Air pollution
Air pollution affects millions of people worldwide, stemming from diverse sources. Both household and outdoor air pollution pose severe threats related to cardiovascular and respiratory diseases, cancers, and other conditions.
Photo by Reuters/Sergei Karpukhin.
Interactive data visuals
GBD Compare
Compare trends in air pollution and its contribution to deaths and disability due to causes like COPD and lower respiratory infection.
Burden of Proof
Explore the strength of evidence behind various health outcomes associated with exposure to particulate matter and household air pollution.
Datasets in our catalog
Visit the Global Health Data Exchange (GHDx) to download our estimates and data sources for air pollution.
GBD 2021 Air Pollution Exposure Estimates 1990-2021
EEA Air Quality e-Reporting Database 2018
GBD 2019 Air Pollution Exposure Estimates 1990-2019
Air pollution data from the Global Burden of Disease
In 2021, ambient particulate matter air pollution was the leading Level 4 risk factor for DALYs among all environmental and occupational risks. It contributed to 120 million DALYs and 4.72 million deaths in 2021.
