Breathing in Matara is Injurious to Health.

Air pollution threatens the health of 847 thousand people across 16 districts in Matara. The average PM2.5 level is 11.8 Āµg/mĀ³ā€”2.4Ɨ higher than the WHO guideline.

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Overview

Air Pollution in Matara

Matara faces significant air pollution challenges. 100% of districts exceed the WHO guideline for clean air. This is putting 847 thousand across 16 districts at risk.

The average PM2.5 over 2023 was 11.8Āµg/mĀ³. That's 2.4 times the WHO guideline for clean air of 5Āµg/mĀ³.

This is equivalent of everybody, including children, smoking about 196 cigarettes in a year.

Trends

Air Quality Trend

Annual PM2.5 levels from 2014 to 2023. The WHO guideline for safe air is 5 Āµg/mĀ³.

Health Impact

Life Expectancy Impact

If Matara met the WHO guideline of 5 Āµg/mĀ³, the average person would live 0.68 years longer.

That's 576K years of life stolen from 847 thousand 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 Matara. These areas face the greatest health burden from air pollution.

  • 1.Pasgoda
    0.7 years lost
  • 2.Kotapola
    0.7 years lost
  • 3.Pitabeddara
    0.7 years lost
  • 4.Athuraliya
    0.7 years lost
  • 5.Mulatiyana
    0.7 years lost
  • 6.Kamburupitiya
    0.7 years lost
  • 7.Akuressa
    0.7 years lost
  • 8.Weligama
    0.7 years lost
  • 9.Malimbada
    0.7 years lost
  • 10.Thihagoda
    0.7 years lost
Exposure

Population Exposure by Pollution Level

Distribution of population across different PM2.5 pollution levels. The WHO guideline is 5 Āµg/mĀ³ā€”only populations below this threshold are breathing safe air.

< 5 Āµg/mĀ³
0%
0
5-10 Āµg/mĀ³
0%
0
10-15 Āµg/mĀ³
100%
847K
15-25 Āµg/mĀ³
0%
0
25-35 Āµg/mĀ³
0%
0
> 35 Āµg/mĀ³
0%
0
Districts

All 16 Districts in Matara

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

DistrictPopulationPM2.5 Āµg/mĀ³Years Lost
Matara Four Gravets111K
11.7
0.7 years
Weligama85K
11.8
0.7 years
Kotapola70K
12.5
0.7 years
Pasgoda59K
12.6
0.7 years
Dickwella56K
11.0
0.6 years
Pitabeddara55K
12.2
0.7 years
Akuressa54K
11.8
0.7 years
Devinuwara53K
11.1
0.6 years
Mulatiyana52K
12.0
0.7 years
Kamburupitiya41K
11.9
0.7 years
Welipitiya40K
11.6
0.6 years
Athuraliya38K
12.2
0.7 years
Thihagoda38K
11.8
0.7 years
Malimbada38K
11.8
0.7 years
Hakmana35K
11.5
0.6 years
Kirinda-Puhulwella22K
11.2
0.6 years

Showing 16 districts, sorted by population (largest first). PM2.5 values are for 2023. Years lost calculated against WHO guideline of 5 Āµg/mĀ³.