Long run air pollution in Afghanistan
Afghanistan: Long run air pollution was 390,734 in 2022. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2022)
390,734
Change on year
down 1.7%
World rank
45th
of 220 countries
All-time high
426,349
in 1990
All-time low
555.48
in 1750
Years of data
273
1750–2022
Long run air pollution in Afghanistan, 1750–2022
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
In 2022, long run air pollution in Afghanistan stood at 390,734.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 1.7% on the previous year and up 26.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, long run air pollution in Afghanistan peaked at 426,349 in 1990 and was at its lowest, 555.48, in 1750.
That places Afghanistan 45th out of 220 countries with data for 2022, putting it in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Long run air pollution in Afghanistan, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1750 | 555.48 | — |
| 1751 | 557.78 | +0.4% |
| 1752 | 560.09 | +0.4% |
| 1753 | 562.39 | +0.4% |
| 1754 | 564.69 | +0.4% |
| 1755 | 566.99 | +0.4% |
| 1756 | 569.3 | +0.4% |
| 1757 | 571.6 | +0.4% |
| 1758 | 573.9 | +0.4% |
| 1759 | 576.21 | +0.4% |
| 1760 | 578.51 | +0.4% |
| 1761 | 580.9 | +0.4% |
| 1762 | 583.3 | +0.4% |
| 1763 | 585.7 | +0.4% |
| 1764 | 588.1 | +0.4% |
| 1765 | 590.5 | +0.4% |
| 1766 | 592.89 | +0.4% |
| 1767 | 595.29 | +0.4% |
| 1768 | 597.69 | +0.4% |
| 1769 | 600.08 | +0.4% |
| 1770 | 602.48 | +0.4% |
| 1771 | 604.98 | +0.4% |
| 1772 | 607.47 | +0.4% |
| 1773 | 609.97 | +0.4% |
| 1774 | 612.46 | +0.4% |
| 1775 | 614.96 | +0.4% |
| 1776 | 617.45 | +0.4% |
| 1777 | 619.95 | +0.4% |
| 1778 | 622.44 | +0.4% |
| 1779 | 624.94 | +0.4% |
| 1780 | 627.43 | +0.4% |
| 1781 | 630.03 | +0.4% |
| 1782 | 632.63 | +0.4% |
| 1783 | 635.23 | +0.4% |
| 1784 | 637.82 | +0.4% |
| 1785 | 640.42 | +0.4% |
| 1786 | 643.02 | +0.4% |
| 1787 | 645.61 | +0.4% |
| 1788 | 648.21 | +0.4% |
| 1789 | 650.81 | +0.4% |
| 1790 | 653.4 | +0.4% |
| 1791 | 656.11 | +0.4% |
| 1792 | 658.81 | +0.4% |
| 1793 | 661.51 | +0.4% |
| 1794 | 664.22 | +0.4% |
| 1795 | 666.92 | +0.4% |
| 1796 | 669.62 | +0.4% |
| 1797 | 672.33 | +0.4% |
| 1798 | 675.03 | +0.4% |
| 1799 | 677.73 | +0.4% |
| 1800 | 680.43 | +0.4% |
| 1801 | 685.14 | +0.7% |
| 1802 | 689.87 | +0.7% |
| 1803 | 694.61 | +0.7% |
| 1804 | 699.36 | +0.7% |
| 1805 | 704.13 | +0.7% |
| 1806 | 708.92 | +0.7% |
| 1807 | 713.69 | +0.7% |
| 1808 | 718.5 | +0.7% |
| 1809 | 723.34 | +0.7% |
| 1810 | 728.19 | +0.7% |
| 1811 | 733.17 | +0.7% |
| 1812 | 738.17 | +0.7% |
| 1813 | 743.18 | +0.7% |
| 1814 | 748.22 | +0.7% |
| 1815 | 753.27 | +0.7% |
| 1816 | 758.3 | +0.7% |
| 1817 | 763.38 | +0.7% |
| 1818 | 768.47 | +0.7% |
| 1819 | 773.59 | +0.7% |
| 1820 | 778.72 | +0.7% |
| 1821 | 783.33 | +0.6% |
| 1822 | 787.95 | +0.6% |
| 1823 | 792.59 | +0.6% |
| 1824 | 797.24 | +0.6% |
| 1825 | 801.9 | +0.6% |
