Exposure to air pollution from human sources in Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe: Exposure to air pollution from human sources was 18.9 micrograms per cubic meter in 2024. ▲ Rising
Exposure to air pollution from human sources in Zimbabwe, 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
Zimbabwe recorded 18.9 micrograms per cubic meter for exposure to air pollution from human sources in 2024. That is the highest value across all 27 years on record.
The figure is up 2.4% on the previous year and up 24.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, exposure to air pollution from human sources in Zimbabwe peaked at 18.9 micrograms per cubic meter in 2024 and was at its lowest, 10.74 micrograms per cubic meter, in 1999.
Zimbabwe ranks 66th 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 Zimbabwe, year by year
| Year | micrograms per cubic meter | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1998 | 14.77 micrograms per cubic meter | — |
| 1999 | 10.74 micrograms per cubic meter | -27.3% |
| 2000 | 13.81 micrograms per cubic meter | +28.6% |
| 2001 | 18.56 micrograms per cubic meter | +34.4% |
| 2002 | 16.13 micrograms per cubic meter | -13.1% |
| 2003 | 16.53 micrograms per cubic meter | +2.5% |
| 2004 | 15.01 micrograms per cubic meter | -9.2% |
| 2005 | 18.03 micrograms per cubic meter | +20.1% |
| 2006 | 15.64 micrograms per cubic meter | -13.3% |
| 2007 | 18.06 micrograms per cubic meter | +15.5% |
| 2008 | 17.75 micrograms per cubic meter | -1.7% |
| 2009 | 15.24 micrograms per cubic meter | -14.1% |
| 2010 | 16.95 micrograms per cubic meter | +11.2% |
| 2011 | 15.34 micrograms per cubic meter | -9.5% |
| 2012 | 16.87 micrograms per cubic meter | +10.0% |
| 2013 | 16.04 micrograms per cubic meter | -4.9% |
| 2014 | 15.16 micrograms per cubic meter | -5.5% |
| 2015 | 16.66 micrograms per cubic meter | +9.9% |
| 2016 | 14.87 micrograms per cubic meter | -10.7% |
| 2017 | 14.59 micrograms per cubic meter | -1.9% |
| 2018 | 16.11 micrograms per cubic meter | +10.4% |
| 2019 | 15.33 micrograms per cubic meter | -4.8% |
| 2020 | 13.34 micrograms per cubic meter | -13.0% |
| 2021 | 14.65 micrograms per cubic meter | +9.8% |
| 2022 | 17.27 micrograms per cubic meter | +17.9% |
| 2023 | 18.45 micrograms per cubic meter | +6.8% |
| 2024 | 18.9 micrograms per cubic meter | +2.4% |
Zimbabwe compared with similar countries
- Zimbabwe's 18.9 micrograms per cubic meter is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 20.17 micrograms per cubic meter, 94% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Zimbabwe's 18.9 micrograms per cubic meter is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 18.28 micrograms per cubic meter, 1.0× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 12.75 micrograms per cubic meter | 10.74 micrograms per cubic meter | 14.77 micrograms per cubic meter | 2 |
| 2000s | 16.48 micrograms per cubic meter | 13.81 micrograms per cubic meter | 18.56 micrograms per cubic meter | 10 |
| 2010s | 15.79 micrograms per cubic meter | 14.59 micrograms per cubic meter | 16.95 micrograms per cubic meter | 10 |
| 2020s | 16.52 micrograms per cubic meter | 13.34 micrograms per cubic meter | 18.9 micrograms per cubic meter | 5 |
Countries ranked near Zimbabwe
- 63 North Macedonia 19.42 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 64 Bulgaria 19.14 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 65 Turkmenistan 19.03 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 67 Philippines 18.36 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 68 Georgia 18.32 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 69 Ethiopia 18.3 micrograms per cubic meter compare
More environment data for Zimbabwe
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly 2.93 Percentage change (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly 3.29 Percentage change (2025)
- Standard Deviation, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Standard Deviation 0.311 °C (2025)
- Temperature change 1.06 °C (2025)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual 2.19 % 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 1.53 % 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 Zimbabwe?
- Exposure to air pollution from human sources in Zimbabwe was 18.9 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 Zimbabwe?
- The highest recorded value was 18.9 micrograms per cubic meter in 2024.
- What is the lowest exposure to air pollution from human sources recorded in Zimbabwe?
- The lowest recorded value was 10.74 micrograms per cubic meter in 1999.
- How does Zimbabwe rank for exposure to air pollution from human sources?
- Zimbabwe ranks 66th out of 240 countries with data for 2024.
- Is exposure to air pollution from human sources rising or falling in Zimbabwe?
- Over the last ten years it is up 24.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Zimbabwe 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.