Global death rates caused by household air pollution 2021, by region
Global death rates linked to household air pollution from solid fuels have more than halved between 1990 and 2021, to roughly 39 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 77 and 65 deaths per 100,000 inhabitants, respectively. In comparison, the average death rates in high-income countries were just 0.06 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.