Exposure to air pollution from human sources in Uruguay
Uruguay: Exposure to air pollution from human sources was 9.47 micrograms per cubic meter in 2024. ▲ Rising
Exposure to air pollution from human sources in Uruguay, 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
Uruguay recorded 9.47 micrograms per cubic meter for exposure to air pollution from human sources in 2024.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 3.7% on the previous year and down 5.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, exposure to air pollution from human sources in Uruguay peaked at 10 micrograms per cubic meter in 2014 and was at its lowest, 8.42 micrograms per cubic meter, in 1998.
Uruguay ranks 138th of 240 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 27 years of available data.
Exposure to air pollution from human sources in Uruguay, year by year
| Year | micrograms per cubic meter | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1998 | 8.42 micrograms per cubic meter | — |
| 1999 | 8.99 micrograms per cubic meter | +6.8% |
| 2000 | 9.42 micrograms per cubic meter | +4.8% |
| 2001 | 9.27 micrograms per cubic meter | -1.6% |
| 2002 | 9.77 micrograms per cubic meter | +5.4% |
| 2003 | 9.32 micrograms per cubic meter | -4.6% |
| 2004 | 8.48 micrograms per cubic meter | -9.0% |
| 2005 | 8.64 micrograms per cubic meter | +1.9% |
| 2006 | 9.66 micrograms per cubic meter | +11.8% |
| 2007 | 9.83 micrograms per cubic meter | +1.8% |
| 2008 | 9.43 micrograms per cubic meter | -4.1% |
| 2009 | 9.22 micrograms per cubic meter | -2.2% |
| 2010 | 8.58 micrograms per cubic meter | -6.9% |
| 2011 | 8.77 micrograms per cubic meter | +2.2% |
| 2012 | 9.59 micrograms per cubic meter | +9.4% |
| 2013 | 9.27 micrograms per cubic meter | -3.3% |
| 2014 | 10 micrograms per cubic meter | +7.9% |
| 2015 | 9.16 micrograms per cubic meter | -8.4% |
| 2016 | 8.9 micrograms per cubic meter | -2.8% |
| 2017 | 9.41 micrograms per cubic meter | +5.7% |
| 2018 | 9.13 micrograms per cubic meter | -3.0% |
| 2019 | 9.36 micrograms per cubic meter | +2.5% |
| 2020 | 9.44 micrograms per cubic meter | +0.9% |
| 2021 | 9.12 micrograms per cubic meter | -3.4% |
| 2022 | 10 micrograms per cubic meter | +9.6% |
| 2023 | 9.83 micrograms per cubic meter | -1.7% |
| 2024 | 9.47 micrograms per cubic meter | -3.7% |
Uruguay compared with similar countries
- Uruguay's 9.47 micrograms per cubic meter is above the median for high income countries, which is 8.08 micrograms per cubic meter, 1.2× the median. (83 countries reporting)
- Uruguay's 9.47 micrograms per cubic meter is above the median for Latin America & Caribbean, which is 9.09 micrograms per cubic meter, 1.0× the median. (42 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 8.71 micrograms per cubic meter | 8.42 micrograms per cubic meter | 8.99 micrograms per cubic meter | 2 |
| 2000s | 9.3 micrograms per cubic meter | 8.48 micrograms per cubic meter | 9.83 micrograms per cubic meter | 10 |
| 2010s | 9.22 micrograms per cubic meter | 8.58 micrograms per cubic meter | 10 micrograms per cubic meter | 10 |
| 2020s | 9.57 micrograms per cubic meter | 9.12 micrograms per cubic meter | 10 micrograms per cubic meter | 5 |
Countries ranked near Uruguay
- 135 Morocco 9.91 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 136 Austria 9.63 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 137 Papua New Guinea 9.49 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 139 East Timor 9.39 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 140 Monaco 9.23 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 141 Libya 9.1 micrograms per cubic meter compare
More environment data for Uruguay
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly -3.58 Percentage change (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly -3.3 Percentage change (2025)
- Standard Deviation, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Standard Deviation 0.385 °C (2025)
- Temperature change 0.622 °C (2025)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual 3.96 % 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 3.64 % 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 Uruguay?
- Exposure to air pollution from human sources in Uruguay was 9.47 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 Uruguay?
- The highest recorded value was 10 micrograms per cubic meter in 2014.
- What is the lowest exposure to air pollution from human sources recorded in Uruguay?
- The lowest recorded value was 8.42 micrograms per cubic meter in 1998.
- How does Uruguay rank for exposure to air pollution from human sources?
- Uruguay ranks 138th out of 240 countries with data for 2024.
- Is exposure to air pollution from human sources rising or falling in Uruguay?
- Over the last ten years it is down 5.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Uruguay 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.