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 Lagos Air Pollution Report

Overview

Air Pollution in Lagos

Lagos faces significant air pollution challenges. 100% of districts exceed the WHO guideline for clean air. This is putting 22.2 million across 20 districts at risk.

The average PM2.5 over 2023 was 21.3µg/m³. That's 4.3 times the WHO guideline for clean air of 5µg/m³.

This is equivalent of everybody, including children, smoking about 353 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 Lagos met the WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³, the average person would live 1.61 years longer.

That's 35.7M years of life stolen from 22.2 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 Lagos. These areas face the greatest health burden from air pollution.

1.Epe
1.8 years lost
2.Ibeju-Lekki
1.8 years lost
3.Ikorodu
1.7 years lost
4.Kosofe
1.7 years lost
5.Eti-Osa
1.7 years lost
6.Shomolu
1.7 years lost
7.Lagos Island
1.6 years lost
8.Mainland
1.6 years lost
9.Apapa
1.6 years lost
10.Ojo
1.6 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

100%

22.2M

25-35 µg/m³

> 35 µg/m³

Districts

All 20 Districts in Lagos

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

District	Population	PM2.5 µg/m³	Years Lost
Alimosho	2.7M	19.8	1.5 years
Ikorodu	1.9M	22.8	1.7 years
Surulere	1.7M	21.2	1.6 years
Amuwo Odofin	1.7M	21.0	1.6 years
Eti-Osa	1.5M	21.9	1.7 years
Apapa	1.5M	21.4	1.6 years
Ikeja	1.5M	20.9	1.6 years
Ojo	1.4M	21.3	1.6 years
Mainland	1.2M	21.5	1.6 years
Lagos Island	1.1M	21.8	1.6 years
Kosofe	1.0M	22.6	1.7 years
Oshodi/Isolo	894K	20.4	1.5 years
Shomolu	865K	21.9	1.7 years
Mushin	630K	21.0	1.6 years
Agege	564K	20.3	1.5 years
Ajeromi/Ifelodun	548K	21.2	1.6 years
Badagry	525K	20.1	1.5 years
Ifako/Ijaye	500K	20.3	1.5 years
Epe	297K	22.9	1.8 years
Ibeju-Lekki	207K	22.9	1.8 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 Lagos is Injurious to Health.