Pollution, grime or other environmental problems in United Kingdom

United Kingdom: Pollution, grime or other environmental problems was 14.0% in 2018. ▼ Falling

Latest (2018)
14.0%
Change on year
up 22.8%
World rank
16th
of 47 countries
All-time high
14.1%
in 2005
All-time low
7.5%
in 2014
Years of data
14
2005–2018

Pollution, grime or other environmental problems in United Kingdom, 2005–2018

0510152005201120182005: 14.1 Percentage2006: 13.2 Percentage2007: 13.1 Percentage2008: 12.4 Percentage2009: 11.9 Percentage2010: 11.8 Percentage2011: 11.5 Percentage2012: 8.3 Percentage2013: 8.3 Percentage2014: 7.5 Percentage2015: 8.5 Percentage2016: 9 Percentage2017: 11.4 Percentage2018: 14 Percentage

Source: Eurostat. Measured in Percentage.

Analysis

In 2018, pollution, grime or other environmental problems in United Kingdom stood at 14.0%.

The figure is up 22.8% on the previous year and up 12.9% over ten years.

Over the whole period, pollution, grime or other environmental problems in United Kingdom peaked at 14.1% in 2005 and was at its lowest, 7.5%, in 2014.

United Kingdom ranks 16th of 47 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.

The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 14 years of available data.

Pollution, grime or other environmental problems in United Kingdom, year by year

Annual values for Pollution, grime or other environmental problems in United Kingdom, 2005 to 2018.
Year Percentage Change
2005 14.1% —
2006 13.2% -6.4%
2007 13.1% -0.8%
2008 12.4% -5.3%
2009 11.9% -4.0%
2010 11.8% -0.8%
2011 11.5% -2.5%
2012 8.3% -27.8%
2013 8.3% +0.0%
2014 7.5% -9.6%
2015 8.5% +13.3%
2016 9.0% +5.9%
2017 11.4% +26.7%
2018 14.0% +22.8%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 12.9% 11.9% 14.1% 5
2010s 10.0% 7.5% 14.0% 9

Countries ranked near United Kingdom

  1. 15 Euro area (EA11-1999, EA12-2001, EA13-2007, EA15-2008, EA16-2009, EA17-2011, EA18-2014, EA19-2015, EA20-2023, EA21-2026) 14.5% compare
  2. 16 United Kingdom 14.0% compare
  3. 18 Serbia 13.8% compare
  4. 19 Belgium 13.5% compare

See the full ranking of 52 places →

More environment data for United Kingdom

All data for United Kingdom →

Frequently asked questions

What is pollution, grime or other environmental problems in United Kingdom?
Pollution, grime or other environmental problems in United Kingdom was 14.0% in 2018, according to Eurostat.
What is the highest pollution, grime or other environmental problems recorded in United Kingdom?
The highest recorded value was 14.1% in 2005.
What is the lowest pollution, grime or other environmental problems recorded in United Kingdom?
The lowest recorded value was 7.5% in 2014.
How does United Kingdom rank for pollution, grime or other environmental problems?
United Kingdom ranks 16th out of 47 countries with data for 2018.
Is pollution, grime or other environmental problems rising or falling in United Kingdom?
Over the last ten years it is up 12.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
Where does this United Kingdom data come from?
The figures come from Eurostat, published as part of Pollution, grime or other environmental problems. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Pollution, grime or other environmental problems in United Kingdom. Statizoid, drawing on Eurostat. Retrieved 25 September 2026, from https://environment.statizoid.com/stat/pollution-grime-or-other-environmental-problems/united-kingdom-2/

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About this data

Indicator
Pollution, grime or other environmental problems
Unit
Percentage
Source
Eurostat
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (Eurostat)
Coverage
52 places, 816 data points, 2003–2023
Last refreshed