Annual average PM2.5 concentrations worldwide 2000-2022

The global average concentration of particulate matter (PM2.5) was 24.2 micrograms per cubic meter of air (μg/m3) in 2022. This not only represented a decline of 17 percent from 2010 levels but was also the lowest concentration of this pollutant recorded since the turn of the century. Despite the significant decline, PM2.5 levels in 2022 were still five times above WHO air quality guidelines. 

China cleans up its air

China has been a key driver of the global decline in air pollution in recent years, with annual PM2.5 levels in the country falling by more than 40 percent since 2014 – the year the Chinese government declared war on air pollution. The country’s capital city has seen considerable improvements in its air quality, with average PM2.5 levels in Beijing more than halving over the past decade. Improved air quality monitoring networks, low emissions zones, and the increased uptake of electric vehicles are just some of the ways the country has tackled air pollution.

Air pollution's impact on health

Governments around the world have been battling air pollution not only because of its environmental imapcts, but also due its adverse effects on human health. In fact, air pollution is the second-leading cause of death worldwide, with more than eight million deaths attributed to this risk factor each year. Heart disease, strokes, and lung cancer are just some of the causes of premature deaths related to air pollution.