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 Bauchi Air Pollution Report

Overview

Air Pollution in Bauchi

Bauchi faces significant air pollution challenges. 100% of districts exceed the WHO guideline for clean air. This is putting 8.0 million across 20 districts at risk.

The average PM2.5 over 2023 was 20.3µg/m³. That's 4.1 times the WHO guideline for clean air of 5µg/m³.

This is equivalent of everybody, including children, smoking about 337 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 Bauchi met the WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³, the average person would live 1.49 years longer.

That's 11.9M years of life stolen from 8.0 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 Bauchi. These areas face the greatest health burden from air pollution.

1.Bogoro
2.1 years lost
2.Tafawa-Balewa
2 years lost
3.Toro
1.9 years lost
4.Dass
1.9 years lost
5.Alkaleri
1.8 years lost
6.Bauchi
1.8 years lost
7.Kirfi
1.7 years lost
8.Ningi
1.6 years lost
9.Warji
1.5 years lost
10.Ganjuwa
1.5 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

10-15 µg/m³

2.8%

219K

15-25 µg/m³

91.7%

7.3M

25-35 µg/m³

5.6%

443K

> 35 µg/m³

Districts

All 20 Districts in Bauchi

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

District	Population	PM2.5 µg/m³	Years Lost
Bauchi	909K	23.1	1.8 years
Katagum	706K	17.4	1.2 years
Ningi	691K	21.4	1.6 years
Toro	649K	24.5	1.9 years
Alkaleri	538K	23.7	1.8 years
Ganjuwa	481K	20.4	1.5 years
Gamawa	475K	15.4	1.0 years
Itas/Gadau	412K	17.8	1.3 years
Misau	396K	17.3	1.2 years
Zaki	381K	15.9	1.1 years
Tafawa-Balewa	328K	25.4	2.0 years
Darazo	323K	18.4	1.3 years
Shira	292K	18.4	1.3 years
Kirfi	264K	22.6	1.7 years
Giade	234K	18.1	1.3 years
Damban	219K	14.7	0.9 years
Jama'are	216K	18.6	1.3 years
Warji	196K	20.7	1.5 years
Dass	137K	24.0	1.9 years
Bogoro	115K	26.1	2.1 years

Showing 20 districts, sorted by population (largest first). PM2.5 values are for 2023. Years lost calculated against WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³.

Breathing in Bauchi is Injurious to Health.