Exposure to air pollution from human sources in Romania
Romania: Exposure to air pollution from human sources was 12.66 micrograms per cubic meter in 2024. ▼ Falling
Exposure to air pollution from human sources in Romania, 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 Romania is 12.66 micrograms per cubic meter, measured in 2024. That is the lowest value across all 27 years on record.
That represents a change of down 2.9% on the previous year and down 18.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, exposure to air pollution from human sources in Romania peaked at 20.16 micrograms per cubic meter in 2011 and was at its lowest, 12.66 micrograms per cubic meter, in 2024.
Romania ranks 111th 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 Romania, year by year
| Year | micrograms per cubic meter | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1998 | 19.93 micrograms per cubic meter | — |
| 1999 | 19.11 micrograms per cubic meter | -4.1% |
| 2000 | 18.37 micrograms per cubic meter | -3.9% |
| 2001 | 19.07 micrograms per cubic meter | +3.8% |
| 2002 | 19.79 micrograms per cubic meter | +3.8% |
| 2003 | 19.67 micrograms per cubic meter | -0.6% |
| 2004 | 18.47 micrograms per cubic meter | -6.1% |
| 2005 | 19.07 micrograms per cubic meter | +3.2% |
| 2006 | 20.11 micrograms per cubic meter | +5.5% |
| 2007 | 17.13 micrograms per cubic meter | -14.8% |
| 2008 | 17 micrograms per cubic meter | -0.8% |
| 2009 | 17.32 micrograms per cubic meter | +1.9% |
| 2010 | 16.06 micrograms per cubic meter | -7.3% |
| 2011 | 20.16 micrograms per cubic meter | +25.5% |
| 2012 | 18.61 micrograms per cubic meter | -7.7% |
| 2013 | 15.78 micrograms per cubic meter | -15.2% |
| 2014 | 15.53 micrograms per cubic meter | -1.6% |
| 2015 | 15.81 micrograms per cubic meter | +1.8% |
| 2016 | 15.81 micrograms per cubic meter | +0.0% |
| 2017 | 17.86 micrograms per cubic meter | +13.0% |
| 2018 | 16.13 micrograms per cubic meter | -9.7% |
| 2019 | 14.12 micrograms per cubic meter | -12.5% |
| 2020 | 13.51 micrograms per cubic meter | -4.3% |
| 2021 | 13.37 micrograms per cubic meter | -1.0% |
| 2022 | 13.34 micrograms per cubic meter | -0.2% |
| 2023 | 13.04 micrograms per cubic meter | -2.2% |
| 2024 | 12.66 micrograms per cubic meter | -2.9% |
Romania compared with similar countries
- Romania's 12.66 micrograms per cubic meter is above the median for high income countries, which is 8.08 micrograms per cubic meter, 1.6× the median. (83 countries reporting)
- Romania's 12.66 micrograms per cubic meter is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 11.25 micrograms per cubic meter, 1.1× the median. (56 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 19.52 micrograms per cubic meter | 19.11 micrograms per cubic meter | 19.93 micrograms per cubic meter | 2 |
| 2000s | 18.6 micrograms per cubic meter | 17 micrograms per cubic meter | 20.11 micrograms per cubic meter | 10 |
| 2010s | 16.59 micrograms per cubic meter | 14.12 micrograms per cubic meter | 20.16 micrograms per cubic meter | 10 |
| 2020s | 13.18 micrograms per cubic meter | 12.66 micrograms per cubic meter | 13.51 micrograms per cubic meter | 5 |
Countries ranked near Romania
- 108 Liberia 13.05 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 109 Greece 12.98 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 110 Senegal 12.71 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 112 Belize 12.62 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 113 Sao Tome and Principe 12.58 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 114 Mali 12.31 micrograms per cubic meter compare
More environment data for Romania
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly -4.68 Percentage change (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly -5.2 Percentage change (2025)
- Standard Deviation, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Standard Deviation 0.634 °C (2025)
- Temperature change 2.03 °C (2025)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual 0.5647 % 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 -0.1112 % 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 Romania?
- Exposure to air pollution from human sources in Romania was 12.66 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 Romania?
- The highest recorded value was 20.16 micrograms per cubic meter in 2011.
- What is the lowest exposure to air pollution from human sources recorded in Romania?
- The lowest recorded value was 12.66 micrograms per cubic meter in 2024.
- How does Romania rank for exposure to air pollution from human sources?
- Romania ranks 111th out of 240 countries with data for 2024.
- Is exposure to air pollution from human sources rising or falling in Romania?
- Over the last ten years it is down 18.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Romania 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.