Breathing in Metropolitan Manila is Injurious to Health.

Air pollution threatens the health of 13.7 million people across 17 districts in Metropolitan Manila. The average PM2.5 level is 25.4 µg/m³—5.1× higher than the WHO guideline.

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Brought to you by Amrit Sharma

Overview

Air Pollution in Metropolitan Manila

Metropolitan Manila faces significant air pollution challenges. 100% of districts exceed the WHO guideline for clean air. This is putting 13.7 million across 17 districts at risk.

The average PM2.5 over 2023 was 25.4µg/m³. That's 5.1 times the WHO guideline for clean air of 5µg/m³.

This is equivalent of everybody, including children, smoking about 421 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 Metropolitan Manila met the WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³, the average person would live 2 years longer.

That's 27.5M years of life stolen from 13.7 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 Metropolitan Manila. These areas face the greatest health burden from air pollution.

  • 1.Mandaluyong
    2.3 years lost
  • 2.Pateros
    2.3 years lost
  • 3.Makati City
    2.3 years lost
  • 4.San Juan
    2.3 years lost
  • 5.Pasig City
    2.2 years lost
  • 6.Taguig
    2.2 years lost
  • 7.Quezon City
    2.1 years lost
  • 8.Pasay City
    2.1 years lost
  • 9.Marikina
    2 years lost
  • 10.Parañaque
    2 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
0%
0
15-25 µg/m³
47.4%
6.5M
25-35 µg/m³
52.6%
7.2M
> 35 µg/m³
0%
0
Districts

All 17 Districts in Metropolitan Manila

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

DistrictPopulationPM2.5 µg/m³Years Lost
Quezon City3.1M
26.4
2.1 years
Manila1.7M
24.6
1.9 years
Kalookan City1.7M
23.1
1.8 years
Makati City904K
28.4
2.3 years
Pasig City903K
27.5
2.2 years
Taguig735K
27.4
2.2 years
Parañaque732K
24.9
2.0 years
Valenzuela642K
23.3
1.8 years
Las Piñas624K
22.4
1.7 years
Muntinlupa586K
22.8
1.7 years
Mandaluyong498K
28.9
2.3 years
Marikina460K
25.1
2.0 years
Pasay City416K
26.0
2.1 years
Malabon346K
22.9
1.7 years
Navotas209K
22.7
1.7 years
San Juan158K
28.3
2.3 years
Pateros70K
28.8
2.3 years

Showing 17 districts, sorted by population (largest first). PM2.5 values are for 2023. Years lost calculated against WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³.