Particulate matter exposure in 1990 vs. 2017 in Nepal
Nepal: Particulate matter exposure in 1990 vs. 2017 was 53.2 micrograms per cubic meter in 2023. ▲ Rising
Latest (2023)
53.2 micrograms per cubic meter
Change on year
up 5.1%
World rank
12th
of 200 countries
All-time high
59.53 micrograms per cubic meter
in 2018
All-time low
39.8 micrograms per cubic meter
in 1995
Years of data
34
1990–2023
Particulate matter exposure in 1990 vs. 2017 in Nepal, 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 Nepal stood at 53.2 micrograms per cubic meter.
The figure is up 5.1% on the previous year and up 6.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, particulate matter exposure in 1990 vs. 2017 in Nepal peaked at 59.53 micrograms per cubic meter in 2018 and was at its lowest, 39.8 micrograms per cubic meter, in 1995.
Nepal ranks 12th of 200 countries on this measure, 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 Nepal, year by year
| Year | micrograms per cubic meter | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 42.56 micrograms per cubic meter | — |
| 1991 | 41.66 micrograms per cubic meter | -2.1% |
| 1992 | 41.63 micrograms per cubic meter | -0.1% |
| 1993 | 41.6 micrograms per cubic meter | -0.1% |
| 1994 | 41.57 micrograms per cubic meter | -0.1% |
| 1995 | 39.8 micrograms per cubic meter | -4.2% |
| 1996 | 41.5 micrograms per cubic meter | +4.3% |
| 1997 | 41.47 micrograms per cubic meter | -0.1% |
| 1998 | 41.44 micrograms per cubic meter | -0.1% |
| 1999 | 41.41 micrograms per cubic meter | -0.1% |
| 2000 | 42.24 micrograms per cubic meter | +2.0% |
| 2001 | 43.64 micrograms per cubic meter | +3.3% |
| 2002 | 43.94 micrograms per cubic meter | +0.7% |
| 2003 | 44.28 micrograms per cubic meter | +0.8% |
| 2004 | 42.86 micrograms per cubic meter | -3.2% |
| 2005 | 42.54 micrograms per cubic meter | -0.8% |
| 2006 | 48.8 micrograms per cubic meter | +14.7% |
| 2007 | 51.87 micrograms per cubic meter | +6.3% |
| 2008 | 54.49 micrograms per cubic meter | +5.0% |
| 2009 | 58.94 micrograms per cubic meter | +8.2% |
| 2010 | 50.38 micrograms per cubic meter | -14.5% |
| 2011 | 52.75 micrograms per cubic meter | +4.7% |
| 2012 | 54.51 micrograms per cubic meter | +3.3% |
| 2013 | 49.89 micrograms per cubic meter | -8.5% |
| 2014 | 50.69 micrograms per cubic meter | +1.6% |
| 2015 | 52.09 micrograms per cubic meter | +2.8% |
| 2016 | 51.91 micrograms per cubic meter | -0.4% |
| 2017 | 53.03 micrograms per cubic meter | +2.2% |
| 2018 | 59.53 micrograms per cubic meter | +12.2% |
| 2019 | 54.28 micrograms per cubic meter | -8.8% |
| 2020 | 51.13 micrograms per cubic meter | -5.8% |
| 2021 | 56.84 micrograms per cubic meter | +11.2% |
| 2022 | 50.63 micrograms per cubic meter | -10.9% |
| 2023 | 53.2 micrograms per cubic meter | +5.1% |
Nepal compared with similar countries
- Nepal's 53.2 micrograms per cubic meter is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 25.98 micrograms per cubic meter, 2.0× the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Nepal's 53.2 micrograms per cubic meter is above the median for South Asia, which is 41.64 micrograms per cubic meter, 1.3× the median. (6 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 41.46 micrograms per cubic meter | 39.8 micrograms per cubic meter | 42.56 micrograms per cubic meter | 10 |
| 2000s | 47.36 micrograms per cubic meter | 42.24 micrograms per cubic meter | 58.94 micrograms per cubic meter | 10 |
| 2010s | 52.91 micrograms per cubic meter | 49.89 micrograms per cubic meter | 59.53 micrograms per cubic meter | 10 |
| 2020s | 52.95 micrograms per cubic meter | 50.63 micrograms per cubic meter | 56.84 micrograms per cubic meter | 4 |
Countries ranked near Nepal
- 9 Bahrain 56.57 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 10 Cameroon 55.6 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 11 India 54.05 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 13 Iraq 49.47 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 14 Oman 46.86 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 15 Yemen 46.84 micrograms per cubic meter compare
More reference data data for Nepal
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.7753 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 2.5 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 4.14 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.7853 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 4.14 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 2.6 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 0.7974 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 11.28 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 19.44 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 4.28 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is particulate matter exposure in 1990 vs. 2017 in Nepal?
- Particulate matter exposure in 1990 vs. 2017 in Nepal was 53.2 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 Nepal?
- The highest recorded value was 59.53 micrograms per cubic meter in 2018.
- What is the lowest particulate matter exposure in 1990 vs. 2017 recorded in Nepal?
- The lowest recorded value was 39.8 micrograms per cubic meter in 1995.
- How does Nepal rank for particulate matter exposure in 1990 vs. 2017?
- Nepal ranks 12th out of 200 countries with data for 2023.
- Is particulate matter exposure in 1990 vs. 2017 rising or falling in Nepal?
- Over the last ten years it is up 6.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Nepal 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).