Breathing in Moscow City is Injurious to Health.

Air pollution threatens the health of 11.3 million people across 10 districts in Moscow City. The average PM2.5 level is 12.2 µg/m³—2.4× higher than the WHO guideline.

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Brought to you by Amrit Sharma

Overview

Air Pollution in Moscow City

Moscow City faces significant air pollution challenges. 100% of districts exceed the WHO guideline for clean air. This is putting 11.3 million across 10 districts at risk.

The average PM2.5 over 2023 was 12.2µg/m³. That's 2.4 times the WHO guideline for clean air of 5µg/m³.

This is equivalent of everybody, including children, smoking about 202 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 Moscow City met the WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³, the average person would live 0.7 years longer.

That's 7.9M years of life stolen from 11.3 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 Moscow City. These areas face the greatest health burden from air pollution.

  • 1.South-Western
    0.7 years lost
  • 2.Western
    0.7 years lost
  • 3.Central
    0.7 years lost
  • 4.Southern
    0.7 years lost
  • 5.South-Eastern
    0.7 years lost
  • 6.North-Western
    0.7 years lost
  • 7.Northern
    0.7 years lost
  • 8.Eastern
    0.7 years lost
  • 9.North-Eastern
    0.7 years lost
  • 10.Zelenogradsky
    0.5 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
100%
11.3M
15-25 µg/m³
0%
0
25-35 µg/m³
0%
0
> 35 µg/m³
0%
0
Districts

All 10 Districts in Moscow City

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

DistrictPopulationPM2.5 µg/m³Years Lost
Western1.6M
12.6
0.7 years
Eastern1.5M
11.8
0.7 years
Northern1.2M
11.9
0.7 years
Southern1.2M
12.5
0.7 years
South-Eastern1.2M
12.4
0.7 years
South-Western1.2M
12.6
0.7 years
North-Eastern1.2M
11.8
0.7 years
North-Western1.1M
12.1
0.7 years
Central972K
12.5
0.7 years
Zelenogradsky126K
10.4
0.5 years

Showing 10 districts, sorted by population (largest first). PM2.5 values are for 2023. Years lost calculated against WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³.