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.

Nigeria's Akwa Ibom Air Pollution Report

Overview

Air Pollution in Akwa Ibom

Akwa Ibom faces significant air pollution challenges. 100% of districts exceed the WHO guideline for clean air. This is putting 6.1 million across 31 districts at risk.

The average PM2.5 over 2023 was 35.7µg/m³. That's 7.1 times the WHO guideline for clean air of 5µg/m³.

This is equivalent of everybody, including children, smoking about 592 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 Akwa Ibom met the WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³, the average person would live 3.01 years longer.

That's 18.4M years of life stolen from 6.1 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 Akwa Ibom. These areas face the greatest health burden from air pollution.

1.Oron
3.5 years lost
2.Udung Uko
3.4 years lost
3.Uruan
3.4 years lost
4.Mbo
3.4 years lost
5.Uyo
3.3 years lost
6.Itu
3.3 years lost
7.Okobo
3.3 years lost
8.Ibesikpo Asutan
3.3 years lost
9.Nsit Ibom
3.2 years lost
10.Abak
3.2 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

45.8%

2.8M

> 35 µg/m³

54.2%

3.3M

Districts

All 31 Districts in Akwa Ibom

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

District	Population	PM2.5 µg/m³	Years Lost
Uyo	590K	38.8	3.3 years
Mkpat Enin	286K	32.1	2.7 years
Eket	280K	33.4	2.8 years
Essien Udim	273K	35.1	3.0 years
Etinan	264K	35.8	3.0 years
Itu	261K	38.6	3.3 years
Ibiono Ibom	258K	37.0	3.1 years
Ikot Ekpene	244K	34.6	2.9 years
Oruk Anam	240K	34.8	2.9 years
Ikono	237K	34.1	2.9 years
Abak	219K	37.5	3.2 years
Obot Akara	212K	32.1	2.7 years
Ukanafun	200K	35.4	3.0 years
Ikot Abasi	197K	31.3	2.6 years
Ini	193K	32.4	2.7 years
Nsit Ubium	186K	34.7	2.9 years
Onna	181K	31.9	2.6 years
Uruan	177K	39.7	3.4 years
Ibesikpo Asutan	167K	38.5	3.3 years
Mbo	164K	39.6	3.4 years
Okobo	160K	38.6	3.3 years
Etim Ekpo	147K	34.8	2.9 years
Oron	145K	40.8	3.5 years
Nsit Ibom	139K	37.9	3.2 years
Ika	128K	33.8	2.8 years
Nsit Atai	123K	36.6	3.1 years
Urue Offong	110K	36.8	3.1 years
Ibeno	108K	33.5	2.8 years
Esit Eket	94K	32.8	2.7 years
Eastern Obolo	71K	30.5	2.5 years
Udung Uko	71K	39.7	3.4 years

Showing 31 districts, sorted by population (largest first). PM2.5 values are for 2023. Years lost calculated against WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³.

Breathing in Akwa Ibom is Injurious to Health.