Particulate matter exposure in 1990 vs. 2017 in Zambia
Zambia: Particulate matter exposure in 1990 vs. 2017 was 20.24 micrograms per cubic meter in 2023. ▬ Flat
Latest (2023)
20.24 micrograms per cubic meter
Change on year
down 13.8%
World rank
81st
of 200 countries
All-time high
25.47 micrograms per cubic meter
in 2001
All-time low
19.45 micrograms per cubic meter
in 2020
Years of data
34
1990–2023
Particulate matter exposure in 1990 vs. 2017 in Zambia, 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
Zambia recorded 20.24 micrograms per cubic meter for particulate matter exposure in 1990 vs. 2017 in 2023.
The figure is down 13.8% on the previous year and down 8.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, particulate matter exposure in 1990 vs. 2017 in Zambia peaked at 25.47 micrograms per cubic meter in 2001 and was at its lowest, 19.45 micrograms per cubic meter, in 2020.
That places Zambia 81st out of 200 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the middle of the range.
Particulate matter exposure in 1990 vs. 2017 in Zambia, year by year
| Year | micrograms per cubic meter | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 21.73 micrograms per cubic meter | — |
| 1991 | 21.29 micrograms per cubic meter | -2.0% |
| 1992 | 21.41 micrograms per cubic meter | +0.5% |
| 1993 | 21.52 micrograms per cubic meter | +0.5% |
| 1994 | 21.64 micrograms per cubic meter | +0.5% |
| 1995 | 20.64 micrograms per cubic meter | -4.6% |
| 1996 | 21.87 micrograms per cubic meter | +6.0% |
| 1997 | 21.99 micrograms per cubic meter | +0.5% |
| 1998 | 22.11 micrograms per cubic meter | +0.5% |
| 1999 | 22.22 micrograms per cubic meter | +0.5% |
| 2000 | 22.9 micrograms per cubic meter | +3.0% |
| 2001 | 25.47 micrograms per cubic meter | +11.2% |
| 2002 | 23.11 micrograms per cubic meter | -9.3% |
| 2003 | 22.38 micrograms per cubic meter | -3.2% |
| 2004 | 21.64 micrograms per cubic meter | -3.3% |
| 2005 | 22.68 micrograms per cubic meter | +4.8% |
| 2006 | 22.7 micrograms per cubic meter | +0.1% |
| 2007 | 23.25 micrograms per cubic meter | +2.4% |
| 2008 | 23.81 micrograms per cubic meter | +2.4% |
| 2009 | 23.07 micrograms per cubic meter | -3.1% |
| 2010 | 24.48 micrograms per cubic meter | +6.1% |
| 2011 | 22.48 micrograms per cubic meter | -8.2% |
| 2012 | 23 micrograms per cubic meter | +2.3% |
| 2013 | 22.08 micrograms per cubic meter | -4.0% |
| 2014 | 20.53 micrograms per cubic meter | -7.0% |
| 2015 | 22.76 micrograms per cubic meter | +10.8% |
| 2016 | 21.21 micrograms per cubic meter | -6.8% |
| 2017 | 19.82 micrograms per cubic meter | -6.6% |
| 2018 | 21.11 micrograms per cubic meter | +6.6% |
| 2019 | 22.12 micrograms per cubic meter | +4.8% |
| 2020 | 19.45 micrograms per cubic meter | -12.1% |
| 2021 | 19.59 micrograms per cubic meter | +0.7% |
| 2022 | 23.49 micrograms per cubic meter | +19.9% |
| 2023 | 20.24 micrograms per cubic meter | -13.8% |
Zambia compared with similar countries
- Zambia's 20.24 micrograms per cubic meter is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 25.98 micrograms per cubic meter, 78% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Zambia's 20.24 micrograms per cubic meter is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 27.49 micrograms per cubic meter, 74% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 21.64 micrograms per cubic meter | 20.64 micrograms per cubic meter | 22.22 micrograms per cubic meter | 10 |
| 2000s | 23.1 micrograms per cubic meter | 21.64 micrograms per cubic meter | 25.47 micrograms per cubic meter | 10 |
| 2010s | 21.96 micrograms per cubic meter | 19.82 micrograms per cubic meter | 24.48 micrograms per cubic meter | 10 |
| 2020s | 20.69 micrograms per cubic meter | 19.45 micrograms per cubic meter | 23.49 micrograms per cubic meter | 4 |
Countries ranked near Zambia
- 78 Nicaragua 20.42 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 79 Cote d'Ivoire 20.39 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 80 Kenya 20.25 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 82 Cape Verde 20.19 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 83 Tanzania 20.17 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 84 Kyrgyzstan 20.12 micrograms per cubic meter compare
More reference data data for Zambia
- Exchange rate, new LCU per USD extended backward, period average 18.94 (2026)
- Exchange rate, old LCU per USD extended forward, period average 18.94 (2026)
- Official exchange rate, LCU per USD, period average 18.94 (2026)
- Global number of reported disasters by size, gaps filled 0 events (2025)
- Annual precipitation, annual growth rate 40.84 % change on previous year (2025)
- Free country, gaps filled 1 (2025)
- Civil liberties rating, gaps filled 4 (2025)
- Civil liberties rating, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Civil liberties rating, per capita 0 units per person (2025)
- Consumer price index 483.32 2010 = 100 (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is particulate matter exposure in 1990 vs. 2017 in Zambia?
- Particulate matter exposure in 1990 vs. 2017 in Zambia was 20.24 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 Zambia?
- The highest recorded value was 25.47 micrograms per cubic meter in 2001.
- What is the lowest particulate matter exposure in 1990 vs. 2017 recorded in Zambia?
- The lowest recorded value was 19.45 micrograms per cubic meter in 2020.
- How does Zambia rank for particulate matter exposure in 1990 vs. 2017?
- Zambia ranks 81st out of 200 countries with data for 2023.
- Is particulate matter exposure in 1990 vs. 2017 rising or falling in Zambia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 8.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this Zambia 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).