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 Oyo Air Pollution Report

Overview

Air Pollution in Oyo

Oyo faces significant air pollution challenges. 100% of districts exceed the WHO guideline for clean air. This is putting 8.7 million across 33 districts at risk.

The average PM2.5 over 2023 was 19.8µg/m³. That's 4.0 times the WHO guideline for clean air of 5µg/m³.

This is equivalent of everybody, including children, smoking about 329 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 Oyo met the WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³, the average person would live 1.44 years longer.

That's 12.6M years of life stolen from 8.7 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 Oyo. These areas face the greatest health burden from air pollution.

1.Olorunsogo
1.7 years lost
2.Orelope
1.7 years lost
3.Irepo
1.7 years lost
4.Saki East
1.7 years lost
5.Surulere
1.6 years lost
6.Ogbomosho North
1.5 years lost
7.Ori-Ire
1.5 years lost
8.Ibadan North
1.5 years lost
9.Ogbomosho South
1.5 years lost
10.Saki West
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

15-25 µg/m³

100%

8.7M

25-35 µg/m³

> 35 µg/m³

Districts

All 33 Districts in Oyo

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

District	Population	PM2.5 µg/m³	Years Lost
Ibadan South-East	505K	19.7	1.4 years
Egbeda	497K	19.7	1.4 years
Ona Ara	480K	19.5	1.4 years
Ibadan North-East	475K	20.2	1.5 years
Oluyole	422K	19.4	1.4 years
Iseyin	404K	18.4	1.3 years
Ibadan South-West	389K	19.7	1.4 years
Saki East	388K	21.9	1.7 years
Ibadan North	370K	20.5	1.5 years
Ogbomosho North	319K	20.8	1.5 years
Kajola	312K	19.4	1.4 years
Akinyele	291K	20.3	1.5 years
Oyo West	279K	19.0	1.4 years
Saki West	243K	20.3	1.5 years
Lagelu	226K	20.1	1.5 years
Afijio	225K	19.1	1.4 years
Ibadan North-West	220K	20.0	1.5 years
Ori-Ire	214K	20.8	1.5 years
Surulere	211K	21.8	1.6 years
Itesiwaju	194K	18.8	1.3 years
Irepo	193K	21.9	1.7 years
Atiba	190K	19.1	1.4 years
Oyo East	185K	19.8	1.4 years
Ibarapa East	182K	17.3	1.2 years
Ibarapa Central	160K	17.2	1.2 years
Ogbomosho South	158K	20.4	1.5 years
Orelope	157K	22.1	1.7 years
Iwajowa	156K	15.9	1.1 years
Ibarapa North	156K	16.6	1.1 years
Ido	133K	19.3	1.4 years
Ogo Oluwa	133K	20.3	1.5 years
Olorunsogo	132K	22.4	1.7 years
Atisbo	126K	19.2	1.4 years

Showing 33 districts, sorted by population (largest first). PM2.5 values are for 2023. Years lost calculated against WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³.

Breathing in Oyo is Injurious to Health.