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.

Indonesia's Aceh Air Pollution Report

Overview

Air Pollution in Aceh

Aceh faces significant air pollution challenges. 100% of districts exceed the WHO guideline for clean air. This is putting 5.4 million across 23 districts at risk.

The average PM2.5 over 2023 was 17.3µg/m³. That's 3.5 times the WHO guideline for clean air of 5µg/m³.

This is equivalent of everybody, including children, smoking about 287 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 Aceh met the WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³, the average person would live 1.21 years longer.

That's 6.5M years of life stolen from 5.4 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 Aceh. These areas face the greatest health burden from air pollution.

1.Aceh Tenggara
2.1 years lost
2.Bireuen
1.6 years lost
3.Aceh Tamiang
1.6 years lost
4.Bener Meriah
1.5 years lost
5.Pidie Jaya
1.5 years lost
6.Aceh Utara
1.5 years lost
7.Aceh Tengah
1.5 years lost
8.Langsa
1.5 years lost
9.Lhokseumawe
1.4 years lost
10.Gayo Lues
1.4 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

2.3%

121K

10-15 µg/m³

30.7%

1.7M

15-25 µg/m³

62.9%

3.4M

25-35 µg/m³

4.1%

222K

> 35 µg/m³

Districts

All 23 Districts in Aceh

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

District	Population	PM2.5 µg/m³	Years Lost
Aceh Utara	613K	20.3	1.5 years
Bireuen	447K	21.2	1.6 years
Pidie	446K	17.8	1.3 years
Aceh Timur	436K	17.2	1.2 years
Aceh Besar	416K	13.0	0.8 years
Aceh Tamiang	306K	20.9	1.6 years
Banda Aceh	261K	13.4	0.8 years
Aceh Tengah	223K	20.1	1.5 years
Aceh Tenggara	222K	26.7	2.1 years
Aceh Selatan	221K	12.7	0.7 years
Aceh Barat	195K	10.2	0.5 years
Langsa	189K	19.8	1.5 years
Lhokseumawe	180K	19.2	1.4 years
Nagan Raya	174K	11.4	0.6 years
Bener Meriah	173K	20.6	1.5 years
Pidie Jaya	161K	20.5	1.5 years
Aceh Barat Daya	154K	13.1	0.8 years
Aceh Singkil	129K	12.0	0.7 years
Gayo Lues	103K	18.9	1.4 years
Subulussalam	101K	15.5	1.0 years
Aceh Jaya	101K	10.3	0.5 years
Simeulue	85K	7.3	0.2 years
Sabang	36K	9.7	0.5 years

Showing 23 districts, sorted by population (largest first). PM2.5 values are for 2023. Years lost calculated against WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³.

Breathing in Aceh is Injurious to Health.