Air Pollution by Country
What Is Air Pollution?
Air Pollution (PM2.5 mean annual exposure) measures the average concentration of fine particulate matter (particles smaller than 2.5 micrometers) in micrograms per cubic meter. PM2.5 particles come from vehicle emissions, industrial processes, and burning fuels. Because these particles can penetrate deep into the lungs, this metric indicates population exposure to harmful air quality.
Why Air Pollution Matters to a Country’s Progress
- Signals public health risks, since high PM2.5 levels lead to respiratory and cardiovascular diseases.
- Reflects economic productivity, as unhealthy workers take more sick days and healthcare costs rise.
- Informs environmental policy, because governments use this data to regulate emissions and improve urban planning.
Implications for Policy & Society
- High PM2.5 levels often prompt investment in emission controls, public transportation, and pollution monitoring networks.
- Lower exposure reduces healthcare costs and improves quality of life, supporting workforce productivity and economic growth.
- Persistent urban–rural disparities highlight the need for targeted interventions, such as cleaner cooking fuels in rural areas.
- Monitoring year-over-year changes helps evaluate the impact of regulations like vehicle emissions standards and industrial emission limits.
How to Read the Rankings
- A higher PM2.5 value indicates greater average exposure to fine particulate matter, signaling poorer air quality.
- “Most Recent Year” shows the latest mean annual concentration; “Change” shows the difference from the prior year’s level.
- Short-term spikes may result from wildfires, dust storms, or industrial accidents rather than long-term trends.
Ranking Highlights
- Afghanistan tops the progress rankings in Air Pollution, recording a drop from 58.33 to 46.09. Bhutan follows with a reduction from 30.05 to 23.95, while Nepal rounds out the top three, falling from 57.28 to 45.72.
- Across all 192 countries, the average year-over-year change was -1.01% with a median change of -1.15%.
- Overall, 111 countries improved in this area while 81 worsened. Click on a country to open the full country scorecard and see how it performs across a range of key indicators.
| Rank | Country | Most Recent Year | Previous Year | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Afghanistan | 46.09 (2020) | 58.33 (2019) | -20.99% |
| 2 |  Bhutan | 23.95 (2020) | 30.05 (2019) | -20.32% |
| 3 |  Nepal | 45.72 (2020) | 57.28 (2019) | -20.17% |
| 4 |  India | 48.40 (2020) | 59.89 (2019) | -19.20% |
| 5 |  Egypt | 54.86 (2020) | 67.75 (2019) | -19.03% |
| 6 |  Singapore | 13.87 (2020) | 17.08 (2019) | -18.78% |
| 7 |  Pakistan | 43.00 (2020) | 52.86 (2019) | -18.65% |
