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.

Mozambique's Cabo Delgado Air Pollution Report

Overview

Air Pollution in Cabo Delgado

Cabo Delgado faces significant air pollution challenges. 100% of districts exceed the WHO guideline for clean air. This is putting 2.7 million across 15 districts at risk.

The average PM2.5 over 2023 was 11.1µg/m³. That's 2.2 times the WHO guideline for clean air of 5µg/m³.

This is equivalent of everybody, including children, smoking about 184 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 Cabo Delgado met the WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³, the average person would live 0.6 years longer.

That's 1.6M years of life stolen from 2.7 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 Cabo Delgado. These areas face the greatest health burden from air pollution.

1.Balama
0.8 years lost
2.Namuno
0.8 years lost
3.Montepuez
0.7 years lost
4.Mueda
0.6 years lost
5.Nangade
0.6 years lost
6.Meluco
0.6 years lost
7.Muidumbe
0.6 years lost
8.Chiúre
0.6 years lost
9.Ancuabe
0.5 years lost
10.Pemba
0.5 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

29.8%

805K

10-15 µg/m³

70.2%

1.9M

15-25 µg/m³

25-35 µg/m³

> 35 µg/m³

Districts

All 15 Districts in Cabo Delgado

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

District	Population	PM2.5 µg/m³	Years Lost
Pemba	343K	9.9	0.5 years
Montepuez	332K	12.4	0.7 years
Ancuabe	313K	10.4	0.5 years
Namuno	295K	12.9	0.8 years
Chiúre	277K	10.6	0.6 years
Mueda	212K	11.5	0.6 years
Balama	211K	13.3	0.8 years
Macomia	170K	9.8	0.5 years
Mocimboa da Praia	149K	9.2	0.4 years
Muidumbe	115K	10.9	0.6 years
Nangade	99K	11.2	0.6 years
Palma	79K	8.8	0.4 years
Meluco	44K	11.1	0.6 years
Quissanga	37K	9.7	0.5 years
Mecufi	28K	8.8	0.4 years

Showing 15 districts, sorted by population (largest first). PM2.5 values are for 2023. Years lost calculated against WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³.

Breathing in Cabo Delgado is Injurious to Health.