Breathing in Sonsonate is Injurious to Health.

Air pollution threatens the health of 517 thousand people across 16 districts in Sonsonate. The average PM2.5 level is 29.8 µg/m³—6.0× higher than the WHO guideline.

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Overview

Air Pollution in Sonsonate

Sonsonate faces significant air pollution challenges. 100% of districts exceed the WHO guideline for clean air. This is putting 517 thousand across 16 districts at risk.

The average PM2.5 over 2023 was 29.8µg/m³. That's 6.0 times the WHO guideline for clean air of 5µg/m³.

This is equivalent of everybody, including children, smoking about 494 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 Sonsonate met the WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³, the average person would live 2.43 years longer.

That's 1.3M years of life stolen from 517 thousand 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 Sonsonate. These areas face the greatest health burden from air pollution.

  • 1.San Antonio del Monte
    2.6 years lost
  • 2.Nahulingo
    2.6 years lost
  • 3.Sonzacate
    2.5 years lost
  • 4.Sonsonate
    2.5 years lost
  • 5.Santo Domingo
    2.5 years lost
  • 6.Acajutla
    2.5 years lost
  • 7.Armenia
    2.5 years lost
  • 8.Santa Catarina Masahuat
    2.4 years lost
  • 9.Nahuizalco
    2.4 years lost
  • 10.Salcoatitán
    2.4 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
0%
0
15-25 µg/m³
0%
0
25-35 µg/m³
100%
517K
> 35 µg/m³
0%
0
Districts

All 16 Districts in Sonsonate

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

DistrictPopulationPM2.5 µg/m³Years Lost
Izalco91K
28.9
2.3 years
Sonsonate76K
30.5
2.5 years
San Antonio del Monte53K
31.7
2.6 years
Acajutla50K
30.3
2.5 years
Nahuizalco47K
29.4
2.4 years
Armenia44K
30.3
2.5 years
Sonzacate39K
30.6
2.5 years
Juayúa22K
28.7
2.3 years
San Julián21K
28.1
2.3 years
Santo Domingo13K
30.5
2.5 years
Cuisnahuat11K
27.2
2.2 years
Santa Isabel Ishuatán11K
26.1
2.1 years
Salcoatitán10K
29.3
2.4 years
Santa Catarina Masahuat10K
29.7
2.4 years
Nahulingo9K
31.4
2.6 years
Caluco8K
26.7
2.1 years

Showing 16 districts, sorted by population (largest first). PM2.5 values are for 2023. Years lost calculated against WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³.