| 8 |  Yemen | 34.83 (2020) | 41.64 (2019) | -16.35% |
| 9 |  Bangladesh | 42.38 (2020) | 50.37 (2019) | -15.85% |
| 10 |  United Arab Emirates | 36.31 (2020) | 41.96 (2019) | -13.47% |
| 11 |  New Zealand | 6.49 (2020) | 7.42 (2019) | -12.62% |
| 12 |  Oman | 39.58 (2020) | 44.90 (2019) | -11.84% |
| 13 |  Sudan | 45.84 (2020) | 51.94 (2019) | -11.75% |
| 14 |  Australia | 8.25 (2020) | 9.33 (2019) | -11.56% |
| 15 |  Eswatini | 18.78 (2020) | 21.17 (2019) | -11.26% |
| 16 |  Eritrea | 32.35 (2020) | 36.27 (2019) | -10.79% |
| 17 |  Estonia | 6.15 (2020) | 6.85 (2019) | -10.21% |
| 18 |  Lithuania | 9.22 (2020) | 10.25 (2019) | -10.03% |
| 19 |  Cyprus | 13.51 (2020) | 15.01 (2019) | -9.98% |
| 20 |  Seychelles | 8.50 (2020) | 9.43 (2019) | -9.90% |
| 21 |  Libya | 32.97 (2020) | 36.48 (2019) | -9.63% |
| 22 |  Djibouti | 35.92 (2020) | 39.72 (2019) | -9.56% |
| 23 |  Saudi Arabia | 53.15 (2020) | 58.62 (2019) | -9.34% |
| 24 |  Malaysia | 16.19 (2020) | 17.82 (2019) | -9.12% |
| 25 |  Finland | 4.90 (2020) | 5.38 (2019) | -9.00% |
| 26 |  Suriname | 27.31 (2020) | 29.99 (2019) | -8.95% |
| 27 |  Kyrgyzstan | 24.38 (2020) | 26.76 (2019) | -8.89% |
| 28 |  Türkiye | 21.61 (2020) | 23.70 (2019) | -8.79% |
| 29 |  Tajikistan | 37.05 (2020) | 40.29 (2019) | -8.03% |
| 30 |  Indonesia | 17.88 (2020) | 19.43 (2019) | -7.96% |
| 31 |  Jordan | 28.77 (2020) | 31.26 (2019) | -7.95% |
| 32 |  South Sudan | 30.74 (2020) | 33.36 (2019) | -7.86% |
| 33 |  China | 34.81 (2020) | 37.55 (2019) | -7.29% |
| 34 |  Peru | 27.04 (2020) | 29.11 (2019) | -7.13% |
| 35 |  Sweden | 5.64 (2020) | 6.07 (2019) | -7.12% |
| 36 |  Latvia | 11.60 (2020) | 12.49 (2019) | -7.09% |
| 37 |  Malta | 11.72 (2020) | 12.59 (2019) | -6.89% |
| 38 |  Iceland | 5.11 (2020) | 5.48 (2019) | -6.86% |
| 39 |  Syria | 24.71 (2020) | 26.47 (2019) | -6.67% |
| 40 |  Lebanon | 19.23 (2020) | 20.60 (2019) | -6.63% |
| 41 |  Qatar | 75.66 (2020) | 81.01 (2019) | -6.60% |
| 42 |  Bolivia | 22.88 (2020) | 24.49 (2019) | -6.56% |
| 43 |  Belarus | 14.61 (2020) | 15.62 (2019) | -6.46% |
| 44 |  Moldova | 14.76 (2020) | 15.77 (2019) | -6.44% |
| 45 |  Armenia | 30.58 (2020) | 32.66 (2019) | -6.37% |
| 46 |  Uzbekistan | 31.96 (2020) | 34.13 (2019) | -6.37% |
| 47 |  Ecuador | 16.66 (2020) | 17.77 (2019) | -6.26% |
| 48 |  Philippines | 20.29 (2020) | 21.53 (2019) | -5.74% |
| 49 |  Denmark | 9.07 (2020) | 9.61 (2019) | -5.64% |
| 50 |  Palau | 7.33 (2020) | 7.75 (2019) | -5.40% |
| 51 |  Chad | 49.14 (2020) | 51.87 (2019) | -5.26% |
| 52 |  Norway | 6.06 (2020) | 6.38 (2019) | -5.09% |
| 53 |  Iran | 32.29 (2020) | 34.02 (2019) | -5.08% |
| 54 |  Israel | 18.60 (2020) | 19.56 (2019) | -4.90% |
| 55 |  Ethiopia | 27.31 (2020) | 28.69 (2019) | -4.82% |
