Exposure to outdoor air pollution in Netherlands
Netherlands: Exposure to outdoor air pollution was 9.6 µg/m³ in 2024. ▼ Falling
Exposure to outdoor air pollution in Netherlands, 1998–2024
Source: SatPM, Atmospheric Composition Analysis Group, Washington University in St. Louis (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in µg/m³.
Analysis
The most recent figure for exposure to outdoor air pollution in Netherlands is 9.6 µg/m³, measured in 2024.
That represents a change of up 10.3% on the previous year and down 30.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, exposure to outdoor air pollution in Netherlands peaked at 17 µg/m³ in 2003 and was at its lowest, 8.7 µg/m³, in 2023.
Netherlands ranks 173rd of 241 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 27 years of available data.
Exposure to outdoor air pollution in Netherlands, year by year
| Year | µg/m³ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1998 | 16.3 µg/m³ | — |
| 1999 | 14.5 µg/m³ | -11.0% |
| 2000 | 15.1 µg/m³ | +4.1% |
| 2001 | 14.2 µg/m³ | -6.0% |
| 2002 | 15.2 µg/m³ | +7.0% |
| 2003 | 17 µg/m³ | +11.8% |
| 2004 | 15 µg/m³ | -11.8% |
| 2005 | 14.3 µg/m³ | -4.7% |
| 2006 | 15 µg/m³ | +4.9% |
| 2007 | 15.3 µg/m³ | +2.0% |
| 2008 | 16.1 µg/m³ | +5.2% |
| 2009 | 16.4 µg/m³ | +1.9% |
| 2010 | 16.2 µg/m³ | -1.2% |
| 2011 | 16.5 µg/m³ | +1.9% |
| 2012 | 13.6 µg/m³ | -17.6% |
| 2013 | 14.1 µg/m³ | +3.7% |
| 2014 | 13.9 µg/m³ | -1.4% |
| 2015 | 12.7 µg/m³ | -8.6% |
| 2016 | 12.1 µg/m³ | -4.7% |
| 2017 | 12.1 µg/m³ | +0.0% |
| 2018 | 12.8 µg/m³ | +5.8% |
| 2019 | 11.1 µg/m³ | -13.3% |
| 2020 | 9.3 µg/m³ | -16.2% |
| 2021 | 10 µg/m³ | +7.5% |
| 2022 | 9.6 µg/m³ | -4.0% |
| 2023 | 8.7 µg/m³ | -9.4% |
| 2024 | 9.6 µg/m³ | +10.3% |
Netherlands compared with similar countries
- Netherlands's 9.6 µg/m³ is below the median for high income countries, which is 10.3 µg/m³, 93% of the median. (85 countries reporting)
- Netherlands's 9.6 µg/m³ is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 12.8 µg/m³, 75% of the median. (56 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 15.4 µg/m³ | 14.5 µg/m³ | 16.3 µg/m³ | 2 |
| 2000s | 15.36 µg/m³ | 14.2 µg/m³ | 17 µg/m³ | 10 |
| 2010s | 13.51 µg/m³ | 11.1 µg/m³ | 16.5 µg/m³ | 10 |
| 2020s | 9.44 µg/m³ | 8.7 µg/m³ | 10 µg/m³ | 5 |
Countries ranked near Netherlands
More environment data for Netherlands
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual -3 % 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 -0.1867 % 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 -0.2541 % 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) -6.03 % change on previous year (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is exposure to outdoor air pollution in Netherlands?
- Exposure to outdoor air pollution in Netherlands was 9.6 µg/m³ in 2024, according to SatPM, Atmospheric Composition Analysis Group, Washington University in St. Louis (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest exposure to outdoor air pollution recorded in Netherlands?
- The highest recorded value was 17 µg/m³ in 2003.
- What is the lowest exposure to outdoor air pollution recorded in Netherlands?
- The lowest recorded value was 8.7 µg/m³ in 2023.
- How does Netherlands rank for exposure to outdoor air pollution?
- Netherlands ranks 173rd out of 241 countries with data for 2024.
- Is exposure to outdoor air pollution rising or falling in Netherlands?
- Over the last ten years it is down 30.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Netherlands data come from?
- The figures come from SatPM, Atmospheric Composition Analysis Group, Washington University in St. Louis (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Exposure to outdoor air pollution. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 27 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
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.