Air pollution levels in cities vary greatly around the world, though they are typically higher in developing regions. In 2024, the cities of Jakarta and Cairo had an average PM2.5 concentrations of **** and **** micrograms per cubic meter (μg/m³) respectively. By comparison, PM2.5 levels in London and New York were less than ***** μg/m³. Nevertheless, pollution levels in these four major cities are all higher than the World Health Organization's healthy limit, which are set at an annual average of less than **** μg/m³. There are many sources of air pollution, such as energy production, transportation, and agricultural activities.

Abstract

Polluted air is a major health hazard in developing countries. Improvements in pollution monitoring and statistical techniques during the last several decades have steadily enhanced the ability to measure the health effects of air pollution. Current methods can detect significant increases in the incidence of cardiopulmonary and respiratory diseases, coughing, bronchitis, and lung cancer, as well as premature deaths from these diseases resulting from elevated concentrations of ambient Particulate Matter (Holgate 1999).

Scarce public resources have limited the monitoring of atmospheric particulate matter (PM) concentrations in developing countries, despite their large potential health effects. As a result, policymakers in many developing countries remain uncertain about the exposure of their residents to PM air pollution. The Global Model of Ambient Particulates (GMAPS) is an attempt to bridge this information gap through an econometrically estimated model for predicting PM levels in world cities (Pandey et al. forthcoming).

The estimation model is based on the latest available monitored PM pollution data from the World Health Organization, supplemented by data from other reliable sources. The current model can be used to estimate PM levels in urban residential areas and non-residential pollution hotspots. The results of the model are used to project annual average ambient PM concentrations for residential and non-residential areas in 3,226 world cities with populations larger than 100,000, as well as national capitals.

The study finds wide, systematic variations in ambient PM concentrations, both across world cities and over time. PM concentrations have risen at a slower rate than total emissions. Overall emission levels have been rising, especially for poorer countries, at nearly 6 percent per year. PM concentrations have not increased by as much, due to improvements in technology and structural shifts in the world economy. Additionally, within-country variations in PM levels can diverge greatly (by a factor of 5 in some cases), because of the direct and indirect effects of geo-climatic factors.

The primary determinants of PM concentrations are the scale and composition of economic activity, population, the energy mix, the strength of local pollution regulation, and geographic and atmospheric conditions that affect pollutant dispersion in the atmosphere.

Geographic coverage

The database covers the following countries: Afghanistan Albania Algeria Andorra Angola
Antigua and Barbuda Argentina
Armenia Australia
Austria Azerbaijan
Bahamas, The
Bahrain Bangladesh
Barbados
Belarus Belgium Belize
Benin
Bhutan
Bolivia Bosnia and Herzegovina
Brazil
Brunei
Bulgaria
Burkina Faso
Burundi Cambodia
Cameroon
Canada
Cayman Islands
Central African Republic
Chad
Chile
China
Colombia
Comoros Congo, Dem. Rep.
Congo, Rep. Costa Rica
Cote d'Ivoire
Croatia Cuba
Cyprus
Czech Republic
Denmark Dominica
Dominican Republic
Ecuador Egypt, Arab Rep.
El Salvador Eritrea Estonia Ethiopia
Faeroe Islands
Fiji
Finland France
Gabon
Gambia, The Georgia Germany Ghana
Greece
Grenada Guatemala
Guinea
Guinea-Bissau
Guyana
Haiti
Honduras
Hong Kong, China
Hungary Iceland India
Indonesia
Iran, Islamic Rep.
Iraq
Ireland Israel
Italy
Jamaica Japan
Jordan
Kazakhstan
Kenya
Korea, Dem. Rep.
Korea, Rep. Kuwait
Kyrgyz Republic Lao PDR Latvia
Lebanon Lesotho Liberia Liechtenstein
Lithuania
Luxembourg
Macao, China
Macedonia, FYR
Madagascar
Malawi
Malaysia
Maldives
Mali
Mauritania
Mexico
Moldova Mongolia
Morocco Mozambique
Myanmar Namibia Nepal
Netherlands Netherlands Antilles
New Caledonia
New Zealand Nicaragua
Niger
Nigeria Norway
Oman
Pakistan
Panama
Papua New Guinea
Paraguay
Peru
Philippines Poland
Portugal
Puerto Rico Qatar
Romania Russian Federation
Rwanda
Sao Tome and Principe
Saudi Arabia
Senegal Sierra Leone
Singapore
Slovak Republic Slovenia
Solomon Islands Somalia South Africa
Spain
Sri Lanka
St. Kitts and Nevis St. Lucia
St. Vincent and the Grenadines
Sudan
Suriname
Swaziland
Sweden
Switzerland Syrian Arab Republic
Tajikistan
Tanzania
Thailand
Togo
Trinidad and Tobago Tunisia Turkey
Turkmenistan
Uganda
Ukraine United Arab Emirates
United Kingdom
United States
Uruguay Uzbekistan
Vanuatu Venezuela, RB
Vietnam Virgin Islands (U.S.)
Yemen, Rep. Yugoslavia, FR (Serbia/Montenegro)
Zambia
Zimbabwe

