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 Jigawa Air Pollution Report

Overview

Air Pollution in Jigawa

Jigawa faces significant air pollution challenges. 100% of districts exceed the WHO guideline for clean air. This is putting 6.6 million across 27 districts at risk.

The average PM2.5 over 2023 was 17µg/m³. That's 3.4 times the WHO guideline for clean air of 5µg/m³.

This is equivalent of everybody, including children, smoking about 282 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 Jigawa met the WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³, the average person would live 1.18 years longer.

That's 7.8M years of life stolen from 6.6 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 Jigawa. These areas face the greatest health burden from air pollution.

1.Birnin Kudu
1.5 years lost
2.Buji
1.4 years lost
3.Gwaram
1.4 years lost
4.Dutse
1.4 years lost
5.Ringim
1.4 years lost
6.Kiyawa
1.4 years lost
7.Jahun
1.3 years lost
8.Garki
1.3 years lost
9.Taura
1.3 years lost
10.Miga
1.2 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

17.1%

1.1M

15-25 µg/m³

82.9%

5.5M

25-35 µg/m³

> 35 µg/m³

Districts

All 27 Districts in Jigawa

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

District	Population	PM2.5 µg/m³	Years Lost
Birnin Kudu	443K	20.5	1.5 years
Gwaram	402K	19.6	1.4 years
Dutse	346K	19.4	1.4 years
Kafin Hausa	340K	16.8	1.2 years
Jahun	335K	18.4	1.3 years
Malam Maduri	313K	14.5	0.9 years
Maigatari	305K	15.0	1.0 years
Kiyawa	298K	19.1	1.4 years
Babura	297K	17.0	1.2 years
Sule Tankarkar	291K	16.0	1.1 years
Kiri Kasama	255K	13.7	0.8 years
Ringim	249K	19.2	1.4 years
Kazaure	247K	16.8	1.2 years
Miga	234K	17.7	1.2 years
Biriniwa	230K	12.9	0.8 years
Garki	219K	18.0	1.3 years
Gwiwa	217K	15.4	1.0 years
Kaugama	211K	15.6	1.0 years
Taura	190K	17.9	1.3 years
Guri	180K	13.0	0.8 years
Yankwashi	177K	15.9	1.1 years
Auyo	170K	16.0	1.1 years
Hadejia	147K	14.9	1.0 years
Buji	144K	19.7	1.4 years
Gumel	142K	15.2	1.0 years
Gagarawa	126K	15.8	1.1 years
Roni	81K	16.4	1.1 years

Showing 27 districts, sorted by population (largest first). PM2.5 values are for 2023. Years lost calculated against WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³.

Breathing in Jigawa is Injurious to Health.