Particulate matter exposure in 1990 vs. 2017 in United Kingdom
United Kingdom: Particulate matter exposure in 1990 vs. 2017 was 9.46 micrograms per cubic meter in 2023. ▼ Falling
Latest (2023)
9.46 micrograms per cubic meter
Change on year
down 5.5%
World rank
158th
of 200 countries
All-time high
20.16 micrograms per cubic meter
in 1991
All-time low
9.46 micrograms per cubic meter
in 2023
Years of data
34
1990–2023
Particulate matter exposure in 1990 vs. 2017 in United Kingdom, 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
United Kingdom recorded 9.46 micrograms per cubic meter for particulate matter exposure in 1990 vs. 2017 in 2023. That is the lowest value across all 34 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 5.5% on the previous year and down 24.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, particulate matter exposure in 1990 vs. 2017 in United Kingdom peaked at 20.16 micrograms per cubic meter in 1991 and was at its lowest, 9.46 micrograms per cubic meter, in 2023.
That places United Kingdom 158th 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 United Kingdom, year by year
| Year | micrograms per cubic meter | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 20.11 micrograms per cubic meter | — |
| 1991 | 20.16 micrograms per cubic meter | +0.3% |
| 1992 | 19.94 micrograms per cubic meter | -1.1% |
| 1993 | 19.72 micrograms per cubic meter | -1.1% |
| 1994 | 19.49 micrograms per cubic meter | -1.1% |
| 1995 | 19.82 micrograms per cubic meter | +1.7% |
| 1996 | 19.05 micrograms per cubic meter | -3.9% |
| 1997 | 18.83 micrograms per cubic meter | -1.2% |
| 1998 | 18.6 micrograms per cubic meter | -1.2% |
| 1999 | 18.38 micrograms per cubic meter | -1.2% |
| 2000 | 17.88 micrograms per cubic meter | -2.7% |
| 2001 | 15.8 micrograms per cubic meter | -11.6% |
| 2002 | 16.39 micrograms per cubic meter | +3.7% |
| 2003 | 19.35 micrograms per cubic meter | +18.1% |
| 2004 | 15.58 micrograms per cubic meter | -19.5% |
| 2005 | 16.11 micrograms per cubic meter | +3.4% |
| 2006 | 13.46 micrograms per cubic meter | -16.5% |
| 2007 | 12.14 micrograms per cubic meter | -9.8% |
| 2008 | 11.99 micrograms per cubic meter | -1.2% |
| 2009 | 11.99 micrograms per cubic meter | +0.0% |
| 2010 | 12.54 micrograms per cubic meter | +4.6% |
| 2011 | 13.02 micrograms per cubic meter | +3.8% |
| 2012 | 11.18 micrograms per cubic meter | -14.1% |
| 2013 | 12.5 micrograms per cubic meter | +11.8% |
| 2014 | 12.16 micrograms per cubic meter | -2.7% |
| 2015 | 10.5 micrograms per cubic meter | -13.6% |
| 2016 | 10.66 micrograms per cubic meter | +1.6% |
| 2017 | 10.37 micrograms per cubic meter | -2.8% |
| 2018 | 10.61 micrograms per cubic meter | +2.3% |
| 2019 | 10.29 micrograms per cubic meter | -3.0% |
| 2020 | 9.52 micrograms per cubic meter | -7.5% |
| 2021 | 10 micrograms per cubic meter | +5.0% |
| 2022 | 10.02 micrograms per cubic meter | +0.2% |
| 2023 | 9.46 micrograms per cubic meter | -5.5% |
United Kingdom compared with similar countries
- United Kingdom's 9.46 micrograms per cubic meter is below the median for high income countries, which is 10.06 micrograms per cubic meter, 94% of the median. (70 countries reporting)
- United Kingdom's 9.46 micrograms per cubic meter is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 12.88 micrograms per cubic meter, 73% of the median. (52 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 19.41 micrograms per cubic meter | 18.38 micrograms per cubic meter | 20.16 micrograms per cubic meter | 10 |
| 2000s | 15.07 micrograms per cubic meter | 11.99 micrograms per cubic meter | 19.35 micrograms per cubic meter | 10 |
| 2010s | 11.38 micrograms per cubic meter | 10.29 micrograms per cubic meter | 13.02 micrograms per cubic meter | 10 |
| 2020s | 9.75 micrograms per cubic meter | 9.46 micrograms per cubic meter | 10.02 micrograms per cubic meter | 4 |
Countries ranked near United Kingdom
- 155 Spain 10.08 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 156 Austria 10.03 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 157 Solomon Islands 9.77 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 159 Cuba 9.45 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 160 Seychelles 9.26 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 161 Andorra 8.88 micrograms per cubic meter compare
More reference data data for United Kingdom
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 3.13 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 3.97 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 13.26 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 1.01 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 13.26 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 10.5 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 6.51 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 15.81 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 59.34 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 5.48 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is particulate matter exposure in 1990 vs. 2017 in United Kingdom?
- Particulate matter exposure in 1990 vs. 2017 in United Kingdom was 9.46 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 United Kingdom?
- The highest recorded value was 20.16 micrograms per cubic meter in 1991.
- What is the lowest particulate matter exposure in 1990 vs. 2017 recorded in United Kingdom?
- The lowest recorded value was 9.46 micrograms per cubic meter in 2023.
- How does United Kingdom rank for particulate matter exposure in 1990 vs. 2017?
- United Kingdom ranks 158th out of 200 countries with data for 2023.
- Is particulate matter exposure in 1990 vs. 2017 rising or falling in United Kingdom?
- Over the last ten years it is down 24.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this United Kingdom 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).