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.

Malaysia's Sabah Air Pollution Report

Overview

Air Pollution in Sabah

Sabah faces significant air pollution challenges. 100% of districts exceed the WHO guideline for clean air. This is putting 3.5 million across 25 districts at risk.

The average PM2.5 over 2023 was 12.5µg/m³. That's 2.5 times the WHO guideline for clean air of 5µg/m³.

This is equivalent of everybody, including children, smoking about 207 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 Sabah met the WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³, the average person would live 0.73 years longer.

That's 2.6M years of life stolen from 3.5 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 Sabah. These areas face the greatest health burden from air pollution.

1.Tambunan
1 years lost
2.Penampang
0.9 years lost
3.Putatan
0.9 years lost
4.Sandakan
0.8 years lost
5.Kota Kinabalu
0.8 years lost
6.Ranau
0.8 years lost
7.Papar
0.8 years lost
8.Lahad Datu
0.7 years lost
9.Kunak
0.7 years lost
10.Tuaran
0.7 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

103K

10-15 µg/m³

97%

3.4M

15-25 µg/m³

25-35 µg/m³

> 35 µg/m³

Districts

All 25 Districts in Sabah

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

District	Population	PM2.5 µg/m³	Years Lost
Kota Kinabalu	482K	13.4	0.8 years
Sandakan	451K	13.6	0.8 years
Tawau	431K	12.1	0.7 years
Lahad Datu	217K	12.7	0.7 years
Penampang	210K	13.8	0.9 years
Kinabatangan	164K	12.2	0.7 years
Semporna	155K	12.2	0.7 years
Keningau	155K	11.6	0.6 years
Papar	154K	12.7	0.8 years
Tuaran	138K	12.4	0.7 years
Beluran	110K	11.5	0.6 years
Kota Belud	108K	11.6	0.6 years
Ranau	89K	12.9	0.8 years
Kudat	82K	11.0	0.6 years
Beaufort	80K	9.9	0.5 years
Kota Marudu	73K	12.1	0.7 years
Putatan	69K	13.7	0.9 years
Kunak	68K	12.6	0.7 years
Tenom	54K	11.5	0.6 years
Tongod	48K	10.4	0.5 years
Sipitang	37K	11.9	0.7 years
Pitas	36K	11.8	0.7 years
Tambunan	34K	14.8	1.0 years
Nabawan	31K	10.3	0.5 years
Kuala Penyu	24K	8.0	0.3 years

Showing 25 districts, sorted by population (largest first). PM2.5 values are for 2023. Years lost calculated against WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³.

Breathing in Sabah is Injurious to Health.