Breathing in San José is Injurious to Health.

Air pollution threatens the health of 1.7 million people across 20 districts in San JosĂ©. The average PM2.5 level is 13.9 ”g/m³—2.8× higher than the WHO guideline.

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Overview

Air Pollution in San José

San José faces significant air pollution challenges. 100% of districts exceed the WHO guideline for clean air. This is putting 1.7 million across 20 districts at risk.

The average PM2.5 over 2023 was 13.9”g/m³. That's 2.8 times the WHO guideline for clean air of 5”g/m³.

This is equivalent of everybody, including children, smoking about 231 cigarettes in a year.

Trends

Air Quality Trend

Annual PM2.5 levels from 2014 to 2023. The WHO guideline for safe air is 5 ”g/m³.

Health Impact

Life Expectancy Impact

If San José met the WHO guideline of 5 ”g/m³, the average person would live 0.87 years longer.

That's 1.5M years of life stolen from 1.7 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 San José. These areas face the greatest health burden from air pollution.

  • 1.TibĂĄs
    0.9 years lost
  • 2.Goicoechea
    0.9 years lost
  • 3.Moravia
    0.9 years lost
  • 4.Montes de Oca
    0.9 years lost
  • 5.Curridabat
    0.9 years lost
  • 6.San JosĂ©
    0.9 years lost
  • 7.VĂĄzquez de Coronado
    0.9 years lost
  • 8.Santa Ana
    0.9 years lost
  • 9.Alajuelita
    0.9 years lost
  • 10.Mora
    0.9 years lost
Exposure

Population Exposure by Pollution Level

Distribution of population across different PM2.5 pollution levels. The WHO guideline is 5 ”g/m³—only populations below this threshold are breathing safe air.

< 5 ”g/m³
0%
0
5-10 ”g/m³
0%
0
10-15 ”g/m³
100%
1.7M
15-25 ”g/m³
0%
0
25-35 ”g/m³
0%
0
> 35 ”g/m³
0%
0
Districts

All 20 Districts in San José

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

DistrictPopulationPM2.5 ”g/m³Years Lost
San José355K
14.2
0.9 years
Desamparados251K
13.9
0.9 years
PĂ©rez ZeledĂłn146K
12.0
0.7 years
Goicoechea142K
14.4
0.9 years
Alajuelita97K
14.0
0.9 years
TibĂĄs87K
14.6
0.9 years
Curridabat81K
14.3
0.9 years
VĂĄzquez de Coronado73K
14.2
0.9 years
EscazĂș72K
13.7
0.9 years
AserrĂ­65K
13.3
0.8 years
Moravia64K
14.4
0.9 years
Montes de Oca64K
14.4
0.9 years
Santa Ana62K
14.1
0.9 years
Puriscal39K
13.6
0.8 years
Mora31K
13.9
0.9 years
Acosta22K
13.0
0.8 years
TarrazĂș19K
13.0
0.8 years
León Cortés Castro14K
13.1
0.8 years
Dota8K
12.9
0.8 years
Turrubares7K
13.0
0.8 years

Showing 20 districts, sorted by population (largest first). PM2.5 values are for 2023. Years lost calculated against WHO guideline of 5 ”g/m³.