Exposure to air pollution from human sources in Sweden
Sweden: Exposure to air pollution from human sources was 5.2 micrograms per cubic meter in 2024. ▼ Falling
Exposure to air pollution from human sources in Sweden, 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
Sweden recorded 5.2 micrograms per cubic meter for exposure to air pollution from human sources in 2024.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 10.6% on the previous year and down 25.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, exposure to air pollution from human sources in Sweden peaked at 7.76 micrograms per cubic meter in 1999 and was at its lowest, 4.45 micrograms per cubic meter, in 2020.
Sweden ranks 182nd of 240 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 27 years of available data.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 7.7 micrograms per cubic meter | 7.63 micrograms per cubic meter | 7.76 micrograms per cubic meter | 2 |
| 2000s | 6.93 micrograms per cubic meter | 6.3 micrograms per cubic meter | 7.71 micrograms per cubic meter | 10 |
| 2010s | 5.84 micrograms per cubic meter | 4.89 micrograms per cubic meter | 6.97 micrograms per cubic meter | 10 |
| 2020s | 4.82 micrograms per cubic meter | 4.45 micrograms per cubic meter | 5.2 micrograms per cubic meter | 5 |
Countries ranked near Sweden
- 180 Isle of Man 5.5 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 181 Solomon Islands 5.49 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 183 Bonaire Sint Eustatius and Saba 5.14 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 184 Finland 4.93 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 185 Cape Verde 4.92 micrograms per cubic meter compare
More environment data for Sweden
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF 52.57 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF per capita 4.97 t CO2e/capita (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Agriculture 3.79 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Building (Energy) 0.3307 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Fugitive Emissions (Energy) 0.2101 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Industrial Combustion (Energy) 0.2019 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions (total) excluding LULUCF 8.12 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Power Industry (Energy) 0.1974 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Transport (Energy) 0.0287 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Waste 3.35 Mt CO2e (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is exposure to air pollution from human sources in Sweden?
- Exposure to air pollution from human sources in Sweden was 5.2 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 Sweden?
- The highest recorded value was 7.76 micrograms per cubic meter in 1999.
- What is the lowest exposure to air pollution from human sources recorded in Sweden?
- The lowest recorded value was 4.45 micrograms per cubic meter in 2020.
- How does Sweden rank for exposure to air pollution from human sources?
- Sweden ranks 182nd out of 240 countries with data for 2024.
- Is exposure to air pollution from human sources rising or falling in Sweden?
- Over the last ten years it is down 25.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Sweden 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
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.