Breathing in Madhesh is Injurious to Health.

Air pollution threatens the health of 6.4 million people across 8 districts in Madhesh. The average PM2.5 level is 57.7 µg/m³—11.5Ɨ higher than the WHO guideline.

Brought to you by Amrit Sharma

Air Pollution in Madhesh

Madhesh faces significant air pollution challenges. 100% of districts exceed the WHO guideline for clean air. This is putting 6.4 million across 8 districts at risk.

The average PM2.5 over 2023 was 57.7µg/m³. That's 11.5 times the WHO guideline for clean air of 5µg/m³.

This is equivalent of everybody, including children, smoking about 957 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 Madhesh met the WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³, the average person would live 5.16 years longer.

That's 33.0M years of life stolen from 6.4 million people. Years of watching children grow up. Years of building a career. Years of quiet mornings and celebrations.

Lives cut short. Breathing kills.

Districts with Highest Pollution

The top 8 most polluted districts in Madhesh. These areas face the greatest health burden from air pollution.

  • 1.Rautahat
    5.3 years lost
  • 2.Mahottari
    5.3 years lost
  • 3.Bara
    5.3 years lost
  • 4.Parsa
    5.3 years lost
  • 5.Dhanusha
    5.2 years lost
  • 6.Sarlahi
    5.1 years lost
  • 7.Siraha
    5 years lost
  • 8.Saptari
    4.8 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%
6.4M

All 8 Districts in Madhesh

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

DistrictPopulationPM2.5 µg/m³Years Lost
Sarlahi917K
56.6
5.1 years
Dhanusha890K
58.6
5.2 years
Bara814K
58.9
5.3 years
Rautahat807K
59.5
5.3 years
Siraha754K
56.2
5.0 years
Saptari751K
54.3
4.8 years
Mahottari747K
59.2
5.3 years
Parsa707K
58.7
5.3 years

Showing 8 districts, sorted by population (largest first). PM2.5 values are for 2023. Years lost calculated against WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³.