Breathing in Southern is Injurious to Health.

Air pollution threatens the health of 2.4 million people across 13 districts in Southern. The average PM2.5 level is 20.4 µg/m³—4.1× higher than the WHO guideline.

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Brought to you by Amrit Sharma

Overview

Air Pollution in Southern

Southern faces significant air pollution challenges. 100% of districts exceed the WHO guideline for clean air. This is putting 2.4 million across 13 districts at risk.

The average PM2.5 over 2023 was 20.4µg/m³. That's 4.1 times the WHO guideline for clean air of 5µg/m³.

This is equivalent of everybody, including children, smoking about 338 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 Southern met the WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³, the average person would live 1.5 years longer.

That's 3.6M years of life stolen from 2.4 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 Southern. These areas face the greatest health burden from air pollution.

  • 1.Livingstone
    1.8 years lost
  • 2.Mazabuka
    1.8 years lost
  • 3.Siavonga
    1.7 years lost
  • 4.Gwembe
    1.6 years lost
  • 5.Namwala
    1.5 years lost
  • 6.Kazungula
    1.5 years lost
  • 7.Chikankanta
    1.5 years lost
  • 8.Sinazongwe
    1.5 years lost
  • 9.Monze
    1.4 years lost
  • 10.Zimba
    1.4 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
100%
2.4M
25-35 µg/m³
0%
0
> 35 µg/m³
0%
0
Districts

All 13 Districts in Southern

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

DistrictPopulationPM2.5 µg/m³Years Lost
Monze334K
19.7
1.4 years
Choma305K
19.1
1.4 years
Kalomo299K
18.4
1.3 years
Mazabuka248K
23.0
1.8 years
Livingstone177K
23.1
1.8 years
Kazungula172K
20.6
1.5 years
Namwala166K
20.7
1.5 years
Sinazongwe134K
20.5
1.5 years
Pemba127K
19.4
1.4 years
Chikankanta126K
20.6
1.5 years
Zimba115K
19.5
1.4 years
Siavonga101K
22.5
1.7 years
Gwembe76K
21.4
1.6 years

Showing 13 districts, sorted by population (largest first). PM2.5 values are for 2023. Years lost calculated against WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³.