Breathing in Dhaka is Injurious to Health.

Air pollution threatens the health of 41.8 million people across 13 districts in Dhaka. The average PM2.5 level is 72.4 µg/m³—14.5Ɨ higher than the WHO guideline.

Brought to you by Amrit Sharma

Air Pollution in Dhaka

Dhaka faces significant air pollution challenges. 100% of districts exceed the WHO guideline for clean air. This is putting 41.8 million across 13 districts at risk.

The average PM2.5 over 2023 was 72.4µg/m³. That's 14.5 times the WHO guideline for clean air of 5µg/m³.

This is equivalent of everybody, including children, smoking about 1201 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 Dhaka met the WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³, the average person would live 6.6 years longer.

That's 276.1M years of life stolen from 41.8 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 Dhaka. These areas face the greatest health burden from air pollution.

  • 1.Gazipur
    7.1 years lost
  • 2.Dhaka
    7 years lost
  • 3.Narayanganj
    6.6 years lost
  • 4.Shariatpur
    6.6 years lost
  • 5.Munshiganj
    6.6 years lost
  • 6.Manikganj
    6.5 years lost
  • 7.Madaripur
    6.4 years lost
  • 8.Narsingdi
    6.3 years lost
  • 9.Faridpur
    6.3 years lost
  • 10.Tangail
    6.3 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%
41.8M

All 13 Districts in Dhaka

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

DistrictPopulationPM2.5 µg/m³Years Lost
Dhaka13.9M
76.4
7.0 years
Tangail4.2M
69.2
6.3 years
Gazipur4.0M
77.4
7.1 years
Kishoreganj3.4M
63.3
5.7 years
Narayanganj3.2M
72.8
6.6 years
Narsingdi2.6M
69.7
6.3 years
Faridpur2.2M
69.3
6.3 years
Munshiganj1.6M
72.2
6.6 years
Manikganj1.6M
71.5
6.5 years
Gopalganj1.4M
67.9
6.2 years
Shariatpur1.3M
72.2
6.6 years
Madaripur1.3M
70.4
6.4 years
Rajbari1.2M
66.6
6.0 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.