Kind of data

Observation data/ratings [obs]

Mode of data collection

Other [oth]

Chad was the most polluted country in the world in 2024, with an average annual PM2.5 concentration of ** micrograms per cubic meter of air (µg/m3). These levels were around ** times above the World Health Organization guideline. Major sources of PM2.5 include residential fuel burning, road vehicles, and power plants. What are PM2.5 pollutants PM2.5 refers to fine particles that have a diameter of 2.5 micrometers or less. These tiny, light, and inhalable pollutants can stay in the air for long periods of time and are a considerable risk to human health when concentrations are high. There were an estimated ***** million premature deaths linked to air pollution worldwide in 2021, of which ** percent were attributed to ambient PM2.5. Pollution in cities In 2024, N'Djamena, Chad and New Delhi, India were the most polluted capital cities in the world, with average annual PM2.5 concentrations of ** µg/m³. In 2024, ** of the ** most polluted cities worldwide were in India, the most polluted of which recorded PM2.5 levels ** times above WHO standards.

The "World Air Quality Data 2024 (Updated)" dataset provides a comprehensive overview of air quality measurements from various locations around the globe. It encompasses over 50,000 records, each detailing critical air quality parameters that are pivotal for environmental analysis, health studies, and policy-making.

Dataset Overview:

This extensive dataset captures a wide array of pollutants, including but not limited to PM2.5, NO2, SO2, CO, and O3, offering insights into the atmospheric conditions of cities worldwide. With data points dating up to March 2024, it serves as a crucial resource for understanding the current state and trends in global air quality.

Data Science Applications:

• Predictive Modeling: Utilizing historical air quality data to forecast future pollution levels under varying environmental and anthropogenic conditions.
• Trend Analysis: Identifying patterns and trends in air quality over time and across different geographic locations to understand the impact of seasonal changes, policy implementations, and other factors.
• Environmental Risk Assessment: Evaluating areas at high risk of pollution and its potential impacts on health, ecosystems, and climate, aiding in targeted intervention strategies.
• Air Quality Improvement Strategies: Informing the development of effective air quality management and improvement strategies by analyzing the correlation between pollutants and various contributing factors.
• Machine Learning Projects: Enhancing projects aimed at understanding the complex relationships between air quality indicators and external variables, such as traffic density, industrial activities, and meteorological conditions.

Column Descriptors:

Each record in the dataset includes detailed information structured across several columns: Country Code, City, Location, Coordinates, Pollutant, Source Name, Unit, Value, Last Updated, and Country Label. These descriptors provide a clear understanding of the measurement context, allowing for nuanced analysis and interpretation.

Ethically Obtained Data:

The data has been ethically sourced from OpenDataSoft, a platform dedicated to making publicly available data accessible and usable. You can explore the dataset further at OpenDataSoft's Air Quality Dataset.

Acknowledgements:

We extend our deepest gratitude to OpenDataSoft for facilitating access to this dataset, enabling a broader understanding of air quality issues. Their platform plays a pivotal role in democratizing data access, thereby empowering researchers, policymakers, and the public to make informed decisions towards a healthier planet.

