Breathing in Zürich is Injurious to Health.

Air pollution threatens the health of 1.6 million people across 13 districts in Zürich. The average PM2.5 level is 6.9 µg/m³—1.4× higher than the WHO guideline.

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Overview

Air Pollution in Zürich

Zürich faces significant air pollution challenges. 100% of districts exceed the WHO guideline for clean air. This is putting 1.6 million across 13 districts at risk.

The average PM2.5 over 2023 was 6.9µg/m³. That's 1.4 times the WHO guideline for clean air of 5µg/m³.

This is equivalent of everybody, including children, smoking about 114 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 Zürich met the WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³, the average person would live 0.18 years longer.

That's 284K years of life stolen from 1.6 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 Zürich. These areas face the greatest health burden from air pollution.

  • 1.Meilen
    0.2 years lost
  • 2.Horgen
    0.2 years lost
  • 3.Uster
    0.2 years lost
  • 4.Zürich
    0.2 years lost
  • 5.Hinwil
    0.2 years lost
  • 6.Bülach
    0.2 years lost
  • 7.Affoltern
    0.2 years lost
  • 8.Dietikon
    0.2 years lost
  • 9.Dielsdorf
    0.2 years lost
  • 10.Andelfingen
    0.1 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%
1.6M
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 13 Districts in Zürich

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

DistrictPopulationPM2.5 µg/m³Years Lost
Zürich490K
7.2
0.2 years
Winterthur187K
6.4
0.1 years
Bülach144K
6.8
0.2 years
Uster139K
7.2
0.2 years
Meilen102K
7.3
0.2 years
Hinwil97K
7.0
0.2 years
Dielsdorf85K
6.6
0.2 years
Horgen83K
7.3
0.2 years
Dietikon76K
6.7
0.2 years
Pfäffikon72K
6.3
0.1 years
Affoltern55K
6.7
0.2 years
Andelfingen48K
6.4
0.1 years
Schaffhausen2K
6.4
0.1 years

Showing 13 districts, sorted by population (largest first). PM2.5 values are for 2023. Years lost calculated against WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³.