PM2.5 pollution, population exposed to levels exceeding WHO Interim in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland: PM2.5 pollution, population exposed to levels exceeding WHO Interim was 1.2% in 2017. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2017)
1.2%
Change on year
up 1.0%
World rank
161st
of 194 countries
All-time high
20.2%
in 1990
All-time low
1.2%
in 2014
Years of data
12
1990–2017

PM2.5 pollution, population exposed to levels exceeding WHO Interim in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, 1990–2017

051015201990200320171990: 20.2 % of total1995: 14.7 % of total2000: 9.6 % of total2005: 8 % of total2010: 7 % of total2011: 10.9 % of total2012: 5.1 % of total2013: 4.4 % of total2014: 1.2 % of total2015: 2.5 % of total2016: 1.2 % of total2017: 1.2 % of total

Source: Global Burden of Disease Study 2017 (GBD 2017), Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME). Measured in % of total.

Analysis

In 2017, pm2.5 pollution, population exposed to levels exceeding who interim in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland stood at 1.2%.

That represents a change of up 1.0% on the previous year and down 84.8% over ten years.

Over the whole period, pm2.5 pollution, population exposed to levels exceeding who interim in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland peaked at 20.2% in 1990 and was at its lowest, 1.2%, in 2014.

United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland ranks 161st of 194 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.

The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.

PM2.5 pollution, population exposed to levels exceeding WHO Interim in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, year by year

Annual values for PM2.5 pollution, population exposed to levels exceeding WHO Interim Target-3 value (% of total) in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, 1990 to 2017.
Year % of total Change
1990 20.2%
1995 14.7% -27.3%
2000 9.6% -34.8%
2005 8.0% -16.8%
2010 7.0% -12.7%
2011 10.9% +57.0%
2012 5.1% -53.5%
2013 4.4% -13.3%
2014 1.2% -73.2%
2015 2.5% +114.6%
2016 1.2% -52.5%
2017 1.2% +1.0%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 17.5% 14.7% 20.2% 2
2000s 8.8% 8.0% 9.6% 2
2010s 4.2% 1.2% 10.9% 8

Countries ranked near United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

  1. 158 Papua New Guinea 3.1% compare
  2. 159 Paraguay 2.9% compare
  3. 160 Switzerland 1.4% compare
  4. 162 Spain 1.0% compare
  5. 163 Panama 0.9% compare
  6. 164 United States of America 0.3% compare

See the full ranking of 194 places →

More environment data for United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

All data for United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland →

Frequently asked questions

What is pm2.5 pollution, population exposed to levels exceeding who interim in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
Pm2.5 pollution, population exposed to levels exceeding who interim in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland was 1.2% in 2017, according to Global Burden of Disease Study 2017 (GBD 2017), Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME).
What is the highest pm2.5 pollution, population exposed to levels exceeding who interim recorded in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
The highest recorded value was 20.2% in 1990.
What is the lowest pm2.5 pollution, population exposed to levels exceeding who interim recorded in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
The lowest recorded value was 1.2% in 2014.
How does United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland rank for pm2.5 pollution, population exposed to levels exceeding who interim?
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland ranks 161st out of 194 countries with data for 2017.
Is pm2.5 pollution, population exposed to levels exceeding who interim rising or falling in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
Over the last ten years it is down 84.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland data come from?
The figures come from Global Burden of Disease Study 2017 (GBD 2017), Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME), published as part of PM2.5 pollution, population exposed to levels exceeding WHO Interim Target-3 value (% of total). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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PM2.5 pollution, population exposed to levels exceeding WHO Interim in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Statizoid, drawing on Global Burden of Disease Study 2017 (GBD 2017), Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME). Retrieved 31 August 2026, from https://environment.statizoid.com/stat/pm2-5-pollution-population-exposed-to-levels-exceeding-who-interim-target-3-value-percent/united-kingdom/

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About this data

Indicator
PM2.5 pollution, population exposed to levels exceeding WHO Interim Target-3 value (% of total)
Unit
% of total
Source
Global Burden of Disease Study 2017 (GBD 2017), Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME)
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
194 places, 2,328 data points, 1990–2017
Last refreshed

Percent of population exposed to ambient concentrations of PM2.5 that exceed the World Health Organization (WHO) Interim Target 3 (IT-3) is defined as the portion of a country’s population living in places where mean annual concentrations of PM2.5 are greater than 15 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.