Exposure to air pollution from human sources in United Kingdom
United Kingdom: Exposure to air pollution from human sources was 7.76 micrograms per cubic meter in 2024. ▼ Falling
Exposure to air pollution from human sources in United Kingdom, 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
United Kingdom recorded 7.76 micrograms per cubic meter for exposure to air pollution from human sources in 2024.
That represents a change of down 0.9% on the previous year and down 25.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, exposure to air pollution from human sources in United Kingdom peaked at 12.62 micrograms per cubic meter in 2003 and was at its lowest, 7.34 micrograms per cubic meter, in 2020.
United Kingdom ranks 156th 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 United Kingdom, year by year
| Year | micrograms per cubic meter | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1998 | 11.84 micrograms per cubic meter | — |
| 1999 | 9.99 micrograms per cubic meter | -15.6% |
| 2000 | 10.44 micrograms per cubic meter | +4.5% |
| 2001 | 10.99 micrograms per cubic meter | +5.3% |
| 2002 | 10.81 micrograms per cubic meter | -1.6% |
| 2003 | 12.62 micrograms per cubic meter | +16.7% |
| 2004 | 9.46 micrograms per cubic meter | -25.0% |
| 2005 | 9.64 micrograms per cubic meter | +1.9% |
| 2006 | 10.12 micrograms per cubic meter | +5.0% |
| 2007 | 9.85 micrograms per cubic meter | -2.7% |
| 2008 | 9.51 micrograms per cubic meter | -3.5% |
| 2009 | 9.54 micrograms per cubic meter | +0.3% |
| 2010 | 10.49 micrograms per cubic meter | +10.0% |
| 2011 | 10.56 micrograms per cubic meter | +0.7% |
| 2012 | 9.34 micrograms per cubic meter | -11.6% |
| 2013 | 10.83 micrograms per cubic meter | +16.0% |
| 2014 | 10.36 micrograms per cubic meter | -4.3% |
| 2015 | 8.81 micrograms per cubic meter | -15.0% |
| 2016 | 9.54 micrograms per cubic meter | +8.3% |
| 2017 | 9.34 micrograms per cubic meter | -2.1% |
| 2018 | 9.34 micrograms per cubic meter | +0.0% |
| 2019 | 9.45 micrograms per cubic meter | +1.2% |
| 2020 | 7.34 micrograms per cubic meter | -22.3% |
| 2021 | 8.23 micrograms per cubic meter | +12.1% |
| 2022 | 8.14 micrograms per cubic meter | -1.1% |
| 2023 | 7.83 micrograms per cubic meter | -3.8% |
| 2024 | 7.76 micrograms per cubic meter | -0.9% |
United Kingdom compared with similar countries
- United Kingdom's 7.76 micrograms per cubic meter is below the median for high income countries, which is 8.08 micrograms per cubic meter, 96% of the median. (83 countries reporting)
- United Kingdom's 7.76 micrograms per cubic meter is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 11.25 micrograms per cubic meter, 69% of the median. (56 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 10.91 micrograms per cubic meter | 9.99 micrograms per cubic meter | 11.84 micrograms per cubic meter | 2 |
| 2000s | 10.3 micrograms per cubic meter | 9.46 micrograms per cubic meter | 12.62 micrograms per cubic meter | 10 |
| 2010s | 9.81 micrograms per cubic meter | 8.81 micrograms per cubic meter | 10.83 micrograms per cubic meter | 10 |
| 2020s | 7.86 micrograms per cubic meter | 7.34 micrograms per cubic meter | 8.23 micrograms per cubic meter | 5 |
Countries ranked near United Kingdom
- 153 Malta 8.08 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 154 Cuba 8.06 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 155 France 7.84 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 157 Luxembourg 7.67 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 158 Spain 7.63 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 159 Mauritania 7.55 micrograms per cubic meter compare
More environment data for United Kingdom
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly -3.13 Percentage change (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly -7.25 Percentage change (2025)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual -3.47 % 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 -0.8735 % 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 -1.29 % change on previous year (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Building (Energy) (Mt CO2e), per unit of 0 Mt CO2e per US$ of GDP (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is exposure to air pollution from human sources in United Kingdom?
- Exposure to air pollution from human sources in United Kingdom was 7.76 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 United Kingdom?
- The highest recorded value was 12.62 micrograms per cubic meter in 2003.
- What is the lowest exposure to air pollution from human sources recorded in United Kingdom?
- The lowest recorded value was 7.34 micrograms per cubic meter in 2020.
- How does United Kingdom rank for exposure to air pollution from human sources?
- United Kingdom ranks 156th out of 240 countries with data for 2024.
- Is exposure to air pollution from human sources rising or falling in United Kingdom?
- Over the last ten years it is down 25.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this United Kingdom 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.