.7% |
| 2004 | 18.06 micrograms per cubic meter | +5.8% |
| 2005 | 19.12 micrograms per cubic meter | +5.9% |
| 2006 | 16.98 micrograms per cubic meter | -11.2% |
| 2007 | 16.84 micrograms per cubic meter | -0.8% |
| 2008 | 16.15 micrograms per cubic meter | -4.1% |
| 2009 | 19.01 micrograms per cubic meter | +17.7% |
| 2010 | 16.33 micrograms per cubic meter | -14.1% |
| 2011 | 17.21 micrograms per cubic meter | +5.4% |
| 2012 | 16.81 micrograms per cubic meter | -2.3% |
| 2013 | 16.99 micrograms per cubic meter | +1.1% |
| 2014 | 17.89 micrograms per cubic meter | +5.3% |
| 2015 | 17.49 micrograms per cubic meter | -2.2% |
| 2016 | 16.55 micrograms per cubic meter | -5.4% |
| 2017 | 17.79 micrograms per cubic meter | +7.5% |
| 2018 | 16.45 micrograms per cubic meter | -7.5% |
| 2019 | 18.26 micrograms per cubic meter | +11.0% |
| 2020 | 17.09 micrograms per cubic meter | -6.4% |
| 2021 | 17.43 micrograms per cubic meter | +2.0% |
| 2022 | 18.78 micrograms per cubic meter | +7.7% |
| 2023 | 17.4 micrograms per cubic meter | -7.3% |
| 2024 | 18.36 micrograms per cubic meter | +5.5% |
Philippines compared with similar countries
- Philippines's 18.36 micrograms per cubic meter is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 15.58 micrograms per cubic meter, 1.2× the median. (58 countries reporting)
- Philippines's 18.36 micrograms per cubic meter is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 5.49 micrograms per cubic meter, 3.3× the median. (35 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 14.18 micrograms per cubic meter | 13.7 micrograms per cubic meter | 14.65 micrograms per cubic meter | 2 |
| 2000s | 17.19 micrograms per cubic meter | 16.02 micrograms per cubic meter | 19.12 micrograms per cubic meter | 10 |
| 2010s | 17.18 micrograms per cubic meter | 16.33 micrograms per cubic meter | 18.26 micrograms per cubic meter | 10 |
| 2020s | 17.81 micrograms per cubic meter | 17.09 micrograms per cubic meter | 18.78 micrograms per cubic meter | 5 |
Countries ranked near Philippines
- 64 Bulgaria 19.14 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 65 Turkmenistan 19.03 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 66 Zimbabwe 18.9 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 68 Georgia 18.32 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 69 Ethiopia 18.3 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 70 Eswatini 18.26 micrograms per cubic meter compare
More environment data for Philippines
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly 6.85 Percentage change (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly 7.07 Percentage change (2025)
- Standard Deviation, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Standard Deviation 0.177 °C (2025)
- Temperature change 0.905 °C (2025)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual 4.74 % 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 -2.01 % 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 Philippines?
- Exposure to air pollution from human sources in Philippines was 18.36 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 Philippines?
- The highest recorded value was 19.12 micrograms per cubic meter in 2005.
- What is the lowest exposure to air pollution from human sources recorded in Philippines?
- The lowest recorded value was 13.7 micrograms per cubic meter in 1999.
- How does Philippines rank for exposure to air pollution from human sources?
- Philippines ranks 67th out of 240 countries with data for 2024.
- Is exposure to air pollution from human sources rising or falling in Philippines?
- Over the last ten years it is up 2.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Philippines 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.