Breathing in Distrito Federal is Injurious to Health.

Air pollution threatens the health of 9.5 million people across 16 districts in Distrito Federal. The average PM2.5 level is 21.5 ”g/m³—4.3× higher than the WHO guideline.

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Overview

Air Pollution in Distrito Federal

Distrito Federal faces significant air pollution challenges. 100% of districts exceed the WHO guideline for clean air. This is putting 9.5 million across 16 districts at risk.

The average PM2.5 over 2023 was 21.5”g/m³. That's 4.3 times the WHO guideline for clean air of 5”g/m³.

This is equivalent of everybody, including children, smoking about 357 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 Distrito Federal met the WHO guideline of 5 ”g/m³, the average person would live 1.61 years longer.

That's 15.3M years of life stolen from 9.5 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 Distrito Federal. These areas face the greatest health burden from air pollution.

  • 1.Azcapotzalco
    1.8 years lost
  • 2.Gustavo A. Madero
    1.8 years lost
  • 3.TlĂĄhuac
    1.7 years lost
  • 4.Miguel Hidalgo
    1.7 years lost
  • 5.CuauhtĂ©moc
    1.7 years lost
  • 6.Iztacalco
    1.6 years lost
  • 7.Venustiano Carranza
    1.6 years lost
  • 8.Iztapalapa
    1.6 years lost
  • 9.Benito JuĂĄrez
    1.6 years lost
  • 10.Xochimilco
    1.5 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
0%
0
15-25 ”g/m³
100%
9.5M
25-35 ”g/m³
0%
0
> 35 ”g/m³
0%
0
Districts

All 16 Districts in Distrito Federal

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

DistrictPopulationPM2.5 ”g/m³Years Lost
Iztapalapa1.9M
21.7
1.6 years
Gustavo A. Madero1.2M
22.9
1.8 years
Álvaro Obregón782K
20.6
1.5 years
Tlalpan721K
20.1
1.5 years
CoyoacĂĄn633K
20.6
1.5 years
Cuauhtémoc563K
21.9
1.7 years
Venustiano Carranza457K
21.8
1.6 years
Xochimilco456K
20.8
1.5 years
Benito JuĂĄrez447K
21.2
1.6 years
Azcapotzalco445K
23.4
1.8 years
Miguel Hidalgo422K
22.0
1.7 years
Iztacalco417K
21.8
1.6 years
TlĂĄhuac404K
22.2
1.7 years
La Magdalena Contreras255K
19.9
1.5 years
Cuajimalpa de Morelos230K
20.6
1.5 years
Milpa Alta157K
19.6
1.4 years

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