Breathing in Quiché is Injurious to Health.

Air pollution threatens the health of 1.1 million people across 21 districts in Quiché. The average PM2.5 level is 18.9 µg/m³—3.8× higher than the WHO guideline.

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Overview

Air Pollution in Quiché

Quiché faces significant air pollution challenges. 100% of districts exceed the WHO guideline for clean air. This is putting 1.1 million across 21 districts at risk.

The average PM2.5 over 2023 was 18.9µg/m³. That's 3.8 times the WHO guideline for clean air of 5µg/m³.

This is equivalent of everybody, including children, smoking about 314 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 Quiché met the WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³, the average person would live 1.36 years longer.

That's 1.5M years of life stolen from 1.1 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 Quiché. These areas face the greatest health burden from air pollution.

  • 1.Pachalúm
    1.8 years lost
  • 2.Ixcán
    1.7 years lost
  • 3.Canillá
    1.5 years lost
  • 4.Chicaman
    1.5 years lost
  • 5.Uspantán
    1.5 years lost
  • 6.Chichicastenango
    1.5 years lost
  • 7.Chajul
    1.4 years lost
  • 8.San Andrés Sajcabajá
    1.4 years lost
  • 9.Patzité
    1.4 years lost
  • 10.Cunén
    1.3 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
1.4%
16K
15-25 µg/m³
98.6%
1.1M
25-35 µg/m³
0%
0
> 35 µg/m³
0%
0
Districts

All 21 Districts in Quiché

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

DistrictPopulationPM2.5 µg/m³Years Lost
Chichicastenango164K
20.0
1.5 years
Ixcán95K
22.0
1.7 years
Joyabaj90K
16.8
1.2 years
Nebaj90K
18.6
1.3 years
Santa Cruz del Quiché81K
18.1
1.3 years
Uspantán75K
20.3
1.5 years
Sacapulas63K
17.9
1.3 years
Chajul62K
19.7
1.4 years
Chicaman59K
20.5
1.5 years
Cunén52K
18.7
1.3 years
San Antonio Ilotenango49K
16.4
1.1 years
San Juan Cotzal43K
18.4
1.3 years
San Pedro Jocopilas41K
15.6
1.0 years
Zacualpa38K
16.4
1.1 years
Chiché35K
17.3
1.2 years
San Andrés Sajcabajá32K
19.7
1.4 years
San Bartolomé Jocotenango16K
14.1
0.9 years
Pachalúm15K
23.6
1.8 years
Canillá14K
20.5
1.5 years
Chinique12K
17.0
1.2 years
Patzité11K
19.6
1.4 years

Showing 21 districts, sorted by population (largest first). PM2.5 values are for 2023. Years lost calculated against WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³.