Breathing in Lilongwe is Injurious to Health.

Air pollution threatens the health of 3.2 million people across 16 districts in Lilongwe. The average PM2.5 level is 16.9 Āµg/mĀ³ā€”3.4Ɨ higher than the WHO guideline.

AboutMake Air Quality Great AgainAQLI Data

Brought to you by Amrit Sharma

Overview

Air Pollution in Lilongwe

Lilongwe faces significant air pollution challenges. 100% of districts exceed the WHO guideline for clean air. This is putting 3.2 million across 16 districts at risk.

The average PM2.5 over 2023 was 16.9Āµg/mĀ³. That's 3.4 times the WHO guideline for clean air of 5Āµg/mĀ³.

This is equivalent of everybody, including children, smoking about 280 cigarettes in a year.

Trends

Air Quality Trend

Annual PM2.5 levels from 2014 to 2023. The WHO guideline for safe air is 5 Āµg/mĀ³.

Health Impact

Life Expectancy Impact

If Lilongwe met the WHO guideline of 5 Āµg/mĀ³, the average person would live 1.18 years longer.

That's 3.7M years of life stolen from 3.2 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 Lilongwe. These areas face the greatest health burden from air pollution.

  • 1.TA Chiseka
    1.3 years lost
  • 2.TA Khongoni
    1.2 years lost
  • 3.TA Kalolo
    1.2 years lost
  • 4.SC Tsabango
    1.2 years lost
  • 5.Lilongwe City
    1.2 years lost
  • 6.TA Chadza
    1.2 years lost
  • 7.TA Kalumba
    1.2 years lost
  • 8.SC Njewa
    1.1 years lost
  • 9.TA Malili
    1.1 years lost
  • 10.TA Kalumbu
    1.1 years lost
Exposure

Population Exposure by Pollution Level

Distribution of population across different PM2.5 pollution levels. The WHO guideline is 5 Āµg/mĀ³ā€”only populations below this threshold are breathing safe air.

< 5 Āµg/mĀ³
0%
0
5-10 Āµg/mĀ³
0%
0
10-15 Āµg/mĀ³
0%
0
15-25 Āµg/mĀ³
100%
3.2M
25-35 Āµg/mĀ³
0%
0
> 35 Āµg/mĀ³
0%
0
Districts

All 16 Districts in Lilongwe

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

DistrictPopulationPM2.5 Āµg/mĀ³Years Lost
Lilongwe City1.2M
17.0
1.2 years
TA Chiseka354K
17.8
1.3 years
TA Kalolo236K
17.5
1.2 years
TA Kabudula182K
16.3
1.1 years
TA Chadza175K
16.9
1.2 years
TA Khongoni160K
17.7
1.2 years
TA Chimutu160K
15.7
1.1 years
TA Mazengera158K
15.8
1.1 years
TA Malili121K
16.6
1.1 years
TA Kalumbu93K
16.4
1.1 years
SC Chitekwele61K
16.2
1.1 years
SC Mtema59K
15.7
1.0 years
SC Tsabango53K
17.0
1.2 years
TA Chitukula43K
15.2
1.0 years
SC Njewa42K
16.6
1.1 years
TA Kalumba30K
16.7
1.2 years

Showing 16 districts, sorted by population (largest first). PM2.5 values are for 2023. Years lost calculated against WHO guideline of 5 Āµg/mĀ³.