Introduction

Air pollution Statistics: The air pollution problem is by far the most significant environmental health issue around the world and causes an estimated 7.7 million deaths each year. Climate change and air pollution are closely linked since every major pollutant has an impact on climate and many have common causes with greenhouse gases. Enhancing the quality of air can lead to improved health, development, and environmental benefits.

According to UNEP Pollution Action Note, the global condition of pollution in the air, its major sources, the effects of the air pollution on health as well as the national efforts to address this problem. The tiny particles that pollute the air are mostly derived from human activities such as burning fossil fuels for transportation, waste-burning electricity agriculture, and the major source of ammonia and methane as well as the mining and chemical industries. Let's look into air pollution and its impact.

China and India saw the largest number of air pollution-related deaths worldwide in 2021, with more than *********** recorded in each. Together, the world's two most populous countries accounted for approximately ** percent of global deaths from diseases linked to air pollution that year. Health effects of air pollution There are a number of health impacts linked to air pollution. These range from milder symptoms like sore throats and irritated eyes, to more serious effects that increase the risk of premature mortality, including strokes, heart disease, and lung cancer. Where is air pollution highest? In 2024, the world's most polluted countries based on PM2.5 concentrations were Chad, Bangladesh, and Pakistan, with average levels in each country more than ** times above World Health Organization (WHO) recommended guidelines. Although India ranked fifth that year, it was still home to ** of the ** most polluted cities in the world in 2024.

Germany DE: Mortality Rate Attributed to Household and Ambient Air Pollution: Age-standardized: Female data was reported at 12.000 NA in 2016. Germany DE: Mortality Rate Attributed to Household and Ambient Air Pollution: Age-standardized: Female data is updated yearly, averaging 12.000 NA from Dec 2016 (Median) to 2016, with 1 observations. Germany DE: Mortality Rate Attributed to Household and Ambient Air Pollution: Age-standardized: Female data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Germany – Table DE.World Bank.WDI: Health Statistics. Mortality rate attributed to household and ambient air pollution is the number of deaths attributable to the joint effects of household and ambient air pollution in a year per 100,000 population. The rates are age-standardized. Following diseases are taken into account: acute respiratory infections (estimated for all ages); cerebrovascular diseases in adults (estimated above 25 years); ischaemic heart diseases in adults (estimated above 25 years); chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in adults (estimated above 25 years); and lung cancer in adults (estimated above 25 years).; ; World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory Data Repository (http://apps.who.int/ghodata/).; Weighted average;

OpenAQ has collected 231,965,688 air quality measurements from 8,469 locations in 65 countries. Data are aggregated from 105 government level and research-grade sources. https://medium.com/@openaq/where-does-openaq-data-come-from-a5cf9f3a5c85 Note: this dataset is temporary not updated. We're currently working to update it as soon as possible.Disclaimers:- Some records contain encoding issues on specific characters; those issues are present in the raw API data and were not corrected.- Some dates are set in the future: those issues also come from the original data and were not corrected.

There were approximately *** million deaths worldwide in 2021 attributable to air pollution, representing an increase of ** percent compared with 1990. Approximately ** percent of these deaths were linked to household air pollution from burning solid fuels for cooking, heating, or other domestic tasks.

France FR: Mortality Rate Attributed to Household and Ambient Air Pollution: per 100,000 Population data was reported at 9.700 Ratio in 2016. France FR: Mortality Rate Attributed to Household and Ambient Air Pollution: per 100,000 Population data is updated yearly, averaging 9.700 Ratio from Dec 2016 (Median) to 2016, with 1 observations. France FR: Mortality Rate Attributed to Household and Ambient Air Pollution: per 100,000 Population data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s France – Table FR.World Bank: Health Statistics. Mortality rate attributed to household and ambient air pollution is the number of deaths attributable to the joint effects of household and ambient air pollution in a year per 100,000 population. The rates are age-standardized. Following diseases are taken into account: acute respiratory infections (estimated for all ages); cerebrovascular diseases in adults (estimated above 25 years); ischaemic heart diseases in adults (estimated above 25 years); chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in adults (estimated above 25 years); and lung cancer in adults (estimated above 25 years).; ; World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory Data Repository (http://apps.who.int/ghodata/).; Weighted average;

