This section provides metadata for the data reported for this indicator at the national level and at the global level.
- Goal
Goal 11: Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable
- Target
Target 11.6: By 2030, reduce the adverse per capita environmental impact of cities, including by paying special attention to air quality and municipal and other waste management
- Indicator
Indicator 11.6.2: Annual mean levels of fine particulate matter (e.g. PM2.5 and PM10) in cities (population weighted)
- Series
- Related indicators
3.9.1: Mortality rate attributed to household and ambient air pollution
- Custodian agencies
World Health Organization (WHO)
| Field | National | Global |
|---|---|---|
| Organisation | Not available for this indicator |
World Health Organization (WHO) |
| Contact organisation unit | Not available for this indicator |
Not available for this indicator |
| Contact email address | Not available for this indicator |
Not available for this indicator |
| Field | National | Global |
|---|---|---|
| Definition and concepts | Not available for this indicator |
Definition: The mean annual concentration of fine suspended particles of less than 2.5 microns in diameters (PM2.5) is a common measure of air pollution. The mean is a population-weighted average for urban population in a country, and is expressed in micrograms per cubic meter [g/m3]. |
| Unit of measure | Not available for this indicator |
Micrograms per cubic meter [g/m3 |
| Classifications | Not available for this indicator |
The PM2.5 concentrations are geographically classified according to the 2021 UNSD Degree of Urbanization classification: cities, towns and rural areas. Data is also provided for urban (aggregation of cities and towns) and all (aggregation of cities, towns and rural) areas. |
| Field | National | Global |
|---|---|---|
| Data sources | Not available for this indicator |
Sources of data include ground measurements from monitoring networks, collected for 6,000 cities and localities (WHO 2022) around the world, satellite remote sensing, population estimates, topography, information on local monitoring networks and measures of specific contributors of air pollution (WHO, 2022) |
| Data collection method | Not available for this indicator |
Data collection process for ground measurements include official reporting from countries to WHO (after request), and web searches. Measurements of PM10 or PM2.5 from official national/sub-national reports and websites or reported by regional networks such as Clean Air Asia for Asia and the European Environment Agency for Europe or data from UN agencies, development agencies, articles from peer reviewed journals and ground measurements compiled in the framework of the Global Burden of Disease Project. |
| Data collection calendar | Not available for this indicator |
During 2020 to 2022 |
| Data release calendar | Not available for this indicator |
2022 |
| Data providers | Not available for this indicator |
Ministry of Health, Ministry of the Environment |
| Data compilers | Not available for this indicator |
WHO |
| Institutional mandate | Not available for this indicator |
Not available for this indicator |
| Field | National | Global |
|---|---|---|
| Rationale | Not available for this indicator |
Air pollution consists of many pollutants, among other particulate matter. These particles are able to penetrate deeply into the respiratory tract and therefore constitute a risk for health by increasing mortality from respiratory infections and diseases, lung cancer, and selected cardiovascular diseases. |
| Comments and limitations | Not available for this indicator |
Urban/rural data: while the data quality available for urban/rural population is generally good for high-income countries, it can be relatively poor for some low- and middle income areas. Furthermore, the definition of urban/rural may greatly vary by country. |
| Method of computation | Not available for this indicator |
The annual urban mean concentration of PM2.5 is estimated with improved modelling using data integration from satellite remote sensing, population estimates, topography and ground measurements (WHO, 2016; Shaddick et al, 2016) |
| Adjustments | Not available for this indicator |
Not available for this indicator |
| Treatment of missing values (i) at country level and (ii) at regional level | Not available for this indicator |
Missing values are left blank.
Missing values are excluded from the regional and global averages. |
| Regional aggregations | Not available for this indicator |
The regional and global aggregates are population -weighted figures of the national estimates. Cagg=SUM (Cnat * Pnat)/ SUM (Pnat) where Cagg is the regional/global estimate, Cnat is the national estimate, Pnat is the country population. The sum is done over the countries in the region (regional aggregate) or all countries (global aggregate). |
| Methods and guidance available to countries for the compilation of the data at the national level | Not available for this indicator |
Countries which have air quality monitoring networks in places in urban areas can use the annual mean concentrations from the ground measurements and the corresponding number of inhabitants to derive the population-weighted exposure to particulate matter in cities. |
| Quality management | Not available for this indicator |
Not available for this indicator |
| Quality assurance | Not available for this indicator |
Data inputs to the model are official or published data on air quality or other relevant topics. Modelled estimates are carefully crossed-checked and compared with official ground measurements. Consultation/validation process with countries for adjustments and estimates Data inputs, methods and final estimates are shared with countries prior to publication via WHO official communication channels with WHO Member States. |
| Quality assessment | Not available for this indicator |
Not available for this indicator |
| National | Global |
|---|---|
Not available for this indicator |
Data availability: The indicator is available for 178 countries. Missing countries include mostly small states islands in the Western Pacific and in the Latin American and the Caribbean regions. Time series: Forthcoming Disaggregation: The indicator is available by 0.1° x 0.1° grid size for the world. |
| National | Global |
|---|---|
Not available for this indicator |
Sources of discrepancies: The source of differences between global and national figures: Modelled estimates versus annual mean concentrations obtained from ground measurements. |
| National | Global |
|---|---|
Not available for this indicator |
URL: www.who.int/gho/phe References: Shaddick G et al (2016). Data Integration Model for Air Quality: A Hierarchical Approach to the Global Estimation of Exposures to Ambient Air Pollution. Royal Statistical Society, arXiv:1609.0014. WHO (2016). Ambient air pollution: a global assessment of exposure and burden of disease, WHO Geneva. WHO (2022). WHO Urban ambient air quality database, WHO Geneva. |