Exposure to air pollution from human sources in Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico: Exposure to air pollution from human sources was 3.73 micrograms per cubic meter in 2024. ▲ Rising
Exposure to air pollution from human sources in Puerto Rico, 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 Puerto Rico stood at 3.73 micrograms per cubic meter.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 8.4% on the previous year and up 31.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, exposure to air pollution from human sources in Puerto Rico peaked at 3.79 micrograms per cubic meter in 1999 and was at its lowest, 2.48 micrograms per cubic meter, in 2011.
Puerto Rico ranks 196th of 240 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 27 years of available data.
Exposure to air pollution from human sources in Puerto Rico, year by year
| Year | micrograms per cubic meter | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1998 | 3.01 micrograms per cubic meter | — |
| 1999 | 3.79 micrograms per cubic meter | +25.9% |
| 2000 | 3.2 micrograms per cubic meter | -15.6% |
| 2001 | 3.4 micrograms per cubic meter | +6.2% |
| 2002 | 2.84 micrograms per cubic meter | -16.5% |
| 2003 | 3.01 micrograms per cubic meter | +6.0% |
| 2004 | 2.53 micrograms per cubic meter | -15.9% |
| 2005 | 3.44 micrograms per cubic meter | +36.0% |
| 2006 | 3.45 micrograms per cubic meter | +0.3% |
| 2007 | 3.24 micrograms per cubic meter | -6.1% |
| 2008 | 2.65 micrograms per cubic meter | -18.2% |
| 2009 | 2.7 micrograms per cubic meter | +1.9% |
| 2010 | 3.76 micrograms per cubic meter | +39.3% |
| 2011 | 2.48 micrograms per cubic meter | -34.0% |
| 2012 | 2.96 micrograms per cubic meter | +19.4% |
| 2013 | 2.57 micrograms per cubic meter | -13.2% |
| 2014 | 2.83 micrograms per cubic meter | +10.1% |
| 2015 | 2.78 micrograms per cubic meter | -1.8% |
| 2016 | 3.03 micrograms per cubic meter | +9.0% |
| 2017 | 3.6 micrograms per cubic meter | +18.8% |
| 2018 | 3.44 micrograms per cubic meter | -4.4% |
| 2019 | 3.53 micrograms per cubic meter | +2.6% |
| 2020 | 3.47 micrograms per cubic meter | -1.7% |
| 2021 | 3.47 micrograms per cubic meter | +0.0% |
| 2022 | 2.79 micrograms per cubic meter | -19.6% |
| 2023 | 3.44 micrograms per cubic meter | +23.3% |
| 2024 | 3.73 micrograms per cubic meter | +8.4% |
Puerto Rico compared with similar countries
- Puerto Rico's 3.73 micrograms per cubic meter is below the median for high income countries, which is 8.08 micrograms per cubic meter, 46% of the median. (83 countries reporting)
- Puerto Rico's 3.73 micrograms per cubic meter is below the median for Latin America & Caribbean, which is 9.09 micrograms per cubic meter, 41% of the median. (42 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 3.4 micrograms per cubic meter | 3.01 micrograms per cubic meter | 3.79 micrograms per cubic meter | 2 |
| 2000s | 3.05 micrograms per cubic meter | 2.53 micrograms per cubic meter | 3.45 micrograms per cubic meter | 10 |
| 2010s | 3.1 micrograms per cubic meter | 2.48 micrograms per cubic meter | 3.76 micrograms per cubic meter | 10 |
| 2020s | 3.38 micrograms per cubic meter | 2.79 micrograms per cubic meter | 3.73 micrograms per cubic meter | 5 |
Countries ranked near Puerto Rico
- 194 Aland Islands 3.85 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 195 Seychelles 3.83 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 197 Saint Lucia 3.67 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 198 Dominica 3.61 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 199 Barbados 3.48 micrograms per cubic meter compare
More environment data for Puerto Rico
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly -0.4091 Percentage change (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly -0.5906 Percentage change (2025)
- Standard Deviation, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Standard Deviation 0.268 °C (2025)
- Temperature change 1.16 °C (2025)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual 4.79 % 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 -0.8621 % 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 Puerto Rico?
- Exposure to air pollution from human sources in Puerto Rico was 3.73 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 Puerto Rico?
- The highest recorded value was 3.79 micrograms per cubic meter in 1999.
- What is the lowest exposure to air pollution from human sources recorded in Puerto Rico?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.48 micrograms per cubic meter in 2011.
- How does Puerto Rico rank for exposure to air pollution from human sources?
- Puerto Rico ranks 196th out of 240 countries with data for 2024.
- Is exposure to air pollution from human sources rising or falling in Puerto Rico?
- Over the last ten years it is up 31.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Puerto Rico 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.