| 56 |  Austria | 10.93 (2020) | 11.47 (2019) | -4.63% |
| 57 |  Mongolia | 29.66 (2020) | 31.08 (2019) | -4.60% |
| 58 |  Brunei | 7.60 (2020) | 7.95 (2019) | -4.39% |
| 59 |  Ukraine | 14.90 (2020) | 15.58 (2019) | -4.36% |
| 60 |  Poland | 17.96 (2020) | 18.77 (2019) | -4.33% |
| 61 |  Netherlands | 10.89 (2020) | 11.36 (2019) | -4.18% |
| 62 |  Switzerland | 9.06 (2020) | 9.45 (2019) | -4.12% |
| 63 |  Kazakhstan | 20.03 (2020) | 20.86 (2019) | -3.97% |
| 64 |  North Korea | 29.93 (2020) | 31.12 (2019) | -3.84% |
| 65 |  Fiji | 12.42 (2020) | 12.91 (2019) | -3.82% |
| 66 |  Greece | 14.41 (2020) | 14.94 (2019) | -3.57% |
| 67 |  Panama | 11.47 (2020) | 11.88 (2019) | -3.48% |
| 68 |  Russia | 11.27 (2020) | 11.68 (2019) | -3.47% |
| 69 |  Hungary | 14.14 (2020) | 14.64 (2019) | -3.45% |
| 70 |  Germany | 10.29 (2020) | 10.64 (2019) | -3.29% |
| 71 |  Georgia | 17.04 (2020) | 17.62 (2019) | -3.26% |
| 72 |  Turkmenistan | 19.60 (2020) | 20.25 (2019) | -3.22% |
| 73 |  Slovakia | 15.39 (2020) | 15.84 (2019) | -2.81% |
| 74 |  Kiribati | 11.26 (2020) | 11.55 (2019) | -2.52% |
| 75 |  Samoa | 12.55 (2020) | 12.87 (2019) | -2.49% |
| 76 |  Bahrain | 58.50 (2020) | 59.97 (2019) | -2.45% |
| 77 |  Maldives | 12.01 (2020) | 12.31 (2019) | -2.45% |
| 78 |  Solomon Islands | 13.95 (2020) | 14.30 (2019) | -2.42% |
| 79 |  Guyana | 25.46 (2020) | 26.09 (2019) | -2.42% |
| 80 |  Colombia | 14.18 (2020) | 14.52 (2019) | -2.29% |
| 81 |  France | 9.60 (2020) | 9.83 (2019) | -2.29% |
| 82 |  Cameroon | 39.81 (2020) | 40.74 (2019) | -2.27% |
| 83 |  Bulgaria | 17.15 (2020) | 17.54 (2019) | -2.23% |
| 84 |  Tonga | 12.48 (2020) | 12.76 (2019) | -2.19% |
| 85 |  Mauritania | 70.82 (2020) | 72.20 (2019) | -1.91% |
| 86 |  Montenegro | 17.98 (2020) | 18.32 (2019) | -1.86% |
| 87 |  Micronesia | 12.11 (2020) | 12.34 (2019) | -1.80% |
| 88 |  Vanuatu | 14.08 (2020) | 14.34 (2019) | -1.77% |
| 89 |  Italy | 14.66 (2020) | 14.89 (2019) | -1.58% |
| 90 |  Botswana | 18.91 (2020) | 19.20 (2019) | -1.55% |
| 91 |  Tuvalu | 5.92 (2020) | 6.01 (2019) | -1.53% |
| 92 |  Central African Republic | 34.43 (2020) | 34.91 (2019) | -1.38% |
| 93 |  Brazil | 12.18 (2020) | 12.35 (2019) | -1.38% |
| 94 |  Azerbaijan | 21.73 (2020) | 22.02 (2019) | -1.35% |
| 95 |  Mauritius | 9.15 (2020) | 9.28 (2019) | -1.34% |
| 96 |  Timor-Leste | 17.41 (2020) | 17.63 (2019) | -1.24% |
| 97 |  Mali | 56.78 (2020) | 57.39 (2019) | -1.06% |
| 98 |  Romania | 14.85 (2020) | 15.01 (2019) | -1.05% |
| 99 |  Czech Republic | 14.11 (2020) | 14.23 (2019) | -0.86% |
| 100 |  Monaco | 9.58 (2020) | 9.66 (2019) | -0.81% |
| 101 |  Japan | 12.84 (2020) | 12.94 (2019) | -0.80% |
| 102 |  Marshall Islands | 10.73 (2020) | 10.80 (2019) | -0.71% |
