PM2.5 stands for particulate matter 2.5 microns or smaller. These particles are 30 times thinner than a human hair and come from car exhaust, power plants, wildfires, and burning fuel. They are small enough to bypass your body's natural defenses and enter your bloodstream.

How does air pollution affect the body?

Air pollution affects virtually every organ in the body. PM2.5 particles enter your lungs, pass into your bloodstream, and travel to your heart, brain, kidneys, liver, and other organs. This causes chronic inflammation, increasing risks of heart disease, stroke, lung cancer, dementia, and many other conditions.

How many people are affected by air pollution?

99% of the global population breathes air that exceeds WHO safety guidelines. Air pollution kills approximately 8 million people every year—more than AIDS, malaria, and tuberculosis combined.

Belarus's Minsk Air Pollution Report

Overview

Air Pollution in Minsk

Minsk faces significant air pollution challenges. 100% of districts exceed the WHO guideline for clean air. This is putting 3.5 million across 22 districts at risk.

The average PM2.5 over 2023 was 9.7µg/m³. That's 1.9 times the WHO guideline for clean air of 5µg/m³.

This is equivalent of everybody, including children, smoking about 161 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 Minsk met the WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³, the average person would live 0.46 years longer.

That's 1.6M years of life stolen from 3.5 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 Minsk. These areas face the greatest health burden from air pollution.

1.Minsk
0.5 years lost
2.Dzyarzhynsk
0.4 years lost
3.Uzda
0.4 years lost
4.Slutsak
0.4 years lost
5.Byarezino
0.4 years lost
6.Kapyl
0.4 years lost
7.Pukhavichy
0.4 years lost
8.Smalyavichy
0.4 years lost
9.Krupki
0.4 years lost
10.Staryya Darohi
0.4 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

5-10 µg/m³

35.2%

1.2M

10-15 µg/m³

64.8%

2.3M

15-25 µg/m³

25-35 µg/m³

> 35 µg/m³

Districts

All 22 Districts in Minsk

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

District	Population	PM2.5 µg/m³	Years Lost
Minsk	2.3M	10.1	0.5 years
Barysaw	179K	9.2	0.4 years
Salihorsk	134K	9.1	0.4 years
Maladechna	132K	8.8	0.4 years
Smalyavichy	125K	9.2	0.4 years
Slutsak	89K	9.3	0.4 years
Dzyarzhynsk	71K	9.4	0.4 years
Pukhavichy	69K	9.2	0.4 years
Vileyka	49K	8.7	0.4 years
Nyasvizh	40K	9.2	0.4 years
Stowbtsy	39K	9.2	0.4 years
Lahoysk	38K	9.1	0.4 years
Valozhyn	36K	8.9	0.4 years
Chervyen	34K	9.2	0.4 years
Lyuban	30K	9.1	0.4 years
Kapyl	29K	9.3	0.4 years
Klyetsak	29K	9.2	0.4 years
Myadzyel	26K	8.5	0.3 years
Uzda	24K	9.3	0.4 years
Krupki	24K	9.2	0.4 years
Byarezino	23K	9.3	0.4 years
Staryya Darohi	21K	9.2	0.4 years

Showing 22 districts, sorted by population (largest first). PM2.5 values are for 2023. Years lost calculated against WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³.

Breathing in Minsk is Injurious to Health.