PM2.5 levels in urban and rural areas in India 2017-2022
Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) concentrations in rural and urban India averaged 46.4 and 46.8 micrograms per cubic meter of air (μg/m³) in 2022, representing reductions of around 19 percent relative to 2017. The lowest average annual PM2.5 levels in rural and urban India were recorded in 2020, which can be attributed to COVID-19-related lockdowns. The following year saw levels rise in both areas, owing to the lifting of these restrictions. Although PM2.5 levels in urban and rural areas have declined in recent years, they still remain well above World Health Organization air quality guidelines.