Breathing in Mashonaland West is Injurious to Health.

Air pollution threatens the health of 2.1 million people across 13 districts in Mashonaland West. The average PM2.5 level is 22 µg/m³—4.4× higher than the WHO guideline.

AboutMake Air Quality Great AgainAQLI Data

Brought to you by Amrit Sharma

Overview

Air Pollution in Mashonaland West

Mashonaland West faces significant air pollution challenges. 100% of districts exceed the WHO guideline for clean air. This is putting 2.1 million across 13 districts at risk.

The average PM2.5 over 2023 was 22µg/m³. That's 4.4 times the WHO guideline for clean air of 5µg/m³.

This is equivalent of everybody, including children, smoking about 365 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 Mashonaland West met the WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³, the average person would live 1.67 years longer.

That's 3.5M years of life stolen from 2.1 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 Mashonaland West. These areas face the greatest health burden from air pollution.

  • 1.Kariba Urban
    1.9 years lost
  • 2.Makonde
    1.8 years lost
  • 3.Karoi
    1.8 years lost
  • 4.Hurungwe
    1.7 years lost
  • 5.Chinhoyi
    1.7 years lost
  • 6.Norton
    1.7 years lost
  • 7.Zvimba
    1.7 years lost
  • 8.Kariba
    1.7 years lost
  • 9.Chegutu Urban
    1.6 years lost
  • 10.Sanyati
    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
0%
0
5-10 µg/m³
0%
0
10-15 µg/m³
0%
0
15-25 µg/m³
100%
2.1M
25-35 µg/m³
0%
0
> 35 µg/m³
0%
0
Districts

All 13 Districts in Mashonaland West

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

DistrictPopulationPM2.5 µg/m³Years Lost
Hurungwe435K
22.7
1.7 years
Zvimba388K
22.0
1.7 years
Makonde234K
23.5
1.8 years
Chegutu200K
21.1
1.6 years
Mhondoro-Ngezi157K
20.1
1.5 years
Sanyati155K
21.3
1.6 years
Kadoma Urban131K
20.6
1.5 years
Chinhoyi116K
22.7
1.7 years
Norton97K
22.6
1.7 years
Chegutu Urban74K
21.8
1.6 years
Kariba51K
22.0
1.7 years
Karoi42K
22.9
1.8 years
Kariba Urban21K
24.4
1.9 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.