Particulate matter exposure in 1990 vs. 2017 in France
France: Particulate matter exposure in 1990 vs. 2017 was 8.23 micrograms per cubic meter in 2023. ▼ Falling
Latest (2023)
8.23 micrograms per cubic meter
Change on year
down 20.8%
World rank
169th
of 200 countries
All-time high
19.61 micrograms per cubic meter
in 1990
All-time low
8.23 micrograms per cubic meter
in 2023
Years of data
34
1990–2023
Particulate matter exposure in 1990 vs. 2017 in France, 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 France is 8.23 micrograms per cubic meter, measured in 2023. That is the lowest value across all 34 years on record.
That represents a change of down 20.8% on the previous year and down 42.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, particulate matter exposure in 1990 vs. 2017 in France peaked at 19.61 micrograms per cubic meter in 1990 and was at its lowest, 8.23 micrograms per cubic meter, in 2023.
That places France 169th out of 200 countries with data for 2023, putting it 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 France, year by year
| Year | micrograms per cubic meter | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 19.61 micrograms per cubic meter | — |
| 1991 | 19.58 micrograms per cubic meter | -0.1% |
| 1992 | 19.41 micrograms per cubic meter | -0.9% |
| 1993 | 19.24 micrograms per cubic meter | -0.9% |
| 1994 | 19.07 micrograms per cubic meter | -0.9% |
| 1995 | 19.18 micrograms per cubic meter | +0.6% |
| 1996 | 18.72 micrograms per cubic meter | -2.4% |
| 1997 | 18.55 micrograms per cubic meter | -0.9% |
| 1998 | 18.37 micrograms per cubic meter | -0.9% |
| 1999 | 18.2 micrograms per cubic meter | -0.9% |
| 2000 | 17.88 micrograms per cubic meter | -1.7% |
| 2001 | 17.17 micrograms per cubic meter | -4.0% |
| 2002 | 16.75 micrograms per cubic meter | -2.4% |
| 2003 | 18.65 micrograms per cubic meter | +11.4% |
| 2004 | 16.17 micrograms per cubic meter | -13.3% |
| 2005 | 16.55 micrograms per cubic meter | +2.3% |
| 2006 | 14.47 micrograms per cubic meter | -12.6% |
| 2007 | 13.83 micrograms per cubic meter | -4.4% |
| 2008 | 14.54 micrograms per cubic meter | +5.1% |
| 2009 | 15.65 micrograms per cubic meter | +7.6% |
| 2010 | 15.87 micrograms per cubic meter | +1.4% |
| 2011 | 15.49 micrograms per cubic meter | -2.4% |
| 2012 | 13.93 micrograms per cubic meter | -10.1% |
| 2013 | 14.29 micrograms per cubic meter | +2.6% |
| 2014 | 11.35 micrograms per cubic meter | -20.6% |
| 2015 | 12.05 micrograms per cubic meter | +6.2% |
| 2016 | 11.04 micrograms per cubic meter | -8.4% |
| 2017 | 10.62 micrograms per cubic meter | -3.8% |
| 2018 | 10.51 micrograms per cubic meter | -1.0% |
| 2019 | 9.42 micrograms per cubic meter | -10.4% |
| 2020 | 8.78 micrograms per cubic meter | -6.8% |
| 2021 | 9.94 micrograms per cubic meter | +13.2% |
| 2022 | 10.38 micrograms per cubic meter | +4.5% |
| 2023 | 8.23 micrograms per cubic meter | -20.8% |
France compared with similar countries
- France's 8.23 micrograms per cubic meter is below the median for high income countries, which is 10.06 micrograms per cubic meter, 82% of the median. (70 countries reporting)
- France's 8.23 micrograms per cubic meter is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 12.88 micrograms per cubic meter, 64% of the median. (52 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 18.99 micrograms per cubic meter | 18.2 micrograms per cubic meter | 19.61 micrograms per cubic meter | 10 |
| 2000s | 16.17 micrograms per cubic meter | 13.83 micrograms per cubic meter | 18.65 micrograms per cubic meter | 10 |
| 2010s | 12.46 micrograms per cubic meter | 9.42 micrograms per cubic meter | 15.87 micrograms per cubic meter | 10 |
| 2020s | 9.33 micrograms per cubic meter | 8.23 micrograms per cubic meter | 10.38 micrograms per cubic meter | 4 |
Countries ranked near France
- 166 Belgium 8.45 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
- 170 Puerto Rico 7.84 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 171 Brunei 7.57 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 172 Ireland 7.51 micrograms per cubic meter compare
More reference data data for France
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 5.48 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 2.93 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 22.63 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 2.81 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 22.63 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 18.36 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 11.75 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 14.49 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 106.68 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 15.3 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is particulate matter exposure in 1990 vs. 2017 in France?
- Particulate matter exposure in 1990 vs. 2017 in France was 8.23 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 France?
- The highest recorded value was 19.61 micrograms per cubic meter in 1990.
- What is the lowest particulate matter exposure in 1990 vs. 2017 recorded in France?
- The lowest recorded value was 8.23 micrograms per cubic meter in 2023.
- How does France rank for particulate matter exposure in 1990 vs. 2017?
- France ranks 169th out of 200 countries with data for 2023.
- Is particulate matter exposure in 1990 vs. 2017 rising or falling in France?
- Over the last ten years it is down 42.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this France 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).