Breathing in Chittagong is Injurious to Health.

Air pollution threatens the health of 34.3 million people across 11 districts in Chittagong. The average PM2.5 level is 64.7 µg/m³—12.9Ɨ higher than the WHO guideline.

Brought to you by Amrit Sharma

Air Pollution in Chittagong

Chittagong faces significant air pollution challenges. 100% of districts exceed the WHO guideline for clean air. This is putting 34.3 million across 11 districts at risk.

The average PM2.5 over 2023 was 64.7µg/m³. That's 12.9 times the WHO guideline for clean air of 5µg/m³.

This is equivalent of everybody, including children, smoking about 1073 cigarettes in a year.

Air Quality Trend

Annual PM2.5 levels from 2014 to 2023. The WHO guideline for safe air is 5 µg/m³.

Life Expectancy Impact

If Chittagong met the WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³, the average person would live 5.86 years longer.

That's 201.1M years of life stolen from 34.3 million people. Years of watching children grow up. Years of building a career. Years of quiet mornings and celebrations.

Lives cut short. Breathing kills.

Districts with Highest Pollution

The top 10 most polluted districts in Chittagong. These areas face the greatest health burden from air pollution.

  • 1.Chandpur
    6.6 years lost
  • 2.Noakhali
    6.3 years lost
  • 3.Lakshmipur
    6.3 years lost
  • 4.Chittagong
    6.2 years lost
  • 5.Feni
    6 years lost
  • 6.Comilla
    5.9 years lost
  • 7.Brahamanbaria
    5.6 years lost
  • 8.Cox'S Bazar
    4.9 years lost
  • 9.Khagrachhari
    4.5 years lost
  • 10.Bandarban
    4.3 years lost

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
0%
0
> 35 µg/m³
100%
34.3M

All 11 Districts in Chittagong

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

DistrictPopulationPM2.5 µg/m³Years Lost
Chittagong8.7M
68.3
6.2 years
Comilla6.2M
65.0
5.9 years
Cox'S Bazar4.4M
54.6
4.9 years
Noakhali3.6M
69.6
6.3 years
Brahamanbaria3.3M
62.4
5.6 years
Chandpur2.7M
72.2
6.6 years
Lakshmipur2.0M
68.8
6.3 years
Feni1.6M
66.5
6.0 years
Rangamati693K
48.2
4.2 years
Khagrachhari683K
51.4
4.5 years
Bandarban472K
48.6
4.3 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.