What is the highest particulate matter exposure in 1990 vs. 2017 recorded in South Africa?

The highest recorded value was 32.8 micrograms per cubic meter in 2010.

What is the lowest particulate matter exposure in 1990 vs. 2017 recorded in South Africa?

The lowest recorded value was 21.3 micrograms per cubic meter in 2003.

How does South Africa rank for particulate matter exposure in 1990 vs. 2017?

South Africa ranks 55th out of 200 countries with data for 2023.

Is particulate matter exposure in 1990 vs. 2017 rising or falling in South Africa?

Over the last ten years it is down 2.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.

Where does this South Africa 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.

Particulate matter exposure in 1990 vs. 2017 in South Africa

Name: Particulate matter exposure in 1990 vs. 2017 in South Africa
Creator: Global Burden of Disease Study 2023, Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME), via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data
License: CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)

South Africa: Particulate matter exposure in 1990 vs. 2017 was 27.72 micrograms per cubic meter in 2023. ▲ Rising

Latest (2023)

27.72 micrograms per cubic meter

Change on year

down 2.7%

World rank

55th

of 200 countries

All-time high

32.8 micrograms per cubic meter

in 2010

All-time low

21.3 micrograms per cubic meter

in 2003

Years of data

1990–2023

Particulate matter exposure in 1990 vs. 2017 in South Africa, 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 South Africa is 27.72 micrograms per cubic meter, measured in 2023.

That represents a change of down 2.7% on the previous year and down 2.4% over ten years.

Over the whole period, particulate matter exposure in 1990 vs. 2017 in South Africa peaked at 32.8 micrograms per cubic meter in 2010 and was at its lowest, 21.3 micrograms per cubic meter, in 2003.

South Africa ranks 55th of 200 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.

The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 34 years of available data.

Averages by decade

Decade	Average	Lowest	Highest	Years
1990s	23.87 micrograms per cubic meter	23.68 micrograms per cubic meter	24.26 micrograms per cubic meter	10
2000s	24.35 micrograms per cubic meter	21.3 micrograms per cubic meter	28.4 micrograms per cubic meter	10
2010s	28.52 micrograms per cubic meter	26.14 micrograms per cubic meter	32.8 micrograms per cubic meter	10
2020s	28.07 micrograms per cubic meter	27.72 micrograms per cubic meter	28.51 micrograms per cubic meter	4

Countries ranked near South Africa

52 Armenia 28.55 micrograms per cubic meter compare
53 Ghana 28.14 micrograms per cubic meter compare
54 Bolivia 28.14 micrograms per cubic meter compare
56 Guinea 27.26 micrograms per cubic meter compare
57 Lebanon 26.69 micrograms per cubic meter compare
58 Lesotho 26.44 micrograms per cubic meter compare

See the full ranking of 200 places →

More reference data data for South Africa

Spring temperature anomalies 0.191 °C (2026)
Summer temperature anomalies 1.36 °C (2026)
Temperature anomalies by month 0.6318 °C (2026)
Universal right to vote in practice 2 (2025)
Autumn temperature anomalies 1.18 °C (2025)
Winter temperature anomalies 0.2153 °C (2025)
Consumer price index 209.92 2010 = 100 (2025)
Universal right to vote 2 (2025)
Competitive elections 1 (2025)
Men's universal right to vote 1 (2025)

All data for South Africa →

Frequently asked questions

What is particulate matter exposure in 1990 vs. 2017 in South Africa?: Particulate matter exposure in 1990 vs. 2017 in South Africa was 27.72 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 South Africa?: The highest recorded value was 32.8 micrograms per cubic meter in 2010.
What is the lowest particulate matter exposure in 1990 vs. 2017 recorded in South Africa?: The lowest recorded value was 21.3 micrograms per cubic meter in 2003.
How does South Africa rank for particulate matter exposure in 1990 vs. 2017?: South Africa ranks 55th out of 200 countries with data for 2023.
Is particulate matter exposure in 1990 vs. 2017 rising or falling in South Africa?: Over the last ten years it is down 2.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this South Africa 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

Indicator: Particulate matter exposure in 1990 vs. 2017
Unit: micrograms per cubic meter
Source: Global Burden of Disease Study 2023, Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME), via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data
Licence: CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage: 200 places, 6,800 data points, 1990–2023
Last refreshed: 07 August 2026

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 metre (µg/m³).