This layer shows particulate matter in the air sized 2.5 micrometers of smaller (PM 2.5). The data is aggregated from NASA Socioeconomic Data and Applications Center (SEDAC) gridded data into country boundaries, administrative 1 boundaries, and 50 km hex bins. The unit of measurement is micrograms per cubic meter.The layer shows the annual average PM 2.5 from 1998 to 2016, highlighting if the overall mean for an area meets the World Health Organization guideline of 10 micrograms per cubic meter annually. Areas that don't meet the guideline and are above the threshold are shown in red, and areas that are lower than the guideline are in grey.The data is averaged for each year and over the the 19 years to provide an overall picture of air quality globally. Some of the things we can learn from this layer:What is the average annual PM 2.5 value over 19 years? (1998-2016)What is the annual average PM 2.5 value for each year from 1998 to 2016?What is the statistical trend for PM 2.5 over the 19 years? (downward or upward)Are there hot spots (or cold spots) of PM 2.5 over the 19 years?How many people are impacted by the air quality in an area?What is the death rate caused by the joint effects of air pollution?Choose a different attribute to symbolize in order to reveal any of the patterns above.A space time cube was performed on a multidimensional mosaic version of the data in order to derive an emerging hot spot analysis, trends, and a 19-year average. The country and administrative 1 layers provide a population-weighted PM 2.5 value to emphasize which areas have a higher human impact. Citations:van Donkelaar, A., R. V. Martin, M. Brauer, N. C. Hsu, R. A. Kahn, R. C. Levy, A. Lyapustin, A. M. Sayer, and D. M. Winker. 2018. Global Annual PM2.5 Grids from MODIS, MISR and SeaWiFS Aerosol Optical Depth (AOD) with GWR, 1998-2016. Palisades, NY: NASA Socioeconomic Data and Applications Center (SEDAC). https://doi.org/10.7927/H4ZK5DQS. Accessed 1 April 2020van Donkelaar, A., R. V. Martin, M. Brauer, N. C. Hsu, R. A. Kahn, R. C. Levy, A. Lyapustin, A. M. Sayer, and D. M. Winker. 2016. Global Estimates of Fine Particulate Matter Using a Combined Geophysical-Statistical Method with Information from Satellites. Environmental Science & Technology 50 (7): 3762-3772. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.5b05833.Boundaries and population figures:Antarctica is excluded from all maps because it was not included in the original NASA grids.50km hex bins generated using the Generate Tessellation tool - projected to Behrmann Equal Area projection for analysesPopulation figures generated using Zonal Statistics from the World Population Estimate 2016 layer from ArcGIS Living Atlas.Administrative boundaries from World Administrative Divisions layer from ArcGIS Living Atlas - projected to Behrmann Equal Area projection for analyses and hosted in Web MercatorSources: Garmin, CIA World FactbookPopulation figures generated using Zonal Statistics from the World Population Estimate 2016 layer from ArcGIS Living Atlas.Country boundaries from Esri 2019 10.8 Data and Maps - projected to Behrmann Equal Area projection for analyses and hosted in Web Mercator. Sources: Garmin, Factbook, CIAPopulation figures attached to the country boundaries come from the World Population Estimate 2016 Sources Living Atlas layer Data processing notes:NASA's GeoTIFF files for 19 years (1998-2016) were first brought into ArcGIS Pro 2.5.0 and put into a multidimensional mosaic dataset.For each geography level, the following was performed: Zonal Statistics were run against the mosaic as a multidimensional layer.A Space Time Cube was created to compare the 19 years of PM 2.5 values and detect hot/cold spot patterns. To learn more about Space Time Cubes, visit this page.The Space Time Cube is processed for Emerging Hot Spots where we gain the trends and hot spot results.The layers are hosted in Web Mercator Auxillary Sphere projection, but were processed using an equal area projection: Behrmann. If using this layer for analysis, it is recommended to start by projecting the data back to Behrmann.The country and administrative layer were dissolved and joined with population figures in order to visualize human impact.The dissolve tool ensures that each geographic area is only symbolized once within the map.Country boundaries were generalized post-analysis for visualization purposes. The tolerance used was 700m. If performing analysis with this layer, find detailed country boundaries in ArcGIS Living Atlas. To create the population-weighted attributes on the country and Admin 1 layers, the hex value population values were used to create the weighting. Within each hex bin, the total population figure and average PM 2.5 were multiplied.The hex bins were converted into centroids and the PM2.5 and population figures were summarized within the country and Admin 1 boundaries.The summation of the PM 2.5 values were then divided by the total population of each geography. This population value was determined by summarizing the population values from the hex bins within each geography.Some artifacts in the hex bin layer as a result of the input NASA rasters. Because the gridded surface is created from multiple satellites, there are strips within some areas that are a result of satellite paths. Some areas also have more of a continuous pattern between hex bins as a result of the input rasters.Within the country layer, an air pollution attributable death rate is included. 2016 figures are offered by the World Health Organization (WHO). Values are offered as a mean, upper value, lower value, and also offered as age standardized. Values are for deaths caused by all possible air pollution related diseases, for both sexes, and all age groups. For more information visit this page, and here for methodology. According to WHO, the world average was 95 deaths per 100,000 people.To learn the techniques used in this analysis, visit the Learn ArcGIS lesson Investigate Pollution Patterns with Space-Time Analysis by Esri's Kevin Bulter and Lynne Buie.

