PM2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure in Kenya
Kenya: PM2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure was 20.25 micrograms per cubic meter in 2023. ▲ Rising
PM2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure in Kenya, 1990–2023
Source: Global Burden of Disease Study 2023 (GBD 2023) Air Pollution Exposure Estimates and Risk Curves 1990-2023, GBD Collaborator Network. Measured in micrograms per cubic meter.
Analysis
In 2023, pm2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure in Kenya stood at 20.25 micrograms per cubic meter.
That represents a change of down 2.5% on the previous year and down 5.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, pm2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure in Kenya peaked at 22.7 micrograms per cubic meter in 2020 and was at its lowest, 14.6 micrograms per cubic meter, in 1991.
Kenya ranks 80th of 200 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 34 years of available data.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 15.98 micrograms per cubic meter | 14.6 micrograms per cubic meter | 17.89 micrograms per cubic meter | 10 |
| 2000s | 19.31 micrograms per cubic meter | 16.61 micrograms per cubic meter | 21.76 micrograms per cubic meter | 10 |
| 2010s | 20.13 micrograms per cubic meter | 18.11 micrograms per cubic meter | 21.81 micrograms per cubic meter | 10 |
| 2020s | 21.12 micrograms per cubic meter | 20.25 micrograms per cubic meter | 22.7 micrograms per cubic meter | 4 |
Countries ranked near Kenya
- 77 Indonesia 20.84 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 78 Nicaragua 20.42 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 79 Cote d'Ivoire 20.39 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 81 Zambia 20.24 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 82 Cape Verde 20.19 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 83 Tanzania 20.17 micrograms per cubic meter compare
More urban development data for Kenya
- Population in the largest city 31.1% (2025)
- Population density 95.27 people per sq. km of land area (2023)
- Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million 7.32 million (2025)
- Population in largest city 5.77 million (2025)
- PM2.5 air pollution, population exposed to levels exceeding WHO guidel 100.0% (2017)
Frequently asked questions
- What is pm2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure in Kenya?
- Pm2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure in Kenya was 20.25 micrograms per cubic meter in 2023, according to Global Burden of Disease Study 2023 (GBD 2023) Air Pollution Exposure Estimates and Risk Curves 1990-2023, GBD Collaborator Network.
- What is the highest pm2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure recorded in Kenya?
- The highest recorded value was 22.7 micrograms per cubic meter in 2020.
- What is the lowest pm2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure recorded in Kenya?
- The lowest recorded value was 14.6 micrograms per cubic meter in 1991.
- How does Kenya rank for pm2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure?
- Kenya ranks 80th out of 200 countries with data for 2023.
- Is pm2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure rising or falling in Kenya?
- Over the last ten years it is down 5.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Kenya data come from?
- The figures come from Global Burden of Disease Study 2023 (GBD 2023) Air Pollution Exposure Estimates and Risk Curves 1990-2023, GBD Collaborator Network, published as part of PM2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure (micrograms per cubic meter). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Population-weighted exposure to ambient PM2.5 pollution is defined as the average level of exposure of a nation's population to concentrations of suspended particles measuring less than 2.5 microns in aerodynamic diameter, which are capable of penetrating deep into the respiratory tract and causing severe health damage. Exposure is calculated by weighting mean annual concentrations of PM2.5 by population in both urban and rural areas.