Exposure to air pollution from human sources in Rwanda
Rwanda: Exposure to air pollution from human sources was 40.42 micrograms per cubic meter in 2024. ▲ Rising
Exposure to air pollution from human sources in Rwanda, 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 Rwanda stood at 40.42 micrograms per cubic meter.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 36.8% on the previous year and up 0.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, exposure to air pollution from human sources in Rwanda peaked at 44.97 micrograms per cubic meter in 2012 and was at its lowest, 22.7 micrograms per cubic meter, in 1999.
Rwanda ranks 7th of 240 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 27 years of available data.
Exposure to air pollution from human sources in Rwanda, year by year
| Year | micrograms per cubic meter | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1998 | 30.67 micrograms per cubic meter | — |
| 1999 | 22.7 micrograms per cubic meter | -26.0% |
| 2000 | 37.25 micrograms per cubic meter | +64.1% |
| 2001 | 41.08 micrograms per cubic meter | +10.3% |
| 2002 | 36.13 micrograms per cubic meter | -12.0% |
| 2003 | 31.68 micrograms per cubic meter | -12.3% |
| 2004 | 38.59 micrograms per cubic meter | +21.8% |
| 2005 | 36.72 micrograms per cubic meter | -4.8% |
| 2006 | 30.86 micrograms per cubic meter | -16.0% |
| 2007 | 38.73 micrograms per cubic meter | +25.5% |
| 2008 | 37.37 micrograms per cubic meter | -3.5% |
| 2009 | 33.77 micrograms per cubic meter | -9.6% |
| 2010 | 38.91 micrograms per cubic meter | +15.2% |
| 2011 | 40.56 micrograms per cubic meter | +4.2% |
| 2012 | 44.97 micrograms per cubic meter | +10.9% |
| 2013 | 42.76 micrograms per cubic meter | -4.9% |
| 2014 | 40.17 micrograms per cubic meter | -6.1% |
| 2015 | 42.99 micrograms per cubic meter | +7.0% |
| 2016 | 40.69 micrograms per cubic meter | -5.4% |
| 2017 | 35.67 micrograms per cubic meter | -12.3% |
| 2018 | 34.82 micrograms per cubic meter | -2.4% |
| 2019 | 42.1 micrograms per cubic meter | +20.9% |
| 2020 | 39.12 micrograms per cubic meter | -7.1% |
| 2021 | 38.66 micrograms per cubic meter | -1.2% |
| 2022 | 37.53 micrograms per cubic meter | -2.9% |
| 2023 | 29.55 micrograms per cubic meter | -21.3% |
| 2024 | 40.42 micrograms per cubic meter | +36.8% |
Rwanda compared with similar countries
- Rwanda's 40.42 micrograms per cubic meter is above the median for low income countries, which is 18.3 micrograms per cubic meter, 2.2× the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Rwanda's 40.42 micrograms per cubic meter is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 18.28 micrograms per cubic meter, 2.2× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 26.69 micrograms per cubic meter | 22.7 micrograms per cubic meter | 30.67 micrograms per cubic meter | 2 |
| 2000s | 36.22 micrograms per cubic meter | 30.86 micrograms per cubic meter | 41.08 micrograms per cubic meter | 10 |
| 2010s | 40.36 micrograms per cubic meter | 34.82 micrograms per cubic meter | 44.97 micrograms per cubic meter | 10 |
| 2020s | 37.06 micrograms per cubic meter | 29.55 micrograms per cubic meter | 40.42 micrograms per cubic meter | 5 |
Countries ranked near Rwanda
- 4 Democratic Republic of Congo 41.26 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 5 India 40.76 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 6 Bolivia 40.62 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 8 Cameroon 39.95 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 9 Burundi 39 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 10 Congo 37.57 micrograms per cubic meter compare
More environment data for Rwanda
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly -5.64 Percentage change (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly -5.05 Percentage change (2025)
- Standard Deviation, annual growth rate -31.63 % change on previous year (2013)
- Standard Deviation 0.268 °C (2013)
- Temperature change 1.35 °C (2013)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual 0.0359 % 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 -1.42 % 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 Rwanda?
- Exposure to air pollution from human sources in Rwanda was 40.42 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 Rwanda?
- The highest recorded value was 44.97 micrograms per cubic meter in 2012.
- What is the lowest exposure to air pollution from human sources recorded in Rwanda?
- The lowest recorded value was 22.7 micrograms per cubic meter in 1999.
- How does Rwanda rank for exposure to air pollution from human sources?
- Rwanda ranks 7th out of 240 countries with data for 2024.
- Is exposure to air pollution from human sources rising or falling in Rwanda?
- Over the last ten years it is up 0.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Rwanda 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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CSV · JSON — 27 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
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.