Exposure to air pollution from human sources in Tonga
Tonga: Exposure to air pollution from human sources was 1.52 micrograms per cubic meter in 2024. ▬ Flat
Exposure to air pollution from human sources in Tonga, 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 Tonga stood at 1.52 micrograms per cubic meter.
That represents a change of down 11.6% on the previous year and up 8.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, exposure to air pollution from human sources in Tonga peaked at 2.59 micrograms per cubic meter in 2008 and was at its lowest, 1.2 micrograms per cubic meter, in 1998.
That places Tonga 225th out of 240 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the bottom quarter.
Exposure to air pollution from human sources in Tonga, year by year
| Year | micrograms per cubic meter | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1998 | 1.2 micrograms per cubic meter | — |
| 1999 | 1.65 micrograms per cubic meter | +37.5% |
| 2000 | 1.76 micrograms per cubic meter | +6.7% |
| 2001 | 1.58 micrograms per cubic meter | -10.2% |
| 2002 | 1.58 micrograms per cubic meter | +0.0% |
| 2003 | 1.34 micrograms per cubic meter | -15.2% |
| 2004 | 1.9 micrograms per cubic meter | +41.8% |
| 2005 | 1.67 micrograms per cubic meter | -12.1% |
| 2006 | 1.73 micrograms per cubic meter | +3.6% |
| 2007 | 1.48 micrograms per cubic meter | -14.5% |
| 2008 | 2.59 micrograms per cubic meter | +75.0% |
| 2009 | 1.63 micrograms per cubic meter | -37.1% |
| 2010 | 1.65 micrograms per cubic meter | +1.2% |
| 2011 | 1.63 micrograms per cubic meter | -1.2% |
| 2012 | 1.35 micrograms per cubic meter | -17.2% |
| 2013 | 1.54 micrograms per cubic meter | +14.1% |
| 2014 | 1.4 micrograms per cubic meter | -9.1% |
| 2015 | 1.48 micrograms per cubic meter | +5.7% |
| 2016 | 1.29 micrograms per cubic meter | -12.8% |
| 2017 | 1.78 micrograms per cubic meter | +38.0% |
| 2018 | 1.58 micrograms per cubic meter | -11.2% |
| 2019 | 1.4 micrograms per cubic meter | -11.4% |
| 2020 | 1.49 micrograms per cubic meter | +6.4% |
| 2021 | 1.61 micrograms per cubic meter | +8.1% |
| 2022 | 2.05 micrograms per cubic meter | +27.3% |
| 2023 | 1.72 micrograms per cubic meter | -16.1% |
| 2024 | 1.52 micrograms per cubic meter | -11.6% |
Tonga compared with similar countries
- Tonga's 1.52 micrograms per cubic meter is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 15.58 micrograms per cubic meter, 10% of the median. (58 countries reporting)
- Tonga's 1.52 micrograms per cubic meter is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 5.49 micrograms per cubic meter, 28% of the median. (35 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 1.42 micrograms per cubic meter | 1.2 micrograms per cubic meter | 1.65 micrograms per cubic meter | 2 |
| 2000s | 1.73 micrograms per cubic meter | 1.34 micrograms per cubic meter | 2.59 micrograms per cubic meter | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.51 micrograms per cubic meter | 1.29 micrograms per cubic meter | 1.78 micrograms per cubic meter | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.68 micrograms per cubic meter | 1.49 micrograms per cubic meter | 2.05 micrograms per cubic meter | 5 |
Countries ranked near Tonga
- 222 Norfolk Island 1.71 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 223 Tuvalu 1.7 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 224 Pitcairn 1.64 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 226 Wallis and Futuna 1.45 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 227 Palau 1.4 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 228 Samoa 1.37 micrograms per cubic meter compare
More environment data for Tonga
- Standard Deviation, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Standard Deviation 0.234 °C (2025)
- Temperature change 0.858 °C (2025)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual 3.06 % 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 0.1689 % change on previous year (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Agriculture (Mt CO2e), per unit of GDP 0 Mt CO2e per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Agriculture (Mt CO2e), per capita 0 Mt CO2e per person (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Building (Energy) (Mt CO2e), annual 0 % change on previous year (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is exposure to air pollution from human sources in Tonga?
- Exposure to air pollution from human sources in Tonga was 1.52 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 Tonga?
- The highest recorded value was 2.59 micrograms per cubic meter in 2008.
- What is the lowest exposure to air pollution from human sources recorded in Tonga?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.2 micrograms per cubic meter in 1998.
- How does Tonga rank for exposure to air pollution from human sources?
- Tonga ranks 225th out of 240 countries with data for 2024.
- Is exposure to air pollution from human sources rising or falling in Tonga?
- Over the last ten years it is up 8.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this Tonga 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.