Breathing in Noord-Holland is Injurious to Health.

Air pollution threatens the health of 2.9 million people across 47 districts in Noord-Holland. The average PM2.5 level is 7.9 µg/m³—1.6× higher than the WHO guideline.

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Brought to you by Amrit Sharma

Overview

Air Pollution in Noord-Holland

Noord-Holland faces significant air pollution challenges. 100% of districts exceed the WHO guideline for clean air. This is putting 2.9 million across 47 districts at risk.

The average PM2.5 over 2023 was 7.9µg/m³. That's 1.6 times the WHO guideline for clean air of 5µg/m³.

This is equivalent of everybody, including children, smoking about 131 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 Noord-Holland met the WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³, the average person would live 0.28 years longer.

That's 812K years of life stolen from 2.9 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 Noord-Holland. These areas face the greatest health burden from air pollution.

  • 1.Aalsmeer
    0.3 years lost
  • 2.Diemen
    0.3 years lost
  • 3.Amsterdam
    0.3 years lost
  • 4.Ouder-Amstel
    0.3 years lost
  • 5.Haarlemmermeer
    0.3 years lost
  • 6.Uithoorn
    0.3 years lost
  • 7.Amstelveen
    0.3 years lost
  • 8.Haarlem
    0.3 years lost
  • 9.Hollands Kroon
    0.3 years lost
  • 10.Zandvoort
    0.3 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
100%
2.9M
10-15 µg/m³
0%
0
15-25 µg/m³
0%
0
25-35 µg/m³
0%
0
> 35 µg/m³
0%
0
Districts

All 47 Districts in Noord-Holland

Complete air quality data for every district in Noord-Holland, sorted by population.

DistrictPopulationPM2.5 µg/m³Years Lost
Amsterdam868K
8.3
0.3 years
Haarlemmermeer162K
8.2
0.3 years
Zaanstad160K
7.7
0.3 years
Haarlem158K
8.0
0.3 years
Alkmaar109K
7.6
0.3 years
Amstelveen90K
8.1
0.3 years
Hilversum89K
7.0
0.2 years
Purmerend82K
7.4
0.2 years
Velsen68K
7.8
0.3 years
Hoorn68K
7.8
0.3 years
Heerhugowaard59K
7.8
0.3 years
Gooise Meren59K
7.5
0.2 years
Den Helder57K
7.9
0.3 years
Hollands Kroon49K
8.0
0.3 years
Medemblik47K
7.9
0.3 years
Schagen47K
7.8
0.3 years
Huizen44K
7.8
0.3 years
Beverwijk43K
7.5
0.2 years
Heemskerk39K
7.5
0.2 years
Castricum36K
7.5
0.2 years
Edam-Volendam36K
7.8
0.3 years
Bergen33K
7.7
0.3 years
Uithoorn33K
8.2
0.3 years
Aalsmeer31K
8.4
0.3 years
Bloemendaal30K
7.8
0.3 years
Diemen29K
8.3
0.3 years
Heemstede29K
7.9
0.3 years
Langedijk29K
7.8
0.3 years
Wijdemeren27K
7.4
0.2 years
Koggenland26K
7.6
0.3 years
Heiloo24K
7.5
0.2 years
Stede Broec22K
7.8
0.3 years
Drechterland19K
7.9
0.3 years
Weesp19K
7.9
0.3 years
Ouder-Amstel19K
8.3
0.3 years
Enkhuizen18K
7.8
0.3 years
Waterland17K
7.8
0.3 years
Zandvoort17K
8.0
0.3 years
Uitgeest15K
7.5
0.2 years
Wormerland14K
7.7
0.3 years
Texel14K
6.9
0.2 years
Laren13K
6.7
0.2 years
Opmeer12K
7.7
0.3 years
Landsmeer12K
7.8
0.3 years
Beemster11K
7.4
0.2 years
Oostzaan10K
7.9
0.3 years
Blaricum9K
7.3
0.2 years

Showing 47 districts, sorted by population (largest first). PM2.5 values are for 2023. Years lost calculated against WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³.