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 Sarawak Air Pollution Report

Overview

Air Pollution in Sarawak

Sarawak faces significant air pollution challenges. 100% of districts exceed the WHO guideline for clean air. This is putting 2.6 million across 31 districts at risk.

The average PM2.5 over 2023 was 12µg/m³. That's 2.4 times the WHO guideline for clean air of 5µg/m³.

This is equivalent of everybody, including children, smoking about 199 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 Sarawak met the WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³, the average person would live 0.68 years longer.

That's 1.7M years of life stolen from 2.6 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 Sarawak. These areas face the greatest health burden from air pollution.

1.Kuching
0.9 years lost
2.Lundu
0.9 years lost
3.Serian
0.9 years lost
4.Samarahan
0.8 years lost
5.Bau
0.8 years lost
6.Lubok Antu
0.8 years lost
7.Sri Aman
0.8 years lost
8.Asajaya
0.8 years lost
9.Song
0.8 years lost
10.Simunjan
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

13.7%

352K

10-15 µg/m³

86.3%

2.2M

15-25 µg/m³

25-35 µg/m³

> 35 µg/m³

Districts

All 31 Districts in Sarawak

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

District	Population	PM2.5 µg/m³	Years Lost
Kuching	636K	14.4	0.9 years
Miri	309K	8.4	0.3 years
Sibu	256K	11.8	0.7 years
Bintulu	214K	10.3	0.5 years
Samarahan	134K	13.4	0.8 years
Serian	116K	13.7	0.9 years
Sri Aman	82K	12.8	0.8 years
Marudi	81K	10.6	0.6 years
Bau	59K	13.3	0.8 years
Betong	57K	11.7	0.7 years
Limbang	50K	10.5	0.5 years
Simunjan	50K	12.5	0.7 years
Kapit	47K	12.2	0.7 years
Sarikei	44K	11.5	0.6 years
Mukah	43K	9.8	0.5 years
Saratok	40K	11.0	0.6 years
Lawas	40K	11.3	0.6 years
Lundu	34K	14.1	0.9 years
Tatau	33K	10.1	0.5 years
Daro	32K	10.6	0.5 years
Kanowit	27K	11.6	0.6 years
Belaga	25K	12.5	0.7 years
Dalat	23K	10.3	0.5 years
Asajaya	21K	12.8	0.8 years
Matu	21K	10.6	0.5 years
Selangau	20K	10.9	0.6 years
Pakan	20K	11.0	0.6 years
Julau	16K	11.2	0.6 years
Meradong	15K	11.4	0.6 years
Song	11K	12.7	0.8 years
Lubok Antu	10K	13.0	0.8 years

Showing 31 districts, sorted by population (largest first). PM2.5 values are for 2023. Years lost calculated against WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³.

Breathing in Sarawak is Injurious to Health.