PM2.5 stands for particulate matter 2.5 microns or smaller. These particles are 30 times thinner than a human hair and come from car exhaust, power plants, wildfires, and burning fuel. They are small enough to bypass your body's natural defenses and enter your bloodstream.

How does air pollution affect the body?

Air pollution affects virtually every organ in the body. PM2.5 particles enter your lungs, pass into your bloodstream, and travel to your heart, brain, kidneys, liver, and other organs. This causes chronic inflammation, increasing risks of heart disease, stroke, lung cancer, dementia, and many other conditions.

How many people are affected by air pollution?

99% of the global population breathes air that exceeds WHO safety guidelines. Air pollution kills approximately 8 million people every year—more than AIDS, malaria, and tuberculosis combined.

Angola's Uíge Air Pollution Report

Overview

Air Pollution in Uíge

Uíge faces significant air pollution challenges. 100% of districts exceed the WHO guideline for clean air. This is putting 2.0 million across 16 districts at risk.

The average PM2.5 over 2023 was 28.2µg/m³. That's 5.6 times the WHO guideline for clean air of 5µg/m³.

This is equivalent of everybody, including children, smoking about 468 cigarettes in a year.

Trends

Air Quality Trend

Annual PM2.5 levels from 2014 to 2023. The WHO guideline for safe air is 5 µg/m³.

Health Impact

Life Expectancy Impact

If Uíge met the WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³, the average person would live 2.29 years longer.

That's 4.6M years of life stolen from 2.0 million people. Years of watching children grow up. Years of building a career. Years of quiet mornings and celebrations.

Lives cut short. Breathing kills.

Most Polluted

Districts with Highest Pollution

The top 10 most polluted districts in Uíge. These areas face the greatest health burden from air pollution.

1.Quimbele
2.6 years lost
2.Milunga
2.5 years lost
3.Buengas
2.5 years lost
4.Maquela do Zombo
2.5 years lost
5.Damba
2.4 years lost
6.Sanza Pombo
2.4 years lost
7.Mucaba
2.3 years lost
8.Bungo
2.3 years lost
9.Uíge
2.2 years lost
10.Alto Cauale
2.2 years lost

Exposure

Population Exposure by Pollution Level

Distribution of population across different PM2.5 pollution levels. The WHO guideline is 5 µg/m³—only populations below this threshold are breathing safe air.

< 5 µg/m³

5-10 µg/m³

10-15 µg/m³

15-25 µg/m³

25-35 µg/m³

100%

2.0M

> 35 µg/m³

Districts

All 16 Districts in Uíge

Complete air quality data for every district in Uíge, sorted by population.

District	Population	PM2.5 µg/m³	Years Lost
Uíge	697K	27.4	2.2 years
Negage	190K	26.8	2.1 years
Quimbele	184K	31.0	2.6 years
Maquela do Zombo	173K	30.0	2.5 years
Damba	91K	29.6	2.4 years
Sanza Pombo	90K	29.1	2.4 years
Songo	89K	27.0	2.2 years
Buengas	81K	30.4	2.5 years
Alto Cauale	74K	27.3	2.2 years
Milunga	70K	30.9	2.5 years
Mucaba	56K	28.2	2.3 years
Bungo	55K	28.0	2.3 years
Puri	50K	27.2	2.2 years
Quitexe	47K	26.0	2.1 years
Bembe	46K	25.1	2.0 years
Ambuila	24K	25.0	2.0 years

Showing 16 districts, sorted by population (largest first). PM2.5 values are for 2023. Years lost calculated against WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³.

Breathing in Uíge is Injurious to Health.