Air pollution threatens the health of 1.1 million people across 56 districts in Montana. The average PM2.5 level is 6.5 µg/m³—1.3× higher than the WHO guideline.
Brought to you by Amrit Sharma
Montana faces significant air pollution challenges. 93% of districts exceed the WHO guideline for clean air. This is putting 1.1 million across 56 districts at risk.
The average PM2.5 over 2023 was 6.5µg/m³. That's 1.3 times the WHO guideline for clean air of 5µg/m³.
This is equivalent of everybody, including children, smoking about 108 cigarettes in a year.
If Montana met the WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³, the average person would live 0.16 years longer.
That's 183K 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.
The top 10 most polluted districts in Montana. These areas face the greatest health burden from air pollution.
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.
Complete air quality data for every district in Montana, sorted by population.
| District | Population | PM2.5 µg/m³ | Years Lost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yellowstone | 182K | 5.7 | 0.1 years |
| Gallatin | 132K | 5.1 | 0.0 years |
| Missoula | 130K | 6.7 | 0.2 years |
| Flathead | 115K | 9.8 | 0.5 years |
| Cascade | 90K | 6.8 | 0.2 years |
| Lewis and Clark | 78K | 6.3 | 0.1 years |
| Ravalli | 44K | 5.9 | 0.1 years |
| Silver Bow | 38K | 4.8 | 0.0 years |
| Lake | 31K | 7.7 | 0.3 years |
| Lincoln | 21K | 8.7 | 0.4 years |
| Hill | 17K | 7.3 | 0.2 years |
| Park | 17K | 5.1 | 0.0 years |
| Glacier | 14K | 6.3 | 0.1 years |
| Big Horn | 13K | 5.5 | 0.1 years |
| Sanders | 12K | 7.4 | 0.2 years |
| Custer | 12K | 6.5 | 0.1 years |
| Jefferson | 12K | 5.6 | 0.1 years |
| Richland | 11K | 7.6 | 0.3 years |
| Roosevelt | 11K | 7.0 | 0.2 years |
| Fergus | 11K | 5.5 | 0.0 years |
| Beaverhead | 10K | 5.3 | 0.0 years |
| Carbon | 9K | 4.3 | 0.0 years |
| Deer Lodge | 9K | 5.2 | 0.0 years |
| Dawson | 9K | 7.2 | 0.2 years |
| Madison | 9K | 4.6 | 0.0 years |
| Rosebud | 8K | 6.0 | 0.1 years |
| Stillwater | 8K | 4.8 | 0.0 years |
| Valley | 7K | 7.3 | 0.2 years |
| Broadwater | 7K | 5.9 | 0.1 years |
| Powell | 7K | 5.7 | 0.1 years |
| Blaine | 7K | 7.3 | 0.2 years |
| Teton | 6K | 6.0 | 0.1 years |
| Pondera | 6K | 6.1 | 0.1 years |
| Chouteau | 5K | 6.3 | 0.1 years |
| Toole | 5K | 6.1 | 0.1 years |
| Mineral | 5K | 6.3 | 0.1 years |
| Musselshell | 4K | 5.4 | 0.0 years |
| Phillips | 4K | 7.1 | 0.2 years |
| Sweet Grass | 4K | 5.3 | 0.0 years |
| Sheridan | 3K | 8.0 | 0.3 years |
| Granite | 3K | 5.2 | 0.0 years |
| Fallon | 3K | 6.4 | 0.1 years |
| Wheatland | 2K | 5.6 | 0.1 years |
| Meagher | 2K | 5.4 | 0.0 years |
| Liberty | 2K | 6.5 | 0.2 years |
| Judith Basin | 2K | 5.8 | 0.1 years |
| Daniels | 1K | 7.4 | 0.2 years |
| Powder River | 1K | 5.7 | 0.1 years |
| McCone | 1K | 6.3 | 0.1 years |
| Carter | 1K | 6.3 | 0.1 years |
| Prairie | 889 | 6.4 | 0.1 years |
| Garfield | 796 | 5.8 | 0.1 years |
| Wibaux | 776 | 6.8 | 0.2 years |
| Golden Valley | 688 | 5.1 | 0.0 years |
| Treasure | 659 | 6.7 | 0.2 years |
| Petroleum | 369 | 5.5 | 0.0 years |
Showing 56 districts, sorted by population (largest first). PM2.5 values are for 2023. Years lost calculated against WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³.