Exposure to air pollution from human sources in Western Sahara
Western Sahara: Exposure to air pollution from human sources was 5.82 micrograms per cubic meter in 2024. ▼ Falling
Exposure to air pollution from human sources in Western Sahara, 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
Western Sahara recorded 5.82 micrograms per cubic meter for exposure to air pollution from human sources in 2024.
The figure is down 5.1% on the previous year and up 10.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, exposure to air pollution from human sources in Western Sahara peaked at 7.4 micrograms per cubic meter in 1999 and was at its lowest, 4.38 micrograms per cubic meter, in 2012.
That places Western Sahara 176th out of 240 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 27 years of available data.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 7.02 micrograms per cubic meter | 6.64 micrograms per cubic meter | 7.4 micrograms per cubic meter | 2 |
| 2000s | 5.96 micrograms per cubic meter | 5.04 micrograms per cubic meter | 6.66 micrograms per cubic meter | 10 |
| 2010s | 5.01 micrograms per cubic meter | 4.38 micrograms per cubic meter | 6.01 micrograms per cubic meter | 10 |
| 2020s | 5.61 micrograms per cubic meter | 4.45 micrograms per cubic meter | 6.13 micrograms per cubic meter | 5 |
Countries ranked near Western Sahara
More environment data for Western Sahara
- Forest area 529,220 hectares (2025)
- Share of global forest area 0.0% (2025)
- Annual change in forest area as a share of forest area -0.2% (2025)
- Annual change in forest area -798.01 hectares (2025)
- Annual change in forest area vs. GDP per capita -0.2% (2025)
- Change in domestic forest area vs. deforestation embedded in imported goods -798.01 hectares (2025)
- Emissions of air pollutants 571.23 tonnes (2022)
- Exposure to outdoor air pollution 19.5 µg/m³ (2024)
- Land use over the long-term 5.00 million hectares (2025)
- Grazing land use over the long-term 5.00 million hectares (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is exposure to air pollution from human sources in Western Sahara?
- Exposure to air pollution from human sources in Western Sahara was 5.82 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 Western Sahara?
- The highest recorded value was 7.4 micrograms per cubic meter in 1999.
- What is the lowest exposure to air pollution from human sources recorded in Western Sahara?
- The lowest recorded value was 4.38 micrograms per cubic meter in 2012.
- How does Western Sahara rank for exposure to air pollution from human sources?
- Western Sahara ranks 176th out of 240 countries with data for 2024.
- Is exposure to air pollution from human sources rising or falling in Western Sahara?
- Over the last ten years it is up 10.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Western Sahara 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.