PM2.5 pollution, population exposed to levels exceeding WHO Interim in South Africa
South Africa: PM2.5 pollution, population exposed to levels exceeding WHO Interim was 42.5% in 2017. ▬ Flat
PM2.5 pollution, population exposed to levels exceeding WHO Interim in South Africa, 1990–2017
Source: Brauer, M. et al. 2017, for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2017. Measured in % of total.
Analysis
South Africa recorded 42.5% for pm2.5 pollution, population exposed to levels exceeding who interim in 2017.
That represents a change of up 0.6% on the previous year and down 7.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, pm2.5 pollution, population exposed to levels exceeding who interim in South Africa peaked at 50.4% in 2014 and was at its lowest, 42.2%, in 2016.
South Africa ranks 79th of 194 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
PM2.5 pollution, population exposed to levels exceeding WHO Interim in South Africa, year by year
| Year | % of total | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 47.3% | — |
| 1995 | 48.4% | +2.4% |
| 2000 | 48.5% | +0.1% |
| 2005 | 45.7% | -5.7% |
| 2010 | 50.1% | +9.5% |
| 2011 | 48.9% | -2.2% |
| 2012 | 47.6% | -2.8% |
| 2013 | 50.2% | +5.5% |
| 2014 | 50.4% | +0.5% |
| 2015 | 46.1% | -8.6% |
| 2016 | 42.2% | -8.4% |
| 2017 | 42.5% | +0.6% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 47.9% | 47.3% | 48.4% | 2 |
| 2000s | 47.1% | 45.7% | 48.5% | 2 |
| 2010s | 47.2% | 42.2% | 50.4% | 8 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 76 Republic of Korea 53.0% compare
- 77 Guinea 52.1% compare
- 78 Serbia 48.2% compare
- 80 Kyrgyzstan 42.4% compare
- 81 Peru 39.2% compare
- 82 El Salvador 34.8% compare
More environment data for South Africa
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly 5.46 Percentage change (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly 8.52 Percentage change (2025)
- Standard Deviation, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Standard Deviation 0.275 °C (2025)
- Temperature change 1.05 °C (2025)
- Sawnwood, non-coniferous — Export quantity, annual growth rate -51.31 % change on previous year (2024)
- Sawnwood, non-coniferous — Export quantity, per unit of GDP 0 m3 per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Sawnwood, non-coniferous — Export quantity, per capita 0.0001 m3 per person (2024)
- Sawnwood, non-coniferous — Export value, annual growth rate -6.21 % change on previous year (2024)
- Sawnwood, non-coniferous — Export value, per unit of GDP 0 1000 USD per US$ of GDP (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is pm2.5 pollution, population exposed to levels exceeding who interim in South Africa?
- Pm2.5 pollution, population exposed to levels exceeding who interim in South Africa was 42.5% in 2017, according to Brauer, M. et al. 2017, for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2017.
- What is the highest pm2.5 pollution, population exposed to levels exceeding who interim recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 50.4% in 2014.
- What is the lowest pm2.5 pollution, population exposed to levels exceeding who interim recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 42.2% in 2016.
- How does South Africa rank for pm2.5 pollution, population exposed to levels exceeding who interim?
- South Africa ranks 79th out of 194 countries with data for 2017.
- Is pm2.5 pollution, population exposed to levels exceeding who interim rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 7.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from Brauer, M. et al. 2017, for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2017, published as part of PM2.5 pollution, population exposed to levels exceeding WHO Interim Target-2 value (% of total). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Percent of population exposed to ambient concentrations of PM2.5 that exceed the World Health Organization (WHO) Interim Target 2 (IT-2) is defined as the portion of a country’s population living in places where mean annual concentrations of PM2.5 are greater than 25 micrograms per cubic meter. The Air Quality Guideline (AQG) of 10 micrograms per cubic meter is recommended by the WHO as the lower end of the range of concentrations over which adverse health effects due to PM2.5 exposure have been observed.