Breathing in North-Western is Injurious to Health.

Air pollution threatens the health of 1.1 million people across 11 districts in North-Western. The average PM2.5 level is 31.3 µg/m³—6.3× higher than the WHO guideline.

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Brought to you by Amrit Sharma

Overview

Air Pollution in North-Western

North-Western faces significant air pollution challenges. 100% of districts exceed the WHO guideline for clean air. This is putting 1.1 million across 11 districts at risk.

The average PM2.5 over 2023 was 31.3µg/m³. That's 6.3 times the WHO guideline for clean air of 5µg/m³.

This is equivalent of everybody, including children, smoking about 519 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 North-Western met the WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³, the average person would live 2.6 years longer.

That's 2.8M years of life stolen from 1.1 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 North-Western. These areas face the greatest health burden from air pollution.

  • 1.Kalumbila
    2.8 years lost
  • 2.Ikelenge
    2.7 years lost
  • 3.Mushindano
    2.7 years lost
  • 4.Solwezi
    2.7 years lost
  • 5.Mwinilunga
    2.6 years lost
  • 6.Kasempa
    2.6 years lost
  • 7.Mufumbwe
    2.5 years lost
  • 8.Manyinga
    2.5 years lost
  • 9.Kabompo
    2.4 years lost
  • 10.Chavuma
    2.3 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
0%
0
5-10 µg/m³
0%
0
10-15 µg/m³
0%
0
15-25 µg/m³
0%
0
25-35 µg/m³
100%
1.1M
> 35 µg/m³
0%
0
Districts

All 11 Districts in North-Western

Complete air quality data for every district in North-Western, sorted by population.

DistrictPopulationPM2.5 µg/m³Years Lost
Solwezi333K
32.5
2.7 years
Kalumbila125K
33.2
2.8 years
Zambezi102K
28.0
2.3 years
Mwinilunga86K
31.8
2.6 years
Kasempa85K
31.2
2.6 years
Mufumbwe72K
30.4
2.5 years
Kabompo64K
29.4
2.4 years
Manyinga61K
30.0
2.5 years
Chavuma50K
28.1
2.3 years
Ikelenge47K
32.9
2.7 years
Mushindano35K
32.5
2.7 years

Showing 11 districts, sorted by population (largest first). PM2.5 values are for 2023. Years lost calculated against WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³.