Particulate matter exposure in 1990 vs. 2017 in Belgium
Belgium: Particulate matter exposure in 1990 vs. 2017 was 8.45 micrograms per cubic meter in 2023. ▼ Falling
Latest (2023)
8.45 micrograms per cubic meter
Change on year
down 16.1%
World rank
166th
of 200 countries
All-time high
22.63 micrograms per cubic meter
in 1991
All-time low
8.45 micrograms per cubic meter
in 2023
Years of data
34
1990–2023
Particulate matter exposure in 1990 vs. 2017 in Belgium, 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 Belgium is 8.45 micrograms per cubic meter, measured in 2023. That is the lowest value across all 34 years on record.
That represents a change of down 16.1% on the previous year and down 46.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, particulate matter exposure in 1990 vs. 2017 in Belgium peaked at 22.63 micrograms per cubic meter in 1991 and was at its lowest, 8.45 micrograms per cubic meter, in 2023.
Belgium ranks 166th of 200 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 34 years of available data.
Particulate matter exposure in 1990 vs. 2017 in Belgium, year by year
| Year | micrograms per cubic meter | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 22.6 micrograms per cubic meter | — |
| 1991 | 22.63 micrograms per cubic meter | +0.1% |
| 1992 | 22.35 micrograms per cubic meter | -1.3% |
| 1993 | 22.06 micrograms per cubic meter | -1.3% |
| 1994 | 21.78 micrograms per cubic meter | -1.3% |
| 1995 | 22.13 micrograms per cubic meter | +1.6% |
| 1996 | 21.21 micrograms per cubic meter | -4.2% |
| 1997 | 20.92 micrograms per cubic meter | -1.3% |
| 1998 | 20.64 micrograms per cubic meter | -1.4% |
| 1999 | 20.35 micrograms per cubic meter | -1.4% |
| 2000 | 19.75 micrograms per cubic meter | -3.0% |
| 2001 | 18.25 micrograms per cubic meter | -7.6% |
| 2002 | 18.28 micrograms per cubic meter | +0.1% |
| 2003 | 20.55 micrograms per cubic meter | +12.4% |
| 2004 | 18.23 micrograms per cubic meter | -11.3% |
| 2005 | 17.71 micrograms per cubic meter | -2.9% |
| 2006 | 17.03 micrograms per cubic meter | -3.8% |
| 2007 | 16.81 micrograms per cubic meter | -1.3% |
| 2008 | 17.46 micrograms per cubic meter | +3.8% |
| 2009 | 17.6 micrograms per cubic meter | +0.8% |
| 2010 | 17.16 micrograms per cubic meter | -2.5% |
| 2011 | 16.59 micrograms per cubic meter | -3.4% |
| 2012 | 14.78 micrograms per cubic meter | -10.9% |
| 2013 | 15.68 micrograms per cubic meter | +6.1% |
| 2014 | 12.94 micrograms per cubic meter | -17.5% |
| 2015 | 12.49 micrograms per cubic meter | -3.5% |
| 2016 | 12.13 micrograms per cubic meter | -2.9% |
| 2017 | 11.81 micrograms per cubic meter | -2.6% |
| 2018 | 12.21 micrograms per cubic meter | +3.3% |
| 2019 | 10.44 micrograms per cubic meter | -14.4% |
| 2020 | 9.15 micrograms per cubic meter | -12.4% |
| 2021 | 10.73 micrograms per cubic meter | +17.3% |
| 2022 | 10.07 micrograms per cubic meter | -6.1% |
| 2023 | 8.45 micrograms per cubic meter | -16.1% |
Belgium compared with similar countries
- Belgium's 8.45 micrograms per cubic meter is below the median for high income countries, which is 10.06 micrograms per cubic meter, 84% of the median. (70 countries reporting)
- Belgium's 8.45 micrograms per cubic meter is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 12.88 micrograms per cubic meter, 66% of the median. (52 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 21.67 micrograms per cubic meter | 20.35 micrograms per cubic meter | 22.63 micrograms per cubic meter | 10 |
| 2000s | 18.17 micrograms per cubic meter | 16.81 micrograms per cubic meter | 20.55 micrograms per cubic meter | 10 |
| 2010s | 13.62 micrograms per cubic meter | 10.44 micrograms per cubic meter | 17.16 micrograms per cubic meter | 10 |
| 2020s | 9.6 micrograms per cubic meter | 8.45 micrograms per cubic meter | 10.73 micrograms per cubic meter | 4 |
Countries ranked near Belgium
- 163 Germany 8.81 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 164 Portugal 8.77 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 165 Netherlands 8.59 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 167 Antigua and Barbuda 8.42 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 168 Switzerland 8.32 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 169 France 8.23 micrograms per cubic meter compare
More reference data data for Belgium
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.9298 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 0.291 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 2.09 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.1382 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 2.09 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 3.12 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 1.93 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 1.61 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 10.4 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.7526 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is particulate matter exposure in 1990 vs. 2017 in Belgium?
- Particulate matter exposure in 1990 vs. 2017 in Belgium was 8.45 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 Belgium?
- The highest recorded value was 22.63 micrograms per cubic meter in 1991.
- What is the lowest particulate matter exposure in 1990 vs. 2017 recorded in Belgium?
- The lowest recorded value was 8.45 micrograms per cubic meter in 2023.
- How does Belgium rank for particulate matter exposure in 1990 vs. 2017?
- Belgium ranks 166th out of 200 countries with data for 2023.
- Is particulate matter exposure in 1990 vs. 2017 rising or falling in Belgium?
- Over the last ten years it is down 46.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Belgium 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 meter (µg/m³).