| 1826 | 806.54 | +0.6% |
| 1827 | 811.23 | +0.6% |
| 1828 | 815.94 | +0.6% |
| 1829 | 820.65 | +0.6% |
| 1830 | 825.38 | +0.6% |
| 1831 | 832.07 | +0.8% |
| 1832 | 838.77 | +0.8% |
| 1833 | 845.5 | +0.8% |
| 1834 | 852.25 | +0.8% |
| 1835 | 859.02 | +0.8% |
| 1836 | 865.78 | +0.8% |
| 1837 | 872.6 | +0.8% |
| 1838 | 879.44 | +0.8% |
| 1839 | 886.31 | +0.8% |
| 1840 | 893.2 | +0.8% |
| 1841 | 900.37 | +0.8% |
| 1842 | 907.57 | +0.8% |
| 1843 | 914.79 | +0.8% |
| 1844 | 922.03 | +0.8% |
| 1845 | 929.26 | +0.8% |
| 1846 | 936.55 | +0.8% |
| 1847 | 943.87 | +0.8% |
| 1848 | 951.21 | +0.8% |
| 1849 | 958.58 | +0.8% |
| 1850 | 965.97 | +0.8% |
| 1851 | 974.21 | +0.9% |
| 1852 | 982.49 | +0.8% |
| 1853 | 990.81 | +0.8% |
| 1854 | 999.16 | +0.8% |
| 1855 | 1,008 | +0.8% |
| 1856 | 1,016 | +0.8% |
| 1857 | 1,024 | +0.8% |
| 1858 | 1,033 | +0.8% |
| 1859 | 1,041 | +0.8% |
| 1860 | 1,050 | +0.8% |
| 1861 | 1,063 | +1.2% |
| 1862 | 1,075 | +1.2% |
| 1863 | 1,088 | +1.2% |
| 1864 | 1,101 | +1.2% |
| 1865 | 1,113 | +1.2% |
| 1866 | 1,126 | +1.2% |
| 1867 | 1,139 | +1.2% |
| 1868 | 1,152 | +1.1% |
| 1869 | 1,166 | +1.1% |
| 1870 | 1,190 | +2.1% |
| 1871 | 1,205 | +1.3% |
| 1872 | 1,220 | +1.3% |
| 1873 | 1,235 | +1.3% |
| 1874 | 1,250 | +1.2% |
| 1875 | 1,266 | +1.2% |
| 1876 | 1,281 | +1.2% |
| 1877 | 1,297 | +1.2% |
| 1878 | 1,313 | +1.2% |
| 1879 | 1,329 | +1.2% |
| 1880 | 1,345 | +1.2% |
| 1881 | 1,363 | +1.4% |
| 1882 | 1,381 | +1.3% |
| 1883 | 1,400 | +1.3% |
| 1884 | 1,418 | +1.3% |
| 1885 | 1,437 | +1.3% |
| 1886 | 1,456 | +1.3% |
| 1887 | 1,475 | +1.3% |
| 1888 | 1,494 | +1.3% |
| 1889 | 1,514 | +1.3% |
| 1890 | 1,534 | +1.3% |
| 1891 | 1,554 | +1.4% |
| 1892 | 1,575 | +1.3% |
| 1893 | 1,596 | +1.3% |
| 1894 | 1,618 | +1.3% |
| 1895 | 1,639 | +1.3% |
| 1896 | 1,660 | +1.3% |
| 1897 | 1,682 | +1.3% |
| 1898 | 1,704 | +1.3% |
| 1899 | 1,725 | +1.3% |
| 1900 | 1,747 | +1.3% |
| 1901 | 1,789 | +2.4% |
| 1902 | 1,831 | +2.4% |
| 1903 | 1,873 | +2.3% |
| 1904 | 1,917 | +2.3% |
| 1905 | 1,962 | +2.3% |
| 1906 | 2,007 | +2.3% |
| 1907 | 2,054 | +2.3% |
| 1908 | 2,102 | +2.3% |
| 1909 | 2,150 | +2.3% |
| 1910 | 2,199 | +2.3% |
| 1911 | 2,227 | +1.3% |
| 1912 | 2,253 | +1.2% |
| 1913 | 2,279 | +1.2% |
| 1914 | 2,305 | +1.1% |
| 1915 | 2,331 | +1.1% |
| 1916 | 2,357 | +1.1% |
| 1917 | 2,383 | +1.1% |
| 1918 | 2,408 | +1.1% |
| 1919 | 2,434 | +1.1% |
| 1920 | 2,459 | +1.0% |
| 1921 | 2,500 | +1.7% |
| 1922 | 2,545 | +1.8% |
| 1923 | 2,586 | +1.6% |
| 1924 | 2,627 | +1.6% |
| 1925 | 2,729 | +3.9% |
| 1926 | 2,814 | +3.1% |
| 1927 | 2,875 | +2.1% |
| 1928 | 2,926 | +1.8% |
| 1929 | 2,965 | +1.3% |
| 1930 | 2,996 | +1.0% |
| 1931 | 3,042 | +1.6% |
| 1932 | 3,078 | +1.2% |
| 1933 | 3,106 | +0.9% |
| 1934 | 3,131 | +0.8% |
| 1935 | 3,157 | +0.8% |
| 1936 | 3,207 | +1.6% |
| 1937 | 3,252 | +1.4% |
| 1938 | 3,290 | +1.2% |
| 1939 | 3,322 | +1.0% |
| 1940 | 3,348 | +0.8% |
| 1941 | 3,390 | +1.3% |
