Breathing in Ar Riyad is Injurious to Health.

Air pollution threatens the health of 9.0 million people across 24 districts in Ar Riyad. The average PM2.5 level is 28.4 µg/m³—5.7× higher than the WHO guideline.

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Overview

Air Pollution in Ar Riyad

Ar Riyad faces significant air pollution challenges. 100% of districts exceed the WHO guideline for clean air. This is putting 9.0 million across 24 districts at risk.

The average PM2.5 over 2023 was 28.4µg/m³. That's 5.7 times the WHO guideline for clean air of 5µg/m³.

This is equivalent of everybody, including children, smoking about 471 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 Ar Riyad met the WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³, the average person would live 2.3 years longer.

That's 20.6M years of life stolen from 9.0 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 Ar Riyad. These areas face the greatest health burden from air pollution.

  • 1.Ad Dilam
    2.6 years lost
  • 2.Al Kharj
    2.5 years lost
  • 3.Riyadh
    2.5 years lost
  • 4.Rumah
    2.3 years lost
  • 5.Ad Diriyah
    2.1 years lost
  • 6.Duruma
    2 years lost
  • 7.Hawtat Bani Tamim
    1.8 years lost
  • 8.Huraymila
    1.8 years lost
  • 9.Thadiq
    1.8 years lost
  • 10.Al Majmaah
    1.8 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
20.6%
1.8M
25-35 µg/m³
79.4%
7.1M
> 35 µg/m³
0%
0
Districts

All 24 Districts in Ar Riyad

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

DistrictPopulationPM2.5 µg/m³Years Lost
Riyadh6.0M
30.4
2.5 years
Al Kharj574K
30.7
2.5 years
Ad Duwadimi380K
21.6
1.6 years
Al Majmaah247K
23.4
1.8 years
Ad Dilam173K
31.1
2.6 years
Ad Diriyah162K
26.7
2.1 years
Al Quwayiyah162K
20.2
1.5 years
Rumah152K
28.7
2.3 years
Az Zulfi128K
19.9
1.5 years
Wadi Ad Dawasir120K
19.1
1.4 years
Al Aflaj111K
21.9
1.7 years
Duruma107K
25.1
2.0 years
Afif98K
18.8
1.4 years
Huraymila95K
23.5
1.8 years
Shaqra89K
21.3
1.6 years
Al Muzahimiyah82K
22.9
1.8 years
As Sulayyil74K
19.2
1.4 years
Hawtat Bani Tamim67K
23.6
1.8 years
Ar Rayn51K
19.0
1.4 years
Thadiq48K
23.5
1.8 years
Marat31K
22.0
1.7 years
Al Ghat28K
21.9
1.7 years
Al Hariq25K
21.5
1.6 years
Ash Shimasiyah14K
20.4
1.5 years

Showing 24 districts, sorted by population (largest first). PM2.5 values are for 2023. Years lost calculated against WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³.