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 Anambra Air Pollution Report

Overview

Air Pollution in Anambra

Anambra faces significant air pollution challenges. 100% of districts exceed the WHO guideline for clean air. This is putting 6.3 million across 21 districts at risk.

The average PM2.5 over 2023 was 24.6µg/m³. That's 4.9 times the WHO guideline for clean air of 5µg/m³.

This is equivalent of everybody, including children, smoking about 408 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 Anambra met the WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³, the average person would live 1.92 years longer.

That's 12.0M years of life stolen from 6.3 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 Anambra. These areas face the greatest health burden from air pollution.

1.Ogbaru
2.8 years lost
2.Onitsha South
2.7 years lost
3.Onitsha North
2.6 years lost
4.Anambra East
2.3 years lost
5.Ihiala
2.3 years lost
6.Ekwusigo
2.2 years lost
7.Anambra West
2.2 years lost
8.Nnewi South
2.1 years lost
9.Aguata
2 years lost
10.Nnewi North
1.9 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

68.1%

4.3M

25-35 µg/m³

31.9%

2.0M

> 35 µg/m³

Districts

All 21 Districts in Anambra

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

District	Population	PM2.5 µg/m³	Years Lost
Anambra East	539K	28.3	2.3 years
Oyi	480K	24.6	1.9 years
Awka South	471K	20.7	1.5 years
Aguata	463K	25.0	2.0 years
Orumba North	414K	20.8	1.6 years
Anaocha	385K	23.5	1.8 years
Orumba South	349K	18.4	1.3 years
Ihiala	346K	28.0	2.3 years
Idemili North	337K	24.1	1.9 years
Nnewi South	322K	26.7	2.1 years
Onitsha North	320K	31.5	2.6 years
Idemili South	289K	23.8	1.8 years
Njikoka	265K	21.0	1.6 years
Ayamelum	262K	23.4	1.8 years
Nnewi North	217K	24.8	1.9 years
Anambra West	201K	27.7	2.2 years
Awka North	175K	22.4	1.7 years
Dunukofia	166K	21.1	1.6 years
Ekwusigo	152K	27.8	2.2 years
Ogbaru	75K	33.8	2.8 years
Onitsha South	42K	33.0	2.7 years

Showing 21 districts, sorted by population (largest first). PM2.5 values are for 2023. Years lost calculated against WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³.

Breathing in Anambra is Injurious to Health.