Breathing in Kongo-Central is Injurious to Health.

Air pollution threatens the health of 7.5 million people across 19 districts in Kongo-Central. The average PM2.5 level is 25.4 µg/m³—5.1× higher than the WHO guideline.

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Brought to you by Amrit Sharma

Overview

Air Pollution in Kongo-Central

Kongo-Central faces significant air pollution challenges. 100% of districts exceed the WHO guideline for clean air. This is putting 7.5 million across 19 districts at risk.

The average PM2.5 over 2023 was 25.4µg/m³. That's 5.1 times the WHO guideline for clean air of 5µg/m³.

This is equivalent of everybody, including children, smoking about 421 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 Kongo-Central met the WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³, the average person would live 2 years longer.

That's 15.0M years of life stolen from 7.5 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 Kongo-Central. These areas face the greatest health burden from air pollution.

  • 1.Kasangulu
    2.6 years lost
  • 2.Kasangulu (ville)
    2.6 years lost
  • 3.Kimvula
    2.5 years lost
  • 4.Mbanza-Ngungu (ville)
    2.4 years lost
  • 5.Madimba
    2.3 years lost
  • 6.Mbanza-Ngungu
    2.3 years lost
  • 7.Bangu
    2.2 years lost
  • 8.Inkisi
    2.2 years lost
  • 9.Luozi
    2.2 years lost
  • 10.Songololo
    2.1 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
0%
0
5-10 µg/m³
0%
0
10-15 µg/m³
0%
0
15-25 µg/m³
42.9%
3.2M
25-35 µg/m³
57.1%
4.3M
> 35 µg/m³
0%
0
Districts

All 19 Districts in Kongo-Central

Complete air quality data for every district in Kongo-Central, sorted by population.

DistrictPopulationPM2.5 µg/m³Years Lost
Mbanza-Ngungu1.1M
28.8
2.3 years
Tshela887K
21.1
1.6 years
Songololo673K
26.5
2.1 years
Luozi647K
27.6
2.2 years
Lukula610K
20.4
1.5 years
Seke-Banza578K
22.9
1.8 years
Madimba549K
28.9
2.3 years
Mbanza-Ngungu (ville)450K
29.5
2.4 years
Matadi417K
24.0
1.9 years
Moanda401K
17.3
1.2 years
Boma308K
21.8
1.6 years
Kasangulu227K
31.5
2.6 years
Kimvula219K
30.2
2.5 years
Inkisi179K
27.6
2.2 years
Kasangulu (ville)97K
31.4
2.6 years
Bangu91K
27.7
2.2 years
Tshela (ville)9K
20.8
1.5 years
Moanda (ville)8K
18.7
1.3 years
Lukula (ville)3K
21.3
1.6 years

Showing 19 districts, sorted by population (largest first). PM2.5 values are for 2023. Years lost calculated against WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³.