Breathing in Cebu is Injurious to Health.

Air pollution threatens the health of 5.2 million people across 53 districts in Cebu. The average PM2.5 level is 15.8 µg/m³—3.2× higher than the WHO guideline.

AboutMake Air Quality Great AgainAQLI Data

Brought to you by Amrit Sharma

Overview

Air Pollution in Cebu

Cebu faces significant air pollution challenges. 100% of districts exceed the WHO guideline for clean air. This is putting 5.2 million across 53 districts at risk.

The average PM2.5 over 2023 was 15.8µg/m³. That's 3.2 times the WHO guideline for clean air of 5µg/m³.

This is equivalent of everybody, including children, smoking about 262 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 Cebu met the WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³, the average person would live 1.06 years longer.

That's 5.5M years of life stolen from 5.2 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 Cebu. These areas face the greatest health burden from air pollution.

  • 1.Mandaue City
    1.2 years lost
  • 2.Cebu City
    1.2 years lost
  • 3.Talisay City
    1.2 years lost
  • 4.Ginatilan
    1.2 years lost
  • 5.Toledo City
    1.1 years lost
  • 6.Samboan
    1.1 years lost
  • 7.Minglanilla
    1.1 years lost
  • 8.Malabuyoc
    1.1 years lost
  • 9.Cordoba
    1.1 years lost
  • 10.Pinamungahan
    1.1 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
0%
0
5-10 µg/m³
0%
0
10-15 µg/m³
20.1%
1.1M
15-25 µg/m³
79.9%
4.2M
25-35 µg/m³
0%
0
> 35 µg/m³
0%
0
Districts

All 53 Districts in Cebu

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

DistrictPopulationPM2.5 µg/m³Years Lost
Cebu City1.0M
17.1
1.2 years
Lapu-Lapu City498K
16.4
1.1 years
Mandaue City391K
17.3
1.2 years
Talisay City291K
17.0
1.2 years
Toledo City204K
16.7
1.1 years
Liloan159K
15.4
1.0 years
Danao City154K
14.1
0.9 years
Naga City145K
16.3
1.1 years
Minglanilla129K
16.6
1.1 years
Carcar128K
16.0
1.1 years
Consolacion126K
16.3
1.1 years
Balamban101K
16.2
1.1 years
Barili86K
15.8
1.1 years
Argao83K
15.4
1.0 years
Daanbantayan81K
11.8
0.7 years
Bogo City81K
12.6
0.7 years
Pinamungahan79K
16.4
1.1 years
San Fernando77K
16.2
1.1 years
Bantayan72K
11.9
0.7 years
Tuburan71K
14.1
0.9 years
Asturias69K
15.2
1.0 years
Cordoba67K
16.4
1.1 years
Medellin64K
12.4
0.7 years
Sibonga63K
15.4
1.0 years
San Remigio61K
12.9
0.8 years
San Francisco59K
12.0
0.7 years
Dalaguete56K
15.8
1.1 years
Dumanjug54K
15.7
1.0 years
Carmen52K
14.1
0.9 years
Compostela50K
14.4
0.9 years
Badian44K
15.7
1.1 years
Tabogon44K
12.9
0.8 years
Madridejos43K
11.6
0.7 years
Borbon41K
13.0
0.8 years
Aloguinsan38K
16.2
1.1 years
Moalboal36K
15.4
1.0 years
Santa Fe35K
12.1
0.7 years
Tabuelan32K
13.4
0.8 years
Catmon31K
13.6
0.8 years
Sogod30K
13.3
0.8 years
Oslob26K
16.0
1.1 years
Alegria26K
16.2
1.1 years
Poro25K
11.7
0.7 years
Ronda24K
15.4
1.0 years
Alcoy22K
15.8
1.1 years
Samboan19K
16.6
1.1 years
Malabuyoc19K
16.5
1.1 years
Ginatilan18K
16.8
1.2 years
Alcantara18K
15.2
1.0 years
Santander18K
15.9
1.1 years
Boljoon15K
15.9
1.1 years
Tudela13K
11.6
0.6 years
Pilar11K
12.1
0.7 years

Showing 53 districts, sorted by population (largest first). PM2.5 values are for 2023. Years lost calculated against WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³.