Particulate matter exposure in 1990 vs. 2017 in Afghanistan
Afghanistan: Particulate matter exposure in 1990 vs. 2017 was 37.95 micrograms per cubic meter in 2023. ▼ Falling
Particulate matter exposure in 1990 vs. 2017 in Afghanistan, 1990–2023
Source: Global Burden of Disease Study 2023, Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME), via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in micrograms per cubic meter.
Analysis
The most recent figure for particulate matter exposure in 1990 vs. 2017 in Afghanistan is 37.95 micrograms per cubic meter, measured in 2023.
The figure is down 5.6% on the previous year and up 3.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, particulate matter exposure in 1990 vs. 2017 in Afghanistan peaked at 49.62 micrograms per cubic meter in 2002 and was at its lowest, 34.16 micrograms per cubic meter, in 2020.
That places Afghanistan 26th out of 200 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 34 years of available data.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 48 micrograms per cubic meter | 47.04 micrograms per cubic meter | 48.43 micrograms per cubic meter | 10 |
| 2000s | 43.96 micrograms per cubic meter | 34.59 micrograms per cubic meter | 49.62 micrograms per cubic meter | 10 |
| 2010s | 37.4 micrograms per cubic meter | 34.35 micrograms per cubic meter | 41.9 micrograms per cubic meter | 10 |
| 2020s | 38.01 micrograms per cubic meter | 34.16 micrograms per cubic meter | 40.21 micrograms per cubic meter | 4 |
Countries ranked near Afghanistan
- 23 Iran 40.25 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 24 Benin 39.66 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 25 Gambia 38.27 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 27 Sudan 37.61 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 28 Burkina Faso 37.32 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 29 Congo 36.54 micrograms per cubic meter compare
More reference data data for Afghanistan
- Spring temperature anomalies 3.05 °C (2026)
- Summer temperature anomalies 0.6919 °C (2026)
- Temperature anomalies by month -0.1923 °C (2026)
- Universal right to vote in practice 0 (2025)
- Autumn temperature anomalies 1.44 °C (2025)
- Winter temperature anomalies 2.68 °C (2025)
- Consumer price index 168.54 2010 = 100 (2024)
- Universal right to vote 2 (2025)
- Competitive elections 0 (2025)
- Men's universal right to vote 1 (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is particulate matter exposure in 1990 vs. 2017 in Afghanistan?
- Particulate matter exposure in 1990 vs. 2017 in Afghanistan was 37.95 micrograms per cubic meter in 2023, according to Global Burden of Disease Study 2023, Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME), via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest particulate matter exposure in 1990 vs. 2017 recorded in Afghanistan?
- The highest recorded value was 49.62 micrograms per cubic meter in 2002.
- What is the lowest particulate matter exposure in 1990 vs. 2017 recorded in Afghanistan?
- The lowest recorded value was 34.16 micrograms per cubic meter in 2020.
- How does Afghanistan rank for particulate matter exposure in 1990 vs. 2017?
- Afghanistan ranks 26th out of 200 countries with data for 2023.
- Is particulate matter exposure in 1990 vs. 2017 rising or falling in Afghanistan?
- Over the last ten years it is up 3.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Afghanistan data come from?
- The figures come from Global Burden of Disease Study 2023, Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME), via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Particulate matter exposure in 1990 vs. 2017. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 34 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Population-weighted average level of exposure to concentrations of suspended particles measuring less than 2.5 microns in diameter. Exposure is measured in micrograms per cubic metre (µg/m³).