The latest World Health Organization (WHO) Air Quality guidelines (AQG) recommend that annual average concentrations of PM2.5 should not exceed five micrograms per cubic meter (μg/m3). However, annual average PM2.5 levels in major global cities, such as Mumbai, Beijing, and Cairo, are often far higher than the recommended limit.
The new PM2.5 AQG is an improvement from the previous limit of 10 μg/m3 in 2005. Average annual nitrogen dioxide guidelines have also become stricter since 2005, falling from 40 μg/m3 to 10 μg/m3.
World Health Organization (WHO) Global air quality guidelines (AQG) in 2005 and 2021, by pollutant and averaging time
(in micrograms per cubic meter)
Pollutant & averaging time
2005 AQGs
2021 AQGs
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Exclusive Premium Statistic
To access all Premium Statistics, you need a paid Statista Account
Annual and peak season is long-term exposure, while 24-hour and 8-hour is short-term exposure.
Supplementary notes
*99th percentile (i.e. 3–4 exceedance days per year). **Average of daily maximum 8-hour mean O3 concentration in the six consecutive months with the highest six-month running-average O3 concentration.
Profit from the additional features of your individual account
Currently, you are using a shared account. To use individual functions (e.g., mark statistics as favourites, set
statistic alerts) please log in with your personal account.
If you are an admin, please authenticate by logging in again.
Learn more about how Statista can support your business.
WHO. (September 22, 2021). World Health Organization (WHO) Global air quality guidelines (AQG) in 2005 and 2021, by pollutant and averaging time (in micrograms per cubic meter) [Graph]. In Statista. Retrieved August 25, 2024, from https://www.statista.com/statistics/1446298/global-air-quality-standards-by-pollutant/
WHO. "World Health Organization (WHO) Global air quality guidelines (AQG) in 2005 and 2021, by pollutant and averaging time (in micrograms per cubic meter)." Chart. September 22, 2021. Statista. Accessed August 25, 2024. https://www.statista.com/statistics/1446298/global-air-quality-standards-by-pollutant/
WHO. (2021). World Health Organization (WHO) Global air quality guidelines (AQG) in 2005 and 2021, by pollutant and averaging time (in micrograms per cubic meter). Statista. Statista Inc.. Accessed: August 25, 2024. https://www.statista.com/statistics/1446298/global-air-quality-standards-by-pollutant/
WHO. "World Health Organization (Who) Global Air Quality Guidelines (Aqg) in 2005 and 2021, by Pollutant and Averaging Time (in Micrograms per Cubic Meter)." Statista, Statista Inc., 22 Sep 2021, https://www.statista.com/statistics/1446298/global-air-quality-standards-by-pollutant/
WHO, World Health Organization (WHO) Global air quality guidelines (AQG) in 2005 and 2021, by pollutant and averaging time (in micrograms per cubic meter) Statista, https://www.statista.com/statistics/1446298/global-air-quality-standards-by-pollutant/ (last visited August 25, 2024)
World Health Organization (WHO) Global air quality guidelines (AQG) in 2005 and 2021, by pollutant and averaging time (in micrograms per cubic meter) [Graph], WHO, September 22, 2021. [Online]. Available: https://www.statista.com/statistics/1446298/global-air-quality-standards-by-pollutant/