Global death rates linked to household air pollution from solid fuels have more than halved between 1990 and 2021, to roughly ** per 100,000 inhabitants. The highest global death rates from household air pollution in 2021 were observed in South Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa, at ** and ** deaths per 100,000 inhabitants, respectively. In comparison, the average death rates in high-income countries were just **** per 100,000 inhabitants. One of the main factors for this stark difference is that many people lack access to clean cooking and heating fuels in developing countries. Nevertheless, regional death rates linked to household air pollution have improved markedly in over the past three decades.

United States US: Mortality Rate Attributed to Household and Ambient Air Pollution: Age-standardized: Male data was reported at 17.000 NA in 2016. United States US: Mortality Rate Attributed to Household and Ambient Air Pollution: Age-standardized: Male data is updated yearly, averaging 17.000 NA from Dec 2016 (Median) to 2016, with 1 observations. United States US: Mortality Rate Attributed to Household and Ambient Air Pollution: Age-standardized: Male data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s United States – Table US.World Bank.WDI: Health Statistics. Mortality rate attributed to household and ambient air pollution is the number of deaths attributable to the joint effects of household and ambient air pollution in a year per 100,000 population. The rates are age-standardized. Following diseases are taken into account: acute respiratory infections (estimated for all ages); cerebrovascular diseases in adults (estimated above 25 years); ischaemic heart diseases in adults (estimated above 25 years); chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in adults (estimated above 25 years); and lung cancer in adults (estimated above 25 years).; ; World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory Data Repository (http://apps.who.int/ghodata/).; Weighted average;

Plastic pollution is ubiquitous throughout the marine environment, yet estimates of the global abundance and weight of floating plastics have lacked data, particularly from the Southern Hemisphere and remote regions. Here we report an estimate of the total number of plastic particles and their weight floating in the world’s oceans from 24 expeditions (2007–2013) across all five sub-tropical gyres, coastal Australia, Bay of Bengal and the Mediterranean Sea conducting surface net tows (N5680) and visual survey transects of large plastic debris (N5891). Using an oceanographic model of floating debris dispersal calibrated by our data, and correcting for wind-driven vertical mixing, we estimate a minimum of 5.25 trillion particles weighing 268,940 tons. When comparing between four size classes, two microplastic <4.75 mm and meso- and macroplastic >4.75 mm, a tremendous loss of microplastics is observed from the sea surface compared to expected rates of fragmentation, suggesting there are mechanisms at play that remove <4.75 mm plastic particles from the ocean surface.

