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.

Sweden's Stockholm Air Pollution Report

Overview

Air Pollution in Stockholm

Stockholm faces significant air pollution challenges. 0% of districts exceed the WHO guideline for clean air. This is putting 2.4 million across 26 districts at risk.

The average PM2.5 over 2023 was 4.2µg/m³. That's 0.8 times the WHO guideline for clean air of 5µg/m³.

This is equivalent of everybody, including children, smoking about 70 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 Stockholm met the WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³, the average person would live 0 years longer.

That's 0 years of life stolen from 2.4 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 Stockholm. These areas face the greatest health burden from air pollution.

1.Salem
0 years lost
2.Botkyrka
0 years lost
3.Södertälje
0 years lost
4.Ekerö
0 years lost
5.Upplands-Bro
0 years lost
6.Järfälla
0 years lost
7.Nykvarn
0 years lost
8.Sundbyberg
0 years lost
9.Huddinge
0 years lost
10.Nynäshamn
0 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

100%

2.4M

5-10 µg/m³

10-15 µg/m³

15-25 µg/m³

25-35 µg/m³

> 35 µg/m³

Districts

All 26 Districts in Stockholm

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

District	Population	PM2.5 µg/m³
Stockholm	970K	4.2
Nacka	110K	4.0
Huddinge	101K	4.3
Södertälje	100K	4.5
Järfälla	98K	4.3
Solna	89K	4.2
Botkyrka	88K	4.5
Haninge	84K	4.2
Sollentuna	76K	4.2
Täby	74K	4.1
Sundbyberg	61K	4.3
Norrtälje	61K	3.7
Upplands-Väsby	52K	4.1
Sigtuna	52K	4.1
Österåker	44K	4.0
Tyresö	43K	4.0
Lidingö	42K	4.0
Värmdö	39K	3.9
Vallentuna	39K	4.0
Ekerö	36K	4.4
Danderyd	33K	4.1
Upplands-Bro	33K	4.3
Nynäshamn	29K	4.2
Salem	20K	4.5
Vaxholm	12K	3.9
Nykvarn	12K	4.3

Showing 26 districts, sorted by population (largest first). PM2.5 values are for 2023. Years lost calculated against WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³.

Breathing in Stockholm is Injurious to Health.