| 103 |  Congo | 28.57 (2020) | 28.75 (2019) | -0.61% |
| 104 |  Serbia | 22.51 (2020) | 22.64 (2019) | -0.57% |
| 105 |  Laos | 22.32 (2020) | 22.43 (2019) | -0.49% |
| 106 |  Bosnia and Herzegovina | 26.60 (2020) | 26.72 (2019) | -0.43% |
| 107 |  United Kingdom | 9.91 (2020) | 9.95 (2019) | -0.33% |
| 108 |  Paraguay | 10.09 (2020) | 10.12 (2019) | -0.33% |
| 109 |  Madagascar | 12.75 (2020) | 12.80 (2019) | -0.32% |
| 110 |  South Korea | 25.94 (2020) | 26.02 (2019) | -0.27% |
| 111 |  Vietnam | 20.80 (2020) | 20.83 (2019) | -0.15% |
| 112 |  Albania | 15.71 (2020) | 15.71 (2019) | +0.01% |
| 113 |  Belgium | 11.22 (2020) | 11.21 (2019) | +0.02% |
| 114 |  Myanmar | 32.32 (2020) | 32.16 (2019) | +0.47% |
| 115 |  Nauru | 6.06 (2020) | 6.03 (2019) | +0.63% |
| 116 |  Andorra | 9.08 (2020) | 9.01 (2019) | +0.77% |
| 117 |  North Macedonia | 26.12 (2020) | 25.88 (2019) | +0.93% |
| 118 |  Sri Lanka | 19.96 (2020) | 19.78 (2019) | +0.93% |
| 119 |  Iraq | 38.18 (2020) | 37.73 (2019) | +1.17% |
| 120 |  Democratic Republic of the Congo | 26.65 (2020) | 26.34 (2019) | +1.18% |
| 121 |  Croatia | 16.12 (2020) | 15.92 (2019) | +1.29% |
| 122 |  Grenada | 24.66 (2020) | 24.27 (2019) | +1.62% |
| 123 |  Dominican Republic | 19.83 (2020) | 19.50 (2019) | +1.69% |
| 124 |  Tunisia | 24.18 (2020) | 23.77 (2019) | +1.73% |
| 125 |  Barbados | 23.73 (2020) | 23.33 (2019) | +1.74% |
| 126 |  Kuwait | 53.72 (2020) | 52.78 (2019) | +1.77% |
| 127 |  Morocco | 21.32 (2020) | 20.93 (2019) | +1.87% |
| 128 |  San Marino | 10.69 (2020) | 10.49 (2019) | +1.88% |
| 129 |  Mexico | 14.99 (2020) | 14.71 (2019) | +1.95% |
| 130 |  Haiti | 21.35 (2020) | 20.94 (2019) | +1.96% |
| 131 |  Bahamas | 18.94 (2020) | 18.57 (2019) | +2.01% |
| 132 |  Jamaica | 17.41 (2020) | 17.07 (2019) | +2.01% |
| 133 |  Thailand | 31.01 (2020) | 30.38 (2019) | +2.05% |
| 134 |  Guinea | 43.77 (2020) | 42.88 (2019) | +2.07% |
| 135 |  Angola | 25.15 (2020) | 24.60 (2019) | +2.22% |
| 136 |  Saint Vincent and the Grenadines | 23.93 (2020) | 23.41 (2019) | +2.22% |
| 137 |  Trinidad and Tobago | 25.60 (2020) | 25.01 (2019) | +2.37% |
| 138 |  Chile | 23.28 (2020) | 22.73 (2019) | +2.39% |
| 139 |  Spain | 9.58 (2020) | 9.35 (2019) | +2.43% |
| 140 |  South Africa | 23.75 (2020) | 23.19 (2019) | +2.43% |
| 141 |  Mozambique | 20.08 (2020) | 19.60 (2019) | +2.48% |
| 142 |  Papua New Guinea | 17.31 (2020) | 16.89 (2019) | +2.50% |
| 143 |  Luxembourg | 8.68 (2020) | 8.46 (2019) | +2.55% |
| 144 |  Uruguay | 10.57 (2020) | 10.30 (2019) | +2.65% |
| 145 |  Venezuela | 15.26 (2020) | 14.85 (2019) | +2.73% |
| 146 |  Slovenia | 14.29 (2020) | 13.91 (2019) | +2.75% |
| 147 |  Saint Lucia | 23.76 (2020) | 23.07 (2019) | +2.98% |
| 148 |  Burundi | 29.65 (2020) | 28.78 (2019) | +3.05% |
