Breathing in Western is Injurious to Health.

Air pollution threatens the health of 1.3 million people across 16 districts in Western. The average PM2.5 level is 25.6 µg/m³—5.1× higher than the WHO guideline.

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Brought to you by Amrit Sharma

Overview

Air Pollution in Western

Western faces significant air pollution challenges. 100% of districts exceed the WHO guideline for clean air. This is putting 1.3 million across 16 districts at risk.

The average PM2.5 over 2023 was 25.6µg/m³. That's 5.1 times the WHO guideline for clean air of 5µg/m³.

This is equivalent of everybody, including children, smoking about 425 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 Western met the WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³, the average person would live 2.04 years longer.

That's 2.6M years of life stolen from 1.3 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 Western. These areas face the greatest health burden from air pollution.

  • 1.Nkeyema
    2.3 years lost
  • 2.Kaoma
    2.3 years lost
  • 3.Mitete
    2.2 years lost
  • 4.Lukulu
    2.2 years lost
  • 5.Mongu
    2.2 years lost
  • 6.Luampa
    2.2 years lost
  • 7.Limulunga
    2.1 years lost
  • 8.Kalabo
    2.1 years lost
  • 9.Nalolo
    2 years lost
  • 10.Senanga
    1.9 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
32.3%
410K
25-35 µg/m³
67.7%
858K
> 35 µg/m³
0%
0
Districts

All 16 Districts in Western

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

DistrictPopulationPM2.5 µg/m³Years Lost
Mongu214K
27.1
2.2 years
Kaoma141K
28.1
2.3 years
Kalabo113K
26.2
2.1 years
Senanga106K
24.6
1.9 years
Nkeyema105K
28.4
2.3 years
Lukulu72K
27.2
2.2 years
Shang'ombo63K
21.4
1.6 years
Nalolo63K
25.0
2.0 years
Luampa56K
26.9
2.2 years
Limulunga54K
26.5
2.1 years
Sesheke53K
20.2
1.5 years
Mulobezi49K
21.8
1.6 years
Sioma49K
21.9
1.7 years
Mwandi47K
21.2
1.6 years
Sikongo42K
24.3
1.9 years
Mitete38K
27.4
2.2 years

Showing 16 districts, sorted by population (largest first). PM2.5 values are for 2023. Years lost calculated against WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³.