Particulate matter exposure in 1990 vs. 2017 in Iraq
Iraq: Particulate matter exposure in 1990 vs. 2017 was 49.47 micrograms per cubic meter in 2023. ▲ Rising
Latest (2023)
49.47 micrograms per cubic meter
Change on year
down 16.9%
World rank
13th
of 200 countries
All-time high
59.53 micrograms per cubic meter
in 2022
All-time low
43.32 micrograms per cubic meter
in 2001
Years of data
34
1990–2023
Particulate matter exposure in 1990 vs. 2017 in Iraq, 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
In 2023, particulate matter exposure in 1990 vs. 2017 in Iraq stood at 49.47 micrograms per cubic meter.
That represents a change of down 16.9% on the previous year and down 3.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, particulate matter exposure in 1990 vs. 2017 in Iraq peaked at 59.53 micrograms per cubic meter in 2022 and was at its lowest, 43.32 micrograms per cubic meter, in 2001.
That places Iraq 13th out of 200 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 34 years of available data.
Particulate matter exposure in 1990 vs. 2017 in Iraq, year by year
| Year | micrograms per cubic meter | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 49.25 micrograms per cubic meter | — |
| 1991 | 47.67 micrograms per cubic meter | -3.2% |
| 1992 | 47.57 micrograms per cubic meter | -0.2% |
| 1993 | 47.47 micrograms per cubic meter | -0.2% |
| 1994 | 47.37 micrograms per cubic meter | -0.2% |
| 1995 | 44.32 micrograms per cubic meter | -6.4% |
| 1996 | 47.16 micrograms per cubic meter | +6.4% |
| 1997 | 47.06 micrograms per cubic meter | -0.2% |
| 1998 | 46.96 micrograms per cubic meter | -0.2% |
| 1999 | 46.86 micrograms per cubic meter | -0.2% |
| 2000 | 48.23 micrograms per cubic meter | +2.9% |
| 2001 | 43.32 micrograms per cubic meter | -10.2% |
| 2002 | 44.31 micrograms per cubic meter | +2.3% |
| 2003 | 47.44 micrograms per cubic meter | +7.1% |
| 2004 | 44.22 micrograms per cubic meter | -6.8% |
| 2005 | 48.26 micrograms per cubic meter | +9.1% |
| 2006 | 47.92 micrograms per cubic meter | -0.7% |
| 2007 | 50.72 micrograms per cubic meter | +5.8% |
| 2008 | 53.01 micrograms per cubic meter | +4.5% |
| 2009 | 54.02 micrograms per cubic meter | +1.9% |
| 2010 | 57.07 micrograms per cubic meter | +5.6% |
| 2011 | 51.63 micrograms per cubic meter | -9.5% |
| 2012 | 53.09 micrograms per cubic meter | +2.8% |
| 2013 | 51.24 micrograms per cubic meter | -3.5% |
| 2014 | 47.49 micrograms per cubic meter | -7.3% |
| 2015 | 52.53 micrograms per cubic meter | +10.6% |
| 2016 | 49.43 micrograms per cubic meter | -5.9% |
| 2017 | 47.54 micrograms per cubic meter | -3.8% |
| 2018 | 51.72 micrograms per cubic meter | +8.8% |
| 2019 | 45.7 micrograms per cubic meter | -11.6% |
| 2020 | 47.63 micrograms per cubic meter | +4.2% |
| 2021 | 48.8 micrograms per cubic meter | +2.4% |
| 2022 | 59.53 micrograms per cubic meter | +22.0% |
| 2023 | 49.47 micrograms per cubic meter | -16.9% |
Iraq compared with similar countries
- Iraq's 49.47 micrograms per cubic meter is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 18.51 micrograms per cubic meter, 2.7× the median. (58 countries reporting)
- Iraq's 49.47 micrograms per cubic meter is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 40.25 micrograms per cubic meter, 1.2× the median. (23 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 47.17 micrograms per cubic meter | 44.32 micrograms per cubic meter | 49.25 micrograms per cubic meter | 10 |
| 2000s | 48.15 micrograms per cubic meter | 43.32 micrograms per cubic meter | 54.02 micrograms per cubic meter | 10 |
| 2010s | 50.74 micrograms per cubic meter | 45.7 micrograms per cubic meter | 57.07 micrograms per cubic meter | 10 |
| 2020s | 51.36 micrograms per cubic meter | 47.63 micrograms per cubic meter | 59.53 micrograms per cubic meter | 4 |
Countries ranked near Iraq
- 10 Cameroon 55.6 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 11 India 54.05 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 12 Nepal 53.2 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 14 Oman 46.86 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 15 Yemen 46.84 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 16 Mauritania 46.5 micrograms per cubic meter compare
More reference data data for Iraq
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.2116 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 3.19 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 7.23 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.3911 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 7.23 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.7096 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 0.235 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 13.21 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 30.36 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 2.13 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is particulate matter exposure in 1990 vs. 2017 in Iraq?
- Particulate matter exposure in 1990 vs. 2017 in Iraq was 49.47 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 Iraq?
- The highest recorded value was 59.53 micrograms per cubic meter in 2022.
- What is the lowest particulate matter exposure in 1990 vs. 2017 recorded in Iraq?
- The lowest recorded value was 43.32 micrograms per cubic meter in 2001.
- How does Iraq rank for particulate matter exposure in 1990 vs. 2017?
- Iraq ranks 13th out of 200 countries with data for 2023.
- Is particulate matter exposure in 1990 vs. 2017 rising or falling in Iraq?
- Over the last ten years it is down 3.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Iraq 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).