Nigeria NG: Mortality Rate Attributed to Household and Ambient Air Pollution: Age-standardized: Male data was reported at 301.000 NA in 2016. Nigeria NG: Mortality Rate Attributed to Household and Ambient Air Pollution: Age-standardized: Male data is updated yearly, averaging 301.000 NA from Dec 2016 (Median) to 2016, with 1 observations. Nigeria NG: Mortality Rate Attributed to Household and Ambient Air Pollution: Age-standardized: Male data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Nigeria – Table NG.World Bank.WDI: Health Statistics. Mortality rate attributed to household and ambient air pollution is the number of deaths attributable to the joint effects of household and ambient air pollution in a year per 100,000 population. The rates are age-standardized. Following diseases are taken into account: acute respiratory infections (estimated for all ages); cerebrovascular diseases in adults (estimated above 25 years); ischaemic heart diseases in adults (estimated above 25 years); chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in adults (estimated above 25 years); and lung cancer in adults (estimated above 25 years).; ; World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory Data Repository (http://apps.who.int/ghodata/).; Weighted average;

What a Waste is a global project to aggregate data on solid waste management from around the world. This database features the statistics collected through the effort, covering nearly all countries and over 330 cities. The metrics included cover all steps from the waste management value chain, including waste generation, composition, collection, and disposal, as well as information on user fees and financing, the informal sector, administrative structures, public communication, and legal information. The information presented is the best available based on a study of current literature and limited conversations with waste agencies and authorities. While there may be variations in the definitions and quality of reporting for individual data points, general trends should reflect the global reality. All sources and any estimations are noted.

This collection includes only a subset of indicators from the source dataset.

The city of Byrnihat in Meghalaya, India was the most polluted city in the world in 2024, with average annual PM2.5 concentration of nearly *** micrograms per cubic meter of air (μg/m³). This was roughly ** times above the WHO PM2.5 recommended guideline. More than half of the ** most polluted cities in the world in 2024 were located in India, including New Delhi, which was the most polluted capital city in the world that year.

Burundi BI: Mortality Rate Attributed to Household and Ambient Air Pollution: per 100,000 Population data was reported at 179.900 Ratio in 2016. Burundi BI: Mortality Rate Attributed to Household and Ambient Air Pollution: per 100,000 Population data is updated yearly, averaging 179.900 Ratio from Dec 2016 (Median) to 2016, with 1 observations. Burundi BI: Mortality Rate Attributed to Household and Ambient Air Pollution: per 100,000 Population data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Burundi – Table BI.World Bank: Health Statistics. Mortality rate attributed to household and ambient air pollution is the number of deaths attributable to the joint effects of household and ambient air pollution in a year per 100,000 population. The rates are age-standardized. Following diseases are taken into account: acute respiratory infections (estimated for all ages); cerebrovascular diseases in adults (estimated above 25 years); ischaemic heart diseases in adults (estimated above 25 years); chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in adults (estimated above 25 years); and lung cancer in adults (estimated above 25 years).; ; World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory Data Repository (http://apps.who.int/ghodata/).; Weighted average;

North Korea had the world's highest death rate from air pollution in 2021, at *** per 100,000 inhabitants. This was roughly ***** times higher than the global average, and more than ** times higher than the death rate in Finland. High-income countries typically have lower deaths rates from air pollution than those in developing regions. This is especially the case when looking at death rates among children from air pollution.

Portugal PT: PM2.5 Air Pollution: Population Exposed to Levels Exceeding WHO Guideline Value: % of Total data was reported at 59.726 % in 2016. This records a decrease from the previous number of 60.286 % for 2015. Portugal PT: PM2.5 Air Pollution: Population Exposed to Levels Exceeding WHO Guideline Value: % of Total data is updated yearly, averaging 82.627 % from Dec 1990 (Median) to 2016, with 11 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 97.555 % in 2005 and a record low of 59.726 % in 2016. Portugal PT: PM2.5 Air Pollution: Population Exposed to Levels Exceeding WHO Guideline Value: % of Total data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Portugal – Table PT.World Bank: Environment: Pollution. Percent of population exposed to ambient concentrations of PM2.5 that exceed the WHO guideline value is defined as the portion of a country’s population living in places where mean annual concentrations of PM2.5 are greater than 10 micrograms per cubic meter, the guideline value recommended by the World Health Organization as the lower end of the range of concentrations over which adverse health effects due to PM2.5 exposure have been observed.; ; Brauer, M. et al. 2016, for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2016.; Weighted Average;