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.

Ethiopia's Southern Nations, Nationalities Air Pollution Report

Overview

Air Pollution in Southern Nations, Nationalities

Southern Nations, Nationalities faces significant air pollution challenges. 100% of districts exceed the WHO guideline for clean air. This is putting 24.0 million across 22 districts at risk.

The average PM2.5 over 2023 was 15.5µg/m³. That's 3.1 times the WHO guideline for clean air of 5µg/m³.

This is equivalent of everybody, including children, smoking about 257 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 Southern Nations, Nationalities met the WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³, the average person would live 1.02 years longer.

That's 24.5M years of life stolen from 24.0 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 Southern Nations, Nationalities. These areas face the greatest health burden from air pollution.

1.Sheka
1.3 years lost
2.Yem
1.3 years lost
3.Keffa
1.2 years lost
4.Konta
1.2 years lost
5.Gurage
1.1 years lost
6.Dawro
1.1 years lost
7.Basketo
1.1 years lost
8.Gamo Gofa
1.1 years lost
9.Bench Maji
1.1 years lost
10.Gedeo
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

5-10 µg/m³

10-15 µg/m³

15.6%

3.7M

15-25 µg/m³

84.4%

20.3M

25-35 µg/m³

> 35 µg/m³

Districts

All 22 Districts in Southern Nations, Nationalities

Complete air quality data for every district in Southern Nations, Nationalities, sorted by population.

District	Population	PM2.5 µg/m³	Years Lost
Sidama	4.8M	15.6	1.0 years
Gurage	3.1M	16.3	1.1 years
Hadiya	2.5M	15.4	1.0 years
Gamo Gofa	2.3M	15.8	1.1 years
Wolayita	2.2M	13.6	0.8 years
Silti	1.5M	15.0	1.0 years
Kembata Tembaro	1.3M	15.3	1.0 years
Keffa	1.3M	17.3	1.2 years
Bench Maji	1.0M	15.7	1.1 years
Gedeo	851K	15.7	1.0 years
Dawro	705K	16.3	1.1 years
Debub Omo	591K	13.8	0.9 years
Alaba	362K	12.5	0.7 years
Sheka	318K	17.9	1.3 years
Yem	216K	17.8	1.3 years
Konso	198K	11.7	0.7 years
Amaro	177K	13.4	0.8 years
Konta	164K	17.2	1.2 years
Derashe	113K	14.3	0.9 years
Burji	85K	11.4	0.6 years
Basketo	79K	15.8	1.1 years
Alle	40K	12.0	0.7 years

Showing 22 districts, sorted by population (largest first). PM2.5 values are for 2023. Years lost calculated against WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³.

Breathing in Southern Nations, Nationalities is Injurious to Health.