| 1942 | 3,424 | +1.0% |
| 1943 | 3,463 | +1.1% |
| 1944 | 3,509 | +1.3% |
| 1945 | 3,560 | +1.4% |
| 1946 | 3,635 | +2.1% |
| 1947 | 3,410 | -6.2% |
| 1948 | 3,492 | +2.4% |
| 1949 | 3,611 | +3.4% |
| 1950 | 19,037 | +427.2% |
| 1951 | 19,267 | +1.2% |
| 1952 | 18,521 | -3.9% |
| 1953 | 19,498 | +5.3% |
| 1954 | 19,594 | +0.5% |
| 1955 | 25,752 | +31.4% |
| 1956 | 32,813 | +27.4% |
| 1957 | 55,628 | +69.5% |
| 1958 | 61,079 | +9.8% |
| 1959 | 65,665 | +7.5% |
| 1960 | 69,346 | +5.6% |
| 1961 | 74,798 | +7.9% |
| 1962 | 91,766 | +22.7% |
| 1963 | 99,025 | +7.9% |
| 1964 | 119,536 | +20.7% |
| 1965 | 135,705 | +13.5% |
| 1966 | 143,385 | +5.7% |
| 1967 | 166,882 | +16.4% |
| 1968 | 168,472 | +1.0% |
| 1969 | 178,652 | +6.0% |
| 1970 | 228,058 | +27.7% |
| 1971 | 259,961 | +14.0% |
| 1972 | 218,428 | -16.0% |
| 1973 | 208,761 | -4.4% |
| 1974 | 224,141 | +7.4% |
| 1975 | 257,984 | +15.1% |
| 1976 | 260,187 | +0.9% |
| 1977 | 286,395 | +10.1% |
| 1978 | 302,361 | +5.6% |
| 1979 | 349,542 | +15.6% |
| 1980 | 287,858 | -17.6% |
| 1981 | 292,262 | +1.5% |
| 1982 | 308,885 | +5.7% |
| 1983 | 342,018 | +10.7% |
| 1984 | 366,010 | +7.0% |
| 1985 | 321,210 | -12.2% |
| 1986 | 235,937 | -26.5% |
| 1987 | 384,902 | +63.1% |
| 1988 | 351,512 | -8.7% |
| 1989 | 362,069 | +3.0% |
| 1990 | 426,349 | +17.8% |
| 1991 | 414,410 | -2.8% |
| 1992 | 273,464 | -34.0% |
| 1993 | 277,403 | +1.4% |
| 1994 | 253,584 | -8.6% |
| 1995 | 217,416 | -14.3% |
| 1996 | 212,878 | -2.1% |
| 1997 | 195,913 | -8.0% |
| 1998 | 190,199 | -2.9% |
| 1999 | 146,301 | -23.1% |
| 2000 | 120,223 | -17.8% |
| 2001 | 90,232 | -24.9% |
| 2002 | 86,567 | -4.1% |
| 2003 | 89,515 | +3.4% |
| 2004 | 95,820 | +7.0% |
| 2005 | 109,046 | +13.8% |
| 2006 | 125,012 | +14.6% |
| 2007 | 132,738 | +6.2% |
| 2008 | 146,247 | +10.2% |
| 2009 | 217,235 | +48.5% |
| 2010 | 274,613 | +26.4% |
| 2011 | 312,535 | +13.8% |
| 2012 | 310,205 | -0.7% |
| 2013 | 297,838 | -4.0% |
| 2014 | 284,381 | -4.5% |
| 2015 | 336,734 | +18.4% |
| 2016 | 319,834 | -5.0% |
| 2017 | 352,680 | +10.3% |
| 2018 | 352,630 | -0.0% |
| 2019 | 377,288 | +7.0% |
| 2020 | 388,591 | +3.0% |
| 2021 | 397,495 | +2.3% |
| 2022 | 390,734 | -1.7% |
Afghanistan compared with similar countries
- Afghanistan's 390,734 is above the median for low income countries, which is 44,196, 8.8× the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Afghanistan's 390,734 is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 251,040, 1.6× the median. (23 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Long run air pollution in Afghanistan changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1950 | +427.2% | 3,611 | 19,037 |
| 1957 | +69.5% | 32,813 | 55,628 |
| 1987 | +63.1% | 235,937 | 384,902 |
| 2009 | +48.5% | 146,247 | 217,235 |
| 1992 | -34.0% | 414,410 | 273,464 |
| 1955 | +31.4% | 19,594 | 25,752 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1750s | 565.84 | 555.48 | 576.21 | 10 |
