Exposure to PM2.5 air pollution vs. GDP per capita in Malawi
Malawi: Exposure to PM2.5 air pollution vs. GDP per capita was 16.72 micrograms per cubic meter in 2023. ▬ Flat
Latest (2023)
16.72 micrograms per cubic meter
Change on year
down 17.1%
World rank
104th
of 200 countries
All-time high
21.42 micrograms per cubic meter
in 2008
All-time low
15.7 micrograms per cubic meter
in 2021
Years of data
34
1990–2023
Exposure to PM2.5 air pollution vs. GDP per capita in Malawi, 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
In 2023, exposure to pm2.5 air pollution vs. gdp per capita in Malawi stood at 16.72 micrograms per cubic meter.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 17.1% on the previous year and down 11.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, exposure to pm2.5 air pollution vs. gdp per capita in Malawi peaked at 21.42 micrograms per cubic meter in 2008 and was at its lowest, 15.7 micrograms per cubic meter, in 2021.
Malawi ranks 104th of 200 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
Exposure to PM2.5 air pollution vs. GDP per capita in Malawi, year by year
| Year | micrograms per cubic meter | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 17.54 micrograms per cubic meter | — |
| 1991 | 17.07 micrograms per cubic meter | -2.7% |
| 1992 | 17.18 micrograms per cubic meter | +0.7% |
| 1993 | 17.3 micrograms per cubic meter | +0.6% |
| 1994 | 17.41 micrograms per cubic meter | +0.6% |
| 1995 | 16.36 micrograms per cubic meter | -6.0% |
| 1996 | 17.63 micrograms per cubic meter | +7.8% |
| 1997 | 17.74 micrograms per cubic meter | +0.6% |
| 1998 | 17.85 micrograms per cubic meter | +0.6% |
| 1999 | 17.97 micrograms per cubic meter | +0.6% |
| 2000 | 18.66 micrograms per cubic meter | +3.8% |
| 2001 | 21.33 micrograms per cubic meter | +14.3% |
| 2002 | 19.26 micrograms per cubic meter | -9.7% |
| 2003 | 18.42 micrograms per cubic meter | -4.4% |
| 2004 | 18.05 micrograms per cubic meter | -2.0% |
| 2005 | 18.39 micrograms per cubic meter | +1.9% |
| 2006 | 20.1 micrograms per cubic meter | +9.3% |
| 2007 | 21.21 micrograms per cubic meter | +5.5% |
| 2008 | 21.42 micrograms per cubic meter | +1.0% |
| 2009 | 19.87 micrograms per cubic meter | -7.2% |
| 2010 | 21.16 micrograms per cubic meter | +6.5% |
| 2011 | 19.17 micrograms per cubic meter | -9.4% |
| 2012 | 18.86 micrograms per cubic meter | -1.6% |
| 2013 | 18.91 micrograms per cubic meter | +0.3% |
| 2014 | 16.95 micrograms per cubic meter | -10.4% |
| 2015 | 17.98 micrograms per cubic meter | +6.1% |
| 2016 | 16.56 micrograms per cubic meter | -7.9% |
| 2017 | 16.04 micrograms per cubic meter | -3.1% |
| 2018 | 18.77 micrograms per cubic meter | +17.0% |
| 2019 | 19.6 micrograms per cubic meter | +4.4% |
| 2020 | 16.39 micrograms per cubic meter | -16.4% |
| 2021 | 15.7 micrograms per cubic meter | -4.2% |
| 2022 | 20.17 micrograms per cubic meter | +28.5% |
| 2023 | 16.72 micrograms per cubic meter | -17.1% |
Malawi compared with similar countries
- Malawi's 16.72 micrograms per cubic meter is below the median for low income countries, which is 33.29 micrograms per cubic meter, 50% of the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Malawi's 16.72 micrograms per cubic meter is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 27.49 micrograms per cubic meter, 61% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 17.41 micrograms per cubic meter | 16.36 micrograms per cubic meter | 17.97 micrograms per cubic meter | 10 |
| 2000s | 19.67 micrograms per cubic meter | 18.05 micrograms per cubic meter | 21.42 micrograms per cubic meter | 10 |
| 2010s | 18.4 micrograms per cubic meter | 16.04 micrograms per cubic meter | 21.16 micrograms per cubic meter | 10 |
| 2020s | 17.24 micrograms per cubic meter | 15.7 micrograms per cubic meter | 20.17 micrograms per cubic meter | 4 |
Countries ranked near Malawi
- 101 Guyana 16.95 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 102 Belize 16.76 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 103 Eswatini 16.75 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 105 Mexico 16.61 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 106 Algeria 16.54 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 107 Poland 16.52 micrograms per cubic meter compare
More economy & growth data for Malawi
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 04 - Annual real GDP 2.07 Percent per annum (2029)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 02 - Annual real GDP 4.6 Percent per annum (2029)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), gaps 56.42 million BoP, current US$ (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0.005 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 2.61 BoP, current US$ per person (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), gaps filled 257.97 million BoP, current US$ (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), annual 20.57 % change on previous year (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0.0228 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 11.91 BoP, current US$ per person (2024)
- Total reserves (includes gold, current US$), annual growth rate -29.8 % change on previous year (2020)
Frequently asked questions
- What is exposure to pm2.5 air pollution vs. gdp per capita in Malawi?
- Exposure to pm2.5 air pollution vs. gdp per capita in Malawi was 16.72 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 exposure to pm2.5 air pollution vs. gdp per capita recorded in Malawi?
- The highest recorded value was 21.42 micrograms per cubic meter in 2008.
- What is the lowest exposure to pm2.5 air pollution vs. gdp per capita recorded in Malawi?
- The lowest recorded value was 15.7 micrograms per cubic meter in 2021.
- How does Malawi rank for exposure to pm2.5 air pollution vs. gdp per capita?
- Malawi ranks 104th out of 200 countries with data for 2023.
- Is exposure to pm2.5 air pollution vs. gdp per capita rising or falling in Malawi?
- Over the last ten years it is down 11.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this Malawi 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 Exposure to PM2.5 air pollution vs. GDP per capita. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
GDP per capita is adjusted for inflation and differences in living costs between countries.