Breathing in Makkah is Injurious to Health.

Air pollution threatens the health of 9.2 million people across 17 districts in Makkah. The average PM2.5 level is 31.3 µg/m³—6.3× higher than the WHO guideline.

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Overview

Air Pollution in Makkah

Makkah faces significant air pollution challenges. 100% of districts exceed the WHO guideline for clean air. This is putting 9.2 million across 17 districts at risk.

The average PM2.5 over 2023 was 31.3µg/m³. That's 6.3 times the WHO guideline for clean air of 5µg/m³.

This is equivalent of everybody, including children, smoking about 519 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 Makkah met the WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³, the average person would live 2.55 years longer.

That's 23.4M years of life stolen from 9.2 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 Makkah. These areas face the greatest health burden from air pollution.

  • 1.Makkah Al Mukarramah
    2.9 years lost
  • 2.Jiddah
    2.8 years lost
  • 3.Al Jumum
    2.7 years lost
  • 4.Bahrah
    2.6 years lost
  • 5.Khulays
    2.5 years lost
  • 6.Al Lith
    2.5 years lost
  • 7.Rabigh
    2.4 years lost
  • 8.Al Qunfudhah
    2.3 years lost
  • 9.Al Kamil
    2.1 years lost
  • 10.Adam
    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
19.8%
1.8M
25-35 µg/m³
80.2%
7.4M
> 35 µg/m³
0%
0
Districts

All 17 Districts in Makkah

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

DistrictPopulationPM2.5 µg/m³Years Lost
Jiddah4.3M
34.0
2.8 years
Makkah Al Mukarramah1.9M
34.6
2.9 years
Al Taif1.3M
22.8
1.7 years
Al Qunfudhah318K
28.7
2.3 years
Al Jumum210K
32.1
2.7 years
Rabigh181K
29.1
2.4 years
Bahrah176K
31.8
2.6 years
Al Ardiyat118K
23.8
1.8 years
Al Lith116K
30.2
2.5 years
Maysan116K
17.1
1.2 years
Turubah95K
18.7
1.3 years
Khulays73K
31.0
2.5 years
Ranyah71K
20.4
1.5 years
Al Khurmah60K
20.3
1.5 years
Adam47K
25.8
2.0 years
Al Kamil31K
26.3
2.1 years
Farat Ghamid Az Zinad24K
24.9
1.9 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.