Exposure to outdoor air pollution in Uruguay
Uruguay: Exposure to outdoor air pollution was 11.9 µg/m³ in 2024. ▬ Flat
Exposure to outdoor air pollution in Uruguay, 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 Uruguay is 11.9 µg/m³, measured in 2024.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 2.5% on the previous year and down 4.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, exposure to outdoor air pollution in Uruguay peaked at 12.5 µg/m³ in 2022 and was at its lowest, 11.1 µg/m³, in 2004.
Uruguay ranks 148th of 241 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
Exposure to outdoor air pollution in Uruguay, year by year
| Year | µg/m³ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1998 | 11.2 µg/m³ | — |
| 1999 | 11.7 µg/m³ | +4.5% |
| 2000 | 11.9 µg/m³ | +1.7% |
| 2001 | 12.1 µg/m³ | +1.7% |
| 2002 | 12.2 µg/m³ | +0.8% |
| 2003 | 11.9 µg/m³ | -2.5% |
| 2004 | 11.1 µg/m³ | -6.7% |
| 2005 | 11.1 µg/m³ | +0.0% |
| 2006 | 12.2 µg/m³ | +9.9% |
| 2007 | 12.4 µg/m³ | +1.6% |
| 2008 | 12.4 µg/m³ | +0.0% |
| 2009 | 12.3 µg/m³ | -0.8% |
| 2010 | 11.3 µg/m³ | -8.1% |
| 2011 | 12 µg/m³ | +6.2% |
| 2012 | 12 µg/m³ | +0.0% |
| 2013 | 11.8 µg/m³ | -1.7% |
| 2014 | 12.4 µg/m³ | +5.1% |
| 2015 | 12 µg/m³ | -3.2% |
| 2016 | 11.8 µg/m³ | -1.7% |
| 2017 | 11.9 µg/m³ | +0.8% |
| 2018 | 11.8 µg/m³ | -0.8% |
| 2019 | 11.9 µg/m³ | +0.8% |
| 2020 | 12.2 µg/m³ | +2.5% |
| 2021 | 11.8 µg/m³ | -3.3% |
| 2022 | 12.5 µg/m³ | +5.9% |
| 2023 | 12.2 µg/m³ | -2.4% |
| 2024 | 11.9 µg/m³ | -2.5% |
Uruguay compared with similar countries
- Uruguay's 11.9 µg/m³ is above the median for high income countries, which is 10.3 µg/m³, 1.2× the median. (85 countries reporting)
- Uruguay's 11.9 µg/m³ is below the median for Latin America & Caribbean, which is 13.75 µg/m³, 87% of the median. (42 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 11.45 µg/m³ | 11.2 µg/m³ | 11.7 µg/m³ | 2 |
| 2000s | 11.96 µg/m³ | 11.1 µg/m³ | 12.4 µg/m³ | 10 |
| 2010s | 11.89 µg/m³ | 11.3 µg/m³ | 12.4 µg/m³ | 10 |
| 2020s | 12.12 µg/m³ | 11.8 µg/m³ | 12.5 µg/m³ | 5 |
Countries ranked near Uruguay
More environment data for Uruguay
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly -3.58 Percentage change (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly -3.3 Percentage change (2025)
- Standard Deviation, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Standard Deviation 0.385 °C (2025)
- Temperature change 0.622 °C (2025)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual 3.96 % 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 3.64 % 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 outdoor air pollution in Uruguay?
- Exposure to outdoor air pollution in Uruguay was 11.9 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 Uruguay?
- The highest recorded value was 12.5 µg/m³ in 2022.
- What is the lowest exposure to outdoor air pollution recorded in Uruguay?
- The lowest recorded value was 11.1 µg/m³ in 2004.
- How does Uruguay rank for exposure to outdoor air pollution?
- Uruguay ranks 148th out of 241 countries with data for 2024.
- Is exposure to outdoor air pollution rising or falling in Uruguay?
- Over the last ten years it is down 4.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this Uruguay 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.