PM2.5 stands for particulate matter 2.5 microns or smaller. These particles are 30 times thinner than a human hair and come from car exhaust, power plants, wildfires, and burning fuel. They are small enough to bypass your body's natural defenses and enter your bloodstream.

How does air pollution affect the body?

Air pollution affects virtually every organ in the body. PM2.5 particles enter your lungs, pass into your bloodstream, and travel to your heart, brain, kidneys, liver, and other organs. This causes chronic inflammation, increasing risks of heart disease, stroke, lung cancer, dementia, and many other conditions.

How many people are affected by air pollution?

99% of the global population breathes air that exceeds WHO safety guidelines. Air pollution kills approximately 8 million people every year—more than AIDS, malaria, and tuberculosis combined.

Brunei's Brunei and Muara Air Pollution Report

Overview

Air Pollution in Brunei and Muara

Brunei and Muara faces significant air pollution challenges. 100% of districts exceed the WHO guideline for clean air. This is putting 334 thousand across 16 districts at risk.

The average PM2.5 over 2023 was 9µg/m³. That's 1.8 times the WHO guideline for clean air of 5µg/m³.

This is equivalent of everybody, including children, smoking about 149 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 Brunei and Muara met the WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³, the average person would live 0.39 years longer.

That's 130K years of life stolen from 334 thousand 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 Brunei and Muara. These areas face the greatest health burden from air pollution.

1.Sungai Kebun
0.4 years lost
2.Burong Pingai Ayer
0.4 years lost
3.Kota Batu
0.4 years lost
4.Sungai Kedayan
0.4 years lost
5.Tamoi
0.4 years lost
6.Kianggeh
0.4 years lost
7.Berakas B
0.4 years lost
8.Lumapas
0.4 years lost
9.Berakas A
0.4 years lost
10.Gadong 'B'
0.4 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

5-10 µg/m³

100%

334K

10-15 µg/m³

15-25 µg/m³

25-35 µg/m³

> 35 µg/m³

Districts

All 16 Districts in Brunei and Muara

Complete air quality data for every district in Brunei and Muara, sorted by population.

District	Population	PM2.5 µg/m³	Years Lost
Berakas A	49K	9.1	0.4 years
Berakas B	49K	9.2	0.4 years
Gadong 'B'	48K	9.0	0.4 years
Kianggeh	47K	9.3	0.4 years
Sengkurong	27K	8.2	0.3 years
Gadong 'A'	27K	8.8	0.4 years
Kilanas	20K	8.7	0.4 years
Mentiri	19K	8.8	0.4 years
Sungai Kedayan	11K	9.4	0.4 years
Pengkalan Batu	11K	8.6	0.4 years
Kota Batu	8K	9.4	0.4 years
Serasa	7K	7.8	0.3 years
Lumapas	6K	9.2	0.4 years
Sungai Kebun	3K	9.4	0.4 years
Burong Pingai Ayer	3K	9.4	0.4 years
Tamoi	2K	9.3	0.4 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.

Breathing in Brunei and Muara is Injurious to Health.