Exposure to air pollution from human sources in Vanuatu
Vanuatu: Exposure to air pollution from human sources was 3.97 micrograms per cubic meter in 2024. ▲ Rising
Exposure to air pollution from human sources in Vanuatu, 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
The most recent figure for exposure to air pollution from human sources in Vanuatu is 3.97 micrograms per cubic meter, measured in 2024.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 12.2% on the previous year and down 20.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, exposure to air pollution from human sources in Vanuatu peaked at 5.69 micrograms per cubic meter in 2017 and was at its lowest, 2.54 micrograms per cubic meter, in 1998.
Vanuatu ranks 189th of 240 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 27 years of available data.
Exposure to air pollution from human sources in Vanuatu, year by year
| Year | micrograms per cubic meter | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1998 | 2.54 micrograms per cubic meter | — |
| 1999 | 2.76 micrograms per cubic meter | +8.7% |
| 2000 | 3.86 micrograms per cubic meter | +39.9% |
| 2001 | 4.06 micrograms per cubic meter | +5.2% |
| 2002 | 3.59 micrograms per cubic meter | -11.6% |
| 2003 | 3.65 micrograms per cubic meter | +1.7% |
| 2004 | 3.58 micrograms per cubic meter | -1.9% |
| 2005 | 3.39 micrograms per cubic meter | -5.3% |
| 2006 | 3.14 micrograms per cubic meter | -7.4% |
| 2007 | 3.86 micrograms per cubic meter | +22.9% |
| 2008 | 4.13 micrograms per cubic meter | +7.0% |
| 2009 | 3.41 micrograms per cubic meter | -17.4% |
| 2010 | 4.4 micrograms per cubic meter | +29.0% |
| 2011 | 4.67 micrograms per cubic meter | +6.1% |
| 2012 | 4.09 micrograms per cubic meter | -12.4% |
| 2013 | 4.85 micrograms per cubic meter | +18.6% |
| 2014 | 4.97 micrograms per cubic meter | +2.5% |
| 2015 | 4.75 micrograms per cubic meter | -4.4% |
| 2016 | 5.05 micrograms per cubic meter | +6.3% |
| 2017 | 5.69 micrograms per cubic meter | +12.7% |
| 2018 | 5.36 micrograms per cubic meter | -5.8% |
| 2019 | 4.35 micrograms per cubic meter | -18.8% |
| 2020 | 3.44 micrograms per cubic meter | -20.9% |
| 2021 | 3.41 micrograms per cubic meter | -0.9% |
| 2022 | 4.31 micrograms per cubic meter | +26.4% |
| 2023 | 4.52 micrograms per cubic meter | +4.9% |
| 2024 | 3.97 micrograms per cubic meter | -12.2% |
Vanuatu compared with similar countries
- Vanuatu's 3.97 micrograms per cubic meter is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 20.17 micrograms per cubic meter, 20% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Vanuatu's 3.97 micrograms per cubic meter is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 5.49 micrograms per cubic meter, 72% of the median. (35 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 2.65 micrograms per cubic meter | 2.54 micrograms per cubic meter | 2.76 micrograms per cubic meter | 2 |
| 2000s | 3.67 micrograms per cubic meter | 3.14 micrograms per cubic meter | 4.13 micrograms per cubic meter | 10 |
| 2010s | 4.82 micrograms per cubic meter | 4.09 micrograms per cubic meter | 5.69 micrograms per cubic meter | 10 |
| 2020s | 3.93 micrograms per cubic meter | 3.41 micrograms per cubic meter | 4.52 micrograms per cubic meter | 5 |
Countries ranked near Vanuatu
- 186 Turks and Caicos Islands 4.55 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 187 Martinique 4.2 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 188 Saint Pierre and Miquelon 4.17 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 189 New Zealand 3.97 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 191 Bahamas 3.91 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 192 Australia 3.89 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 192 Guadeloupe 3.89 micrograms per cubic meter compare
More environment data for Vanuatu
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly 2.29 Percentage change (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly 1.46 Percentage change (2025)
- Standard Deviation, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Standard Deviation 0.225 °C (2025)
- Temperature change 1.02 °C (2025)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual 1.53 % 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 -2.35 % 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 Vanuatu?
- Exposure to air pollution from human sources in Vanuatu was 3.97 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 Vanuatu?
- The highest recorded value was 5.69 micrograms per cubic meter in 2017.
- What is the lowest exposure to air pollution from human sources recorded in Vanuatu?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.54 micrograms per cubic meter in 1998.
- How does Vanuatu rank for exposure to air pollution from human sources?
- Vanuatu ranks 189th out of 240 countries with data for 2024.
- Is exposure to air pollution from human sources rising or falling in Vanuatu?
- Over the last ten years it is down 20.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Vanuatu 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.