Exposure to air pollution from human sources in Vietnam
Vietnam: Exposure to air pollution from human sources was 24.55 micrograms per cubic meter in 2024. ▲ Rising
Exposure to air pollution from human sources in Vietnam, 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
Vietnam recorded 24.55 micrograms per cubic meter for exposure to air pollution from human sources in 2024.
The figure is down 4.3% on the previous year and down 7.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, exposure to air pollution from human sources in Vietnam peaked at 26.58 micrograms per cubic meter in 2014 and was at its lowest, 15.72 micrograms per cubic meter, in 1999.
That places Vietnam 40th out of 240 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 27 years of available data.
Exposure to air pollution from human sources in Vietnam, year by year
| Year | micrograms per cubic meter | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1998 | 17.09 micrograms per cubic meter | — |
| 1999 | 15.72 micrograms per cubic meter | -8.0% |
| 2000 | 18.15 micrograms per cubic meter | +15.5% |
| 2001 | 19.65 micrograms per cubic meter | +8.3% |
| 2002 | 18.85 micrograms per cubic meter | -4.1% |
| 2003 | 20.93 micrograms per cubic meter | +11.0% |
| 2004 | 23.64 micrograms per cubic meter | +12.9% |
| 2005 | 23.75 micrograms per cubic meter | +0.5% |
| 2006 | 24.43 micrograms per cubic meter | +2.9% |
| 2007 | 25.89 micrograms per cubic meter | +6.0% |
| 2008 | 25.36 micrograms per cubic meter | -2.0% |
| 2009 | 24.54 micrograms per cubic meter | -3.2% |
| 2010 | 25.06 micrograms per cubic meter | +2.1% |
| 2011 | 26.33 micrograms per cubic meter | +5.1% |
| 2012 | 25.46 micrograms per cubic meter | -3.3% |
| 2013 | 26.54 micrograms per cubic meter | +4.2% |
| 2014 | 26.58 micrograms per cubic meter | +0.2% |
| 2015 | 24.24 micrograms per cubic meter | -8.8% |
| 2016 | 25.45 micrograms per cubic meter | +5.0% |
| 2017 | 25.43 micrograms per cubic meter | -0.1% |
| 2018 | 25.1 micrograms per cubic meter | -1.3% |
| 2019 | 26.45 micrograms per cubic meter | +5.4% |
| 2020 | 24.27 micrograms per cubic meter | -8.2% |
| 2021 | 24.54 micrograms per cubic meter | +1.1% |
| 2022 | 24.52 micrograms per cubic meter | -0.1% |
| 2023 | 25.65 micrograms per cubic meter | +4.6% |
| 2024 | 24.55 micrograms per cubic meter | -4.3% |
Vietnam compared with similar countries
- Vietnam's 24.55 micrograms per cubic meter is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 15.58 micrograms per cubic meter, 1.6× the median. (58 countries reporting)
- Vietnam's 24.55 micrograms per cubic meter is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 5.49 micrograms per cubic meter, 4.5× the median. (35 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 16.41 micrograms per cubic meter | 15.72 micrograms per cubic meter | 17.09 micrograms per cubic meter | 2 |
| 2000s | 22.52 micrograms per cubic meter | 18.15 micrograms per cubic meter | 25.89 micrograms per cubic meter | 10 |
| 2010s | 25.66 micrograms per cubic meter | 24.24 micrograms per cubic meter | 26.58 micrograms per cubic meter | 10 |
| 2020s | 24.71 micrograms per cubic meter | 24.27 micrograms per cubic meter | 25.65 micrograms per cubic meter | 5 |
Countries ranked near Vietnam
- 37 Angola 25.06 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 38 Peru 24.69 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 39 Benin 24.56 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 41 Syria 24.51 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 42 Zambia 24.37 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 43 Uzbekistan 24.34 micrograms per cubic meter compare
More environment data for Vietnam
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual 7.61 % 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 0.6558 % 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 1.16 % change on previous year (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Building (Energy) (Mt CO2e), per unit of 0 Mt CO2e per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Building (Energy) (Mt CO2e), per capita 0 Mt CO2e per person (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Fugitive Emissions (Energy) (Mt CO2e) -6.45 % change on previous year (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is exposure to air pollution from human sources in Vietnam?
- Exposure to air pollution from human sources in Vietnam was 24.55 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 Vietnam?
- The highest recorded value was 26.58 micrograms per cubic meter in 2014.
- What is the lowest exposure to air pollution from human sources recorded in Vietnam?
- The lowest recorded value was 15.72 micrograms per cubic meter in 1999.
- How does Vietnam rank for exposure to air pollution from human sources?
- Vietnam ranks 40th out of 240 countries with data for 2024.
- Is exposure to air pollution from human sources rising or falling in Vietnam?
- Over the last ten years it is down 7.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Vietnam 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.