| 149 |  Dominica | 20.67 (2020) | 20.04 (2019) | +3.11% |
| 150 |  Namibia | 20.00 (2020) | 19.39 (2019) | +3.13% |
| 151 |  Antigua and Barbuda | 19.70 (2020) | 19.06 (2019) | +3.36% |
| 152 |  Guinea-Bissau | 50.21 (2020) | 48.50 (2019) | +3.53% |
| 153 |  Argentina | 14.91 (2020) | 14.40 (2019) | +3.53% |
| 154 |  Ireland | 8.17 (2020) | 7.89 (2019) | +3.54% |
| 155 |  Rwanda | 31.29 (2020) | 30.01 (2019) | +4.27% |
| 156 |  Cuba | 21.24 (2020) | 20.34 (2019) | +4.39% |
| 157 |  Zambia | 24.31 (2020) | 23.20 (2019) | +4.76% |
| 158 |  Algeria | 25.55 (2020) | 24.39 (2019) | +4.77% |
| 159 |  Cambodia | 24.14 (2020) | 22.97 (2019) | +5.09% |
| 160 |  Zimbabwe | 19.49 (2020) | 18.53 (2019) | +5.21% |
| 161 |  Canada | 6.57 (2020) | 6.23 (2019) | +5.44% |
| 162 |  Senegal | 63.74 (2020) | 60.34 (2019) | +5.63% |
| 163 |  Portugal | 8.45 (2020) | 7.98 (2019) | +5.87% |
| 164 |  Malawi | 23.70 (2020) | 22.34 (2019) | +6.09% |
| 165 |  Gambia | 58.36 (2020) | 54.87 (2019) | +6.36% |
| 166 |  Costa Rica | 14.31 (2020) | 13.38 (2019) | +6.96% |
| 167 |  Guatemala | 21.64 (2020) | 20.21 (2019) | +7.06% |
| 168 |  Uganda | 33.81 (2020) | 31.49 (2019) | +7.38% |
| 169 |  Somalia | 24.53 (2020) | 22.84 (2019) | +7.40% |
| 170 |  Cabo Verde | 42.32 (2020) | 39.35 (2019) | +7.55% |
| 171 |  Togo | 51.67 (2020) | 47.63 (2019) | +8.48% |
| 172 |  Gabon | 29.96 (2020) | 27.52 (2019) | +8.83% |
| 173 |  United States | 7.82 (2020) | 7.18 (2019) | +8.90% |
| 174 |  Saint Kitts and Nevis | 8.59 (2020) | 7.87 (2019) | +9.17% |
| 175 |  Ghana | 54.24 (2020) | 49.66 (2019) | +9.24% |
| 176 |  Nigeria | 56.53 (2020) | 51.72 (2019) | +9.30% |
| 177 |  Belize | 28.65 (2020) | 26.15 (2019) | +9.58% |
| 178 |  Benin | 51.05 (2020) | 46.56 (2019) | +9.63% |
| 179 |  El Salvador | 20.03 (2020) | 18.27 (2019) | +9.64% |
| 180 |  Lesotho | 23.44 (2020) | 21.18 (2019) | +10.66% |
| 181 |  Côte d'Ivoire | 49.50 (2020) | 44.33 (2019) | +11.65% |
| 182 |  Honduras | 20.31 (2020) | 18.14 (2019) | +11.96% |
| 183 |  Sierra Leone | 43.22 (2020) | 38.59 (2019) | +11.99% |
| 184 | Equatorial Guinea | 35.38 (2020) | 31.55 (2019) | +12.13% |
| 185 |  Nicaragua | 16.81 (2020) | 14.98 (2019) | +12.19% |
| 186 |  Liberia | 42.36 (2020) | 37.16 (2019) | +14.00% |
| 187 |  Comoros | 11.93 (2020) | 10.41 (2019) | +14.60% |
| 188 |  Burkina Faso | 58.47 (2020) | 50.71 (2019) | +15.31% |
| 189 |  Niger | 85.12 (2020) | 72.47 (2019) | +17.46% |
| 190 |  Tanzania | 25.08 (2020) | 20.78 (2019) | +20.70% |
| 191 |  Kenya | 24.39 (2020) | 19.57 (2019) | +24.63% |
| 192 |  Sao Tome and Principe | 27.34 (2020) | 21.66 (2019) | +26.23% |
Source: World Bank. Only countries with complete data (both points within the past 10 years) are shown.