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.

Cuba's Ciudad de la Habana Air Pollution Report

Overview

Air Pollution in Ciudad de la Habana

Ciudad de la Habana faces significant air pollution challenges. 100% of districts exceed the WHO guideline for clean air. This is putting 2.1 million across 15 districts at risk.

The average PM2.5 over 2023 was 6.2µg/m³. That's 1.2 times the WHO guideline for clean air of 5µg/m³.

This is equivalent of everybody, including children, smoking about 103 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 Ciudad de la Habana met the WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³, the average person would live 0.1 years longer.

That's 206K years of life stolen from 2.1 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 Ciudad de la Habana. These areas face the greatest health burden from air pollution.

1.Centro Habana
0.1 years lost
2.Plaza de la Revolución
0.1 years lost
3.Regla
0.1 years lost
4.La Habana Vieja
0.1 years lost
5.Cerro
0.1 years lost
6.Diez de Octubre
0.1 years lost
7.Playa
0.1 years lost
8.Marianao
0.1 years lost
9.La Lisa
0.1 years lost
10.Guanabacoa
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

5-10 µg/m³

100%

2.1M

10-15 µg/m³

15-25 µg/m³

25-35 µg/m³

> 35 µg/m³

Districts

All 15 Districts in Ciudad de la Habana

Complete air quality data for every district in Ciudad de la Habana, sorted by population.

District	Population	PM2.5 µg/m³	Years Lost
Plaza de la Revolución	389K	6.3	0.1 years
Centro Habana	289K	6.5	0.1 years
Cerro	205K	6.2	0.1 years
Regla	176K	6.3	0.1 years
La Habana del Este	146K	5.9	0.1 years
Boyeros	141K	6.0	0.1 years
Marianao	129K	6.2	0.1 years
Diez de Octubre	128K	6.2	0.1 years
Guanabacoa	118K	6.1	0.1 years
La Lisa	113K	6.1	0.1 years
Playa	74K	6.2	0.1 years
La Habana Vieja	59K	6.2	0.1 years
San Miguel del Padrón	37K	5.8	0.1 years
Arroyo Naranjo	31K	5.7	0.1 years
Cotorro	23K	5.8	0.1 years

Showing 15 districts, sorted by population (largest first). PM2.5 values are for 2023. Years lost calculated against WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³.

Breathing in Ciudad de la Habana is Injurious to Health.