| 1760s | 589.3 | 578.51 | 600.08 | 10 |
| 1770s | 613.71 | 602.48 | 624.94 | 10 |
| 1780s | 639.12 | 627.43 | 650.81 | 10 |
| 1790s | 665.57 | 653.4 | 677.73 | 10 |
| 1800s | 701.8 | 680.43 | 723.34 | 10 |
| 1810s | 750.79 | 728.19 | 773.59 | 10 |
| 1820s | 799.61 | 778.72 | 820.65 | 10 |
| 1830s | 855.71 | 825.38 | 886.31 | 10 |
| 1840s | 925.74 | 893.2 | 958.58 | 10 |
| 1850s | 1,003 | 965.97 | 1,041 | 10 |
| 1860s | 1,107 | 1,050 | 1,166 | 10 |
| 1870s | 1,259 | 1,190 | 1,329 | 10 |
| 1880s | 1,428 | 1,345 | 1,514 | 10 |
| 1890s | 1,629 | 1,534 | 1,725 | 10 |
| 1900s | 1,943 | 1,747 | 2,150 | 10 |
| 1910s | 2,318 | 2,199 | 2,434 | 10 |
| 1920s | 2,703 | 2,459 | 2,965 | 10 |
| 1930s | 3,158 | 2,996 | 3,322 | 10 |
| 1940s | 3,484 | 3,348 | 3,635 | 10 |
| 1950s | 33,685 | 18,521 | 65,665 | 10 |
| 1960s | 124,757 | 69,346 | 178,652 | 10 |
| 1970s | 259,582 | 208,761 | 349,542 | 10 |
| 1980s | 325,266 | 235,937 | 384,902 | 10 |
| 1990s | 260,792 | 146,301 | 426,349 | 10 |
| 2000s | 121,263 | 86,567 | 217,235 | 10 |
| 2010s | 321,874 | 274,613 | 377,288 | 10 |
| 2020s | 392,273 | 388,591 | 397,495 | 3 |
Countries ranked near Afghanistan
More environment data for Afghanistan
- Grazing land use over the long-term, annual growth rate 0.2579 % change on previous year (2025)
- Grazing land use over the long-term, per unit of GDP 0.0017 hectares per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Grazing land use over the long-term, per capita 0.6968 hectares per person (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly -19.95 Percentage change (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly -17.12 Percentage change (2025)
- Standard Deviation, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Standard Deviation 0.547 °C (2025)
- Temperature change 1.96 °C (2025)
- Grazing land use over the long-term, per square kilometre 46.72 hectares per square kilometre (2024)
- Sawnwood, coniferous — Production, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is long run air pollution in Afghanistan?
- Long run air pollution in Afghanistan was 390,734 in 2022, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest long run air pollution recorded in Afghanistan?
- The highest recorded value was 426,349 in 1990.
- What is the lowest long run air pollution recorded in Afghanistan?
- The lowest recorded value was 555.48 in 1750.
- How does Afghanistan rank for long run air pollution?
- Afghanistan ranks 45th out of 220 countries with data for 2022.
- Is long run air pollution rising or falling in Afghanistan?
- Over the last ten years it is up 26.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Afghanistan data come from?
- The figures come from Our World in Data, published as part of Long run air pollution. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 273 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).