Particulate matter exposure in 1990 vs. 2017 in Canada
Canada: Particulate matter exposure in 1990 vs. 2017 was 6.55 micrograms per cubic meter in 2023. ▼ Falling
Particulate matter exposure in 1990 vs. 2017 in Canada, 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 Canada is 6.55 micrograms per cubic meter, measured in 2023.
The figure is up 2.5% on the previous year and down 8.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, particulate matter exposure in 1990 vs. 2017 in Canada peaked at 9.45 micrograms per cubic meter in 1991 and was at its lowest, 6.03 micrograms per cubic meter, in 2020.
Canada ranks 179th 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 Canada, year by year
| Year | micrograms per cubic meter | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 9.41 micrograms per cubic meter | — |
| 1991 | 9.45 micrograms per cubic meter | +0.4% |
| 1992 | 9.39 micrograms per cubic meter | -0.6% |
| 1993 | 9.33 micrograms per cubic meter | -0.6% |
| 1994 | 9.27 micrograms per cubic meter | -0.6% |
| 1995 | 9.4 micrograms per cubic meter | +1.4% |
| 1996 | 9.15 micrograms per cubic meter | -2.6% |
| 1997 | 9.1 micrograms per cubic meter | -0.6% |
| 1998 | 9.04 micrograms per cubic meter | -0.7% |
| 1999 | 8.98 micrograms per cubic meter | -0.7% |
| 2000 | 8.82 micrograms per cubic meter | -1.7% |
| 2001 | 8.95 micrograms per cubic meter | +1.5% |
| 2002 | 8.75 micrograms per cubic meter | -2.3% |
| 2003 | 8.85 micrograms per cubic meter | +1.2% |
| 2004 | 8.1 micrograms per cubic meter | -8.5% |
| 2005 | 8.6 micrograms per cubic meter | +6.1% |
| 2006 | 8.18 micrograms per cubic meter | -4.8% |
| 2007 | 7.96 micrograms per cubic meter | -2.7% |
| 2008 | 7.69 micrograms per cubic meter | -3.4% |
| 2009 | 7.37 micrograms per cubic meter | -4.2% |
| 2010 | 7.14 micrograms per cubic meter | -3.1% |
| 2011 | 7.41 micrograms per cubic meter | +3.8% |
| 2012 | 6.92 micrograms per cubic meter | -6.6% |
| 2013 | 7.14 micrograms per cubic meter | +3.3% |
| 2014 | 7.46 micrograms per cubic meter | +4.4% |
| 2015 | 7.39 micrograms per cubic meter | -0.9% |
| 2016 | 6.17 micrograms per cubic meter | -16.4% |
| 2017 | 6.91 micrograms per cubic meter | +12.0% |
| 2018 | 7.14 micrograms per cubic meter | +3.3% |
| 2019 | 6.45 micrograms per cubic meter | -9.7% |
| 2020 | 6.03 micrograms per cubic meter | -6.5% |
| 2021 | 7.84 micrograms per cubic meter | +30.1% |
| 2022 | 6.39 micrograms per cubic meter | -18.5% |
| 2023 | 6.55 micrograms per cubic meter | +2.5% |
Canada compared with similar countries
- Canada's 6.55 micrograms per cubic meter is below the median for high income countries, which is 10.06 micrograms per cubic meter, 65% of the median. (70 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Particulate matter exposure in 1990 vs. 2017 in Canada changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | +30.1% | 6.03 micrograms per cubic meter | 7.84 micrograms per cubic meter |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 9.25 micrograms per cubic meter | 8.98 micrograms per cubic meter | 9.45 micrograms per cubic meter | 10 |
| 2000s | 8.33 micrograms per cubic meter | 7.37 micrograms per cubic meter | 8.95 micrograms per cubic meter | 10 |
| 2010s | 7.01 micrograms per cubic meter | 6.17 micrograms per cubic meter | 7.46 micrograms per cubic meter | 10 |
| 2020s | 6.7 micrograms per cubic meter | 6.03 micrograms per cubic meter | 7.84 micrograms per cubic meter | 4 |
Countries ranked near Canada
- 176 United States 6.97 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 177 New Zealand 6.88 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 178 United States Virgin Islands 6.79 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 180 Fiji 6.45 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 181 Australia 6.41 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 182 Estonia 5.92 micrograms per cubic meter compare
More reference data data for Canada
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 2.05 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 3.92 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 20.47 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 2.92 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 20.47 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 6.86 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 7.45 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 22.03 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 99.83 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 15.88 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is particulate matter exposure in 1990 vs. 2017 in Canada?
- Particulate matter exposure in 1990 vs. 2017 in Canada was 6.55 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 Canada?
- The highest recorded value was 9.45 micrograms per cubic meter in 1991.
- What is the lowest particulate matter exposure in 1990 vs. 2017 recorded in Canada?
- The lowest recorded value was 6.03 micrograms per cubic meter in 2020.
- How does Canada rank for particulate matter exposure in 1990 vs. 2017?
- Canada ranks 179th out of 200 countries with data for 2023.
- Is particulate matter exposure in 1990 vs. 2017 rising or falling in Canada?
- Over the last ten years it is down 8.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Canada 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).