Breathing in Northern Territory is Injurious to Health.

Air pollution threatens the health of 235 thousand people across 17 districts in Northern Territory. The average PM2.5 level is 6.7 µg/m³—1.3× higher than the WHO guideline.

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Overview

Air Pollution in Northern Territory

Northern Territory faces significant air pollution challenges. 65% of districts exceed the WHO guideline for clean air. This is putting 235 thousand across 17 districts at risk.

The average PM2.5 over 2023 was 6.7µg/m³. That's 1.3 times the WHO guideline for clean air of 5µg/m³.

This is equivalent of everybody, including children, smoking about 111 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 Northern Territory met the WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³, the average person would live 0.23 years longer.

That's 54K years of life stolen from 235 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 Northern Territory. These areas face the greatest health burden from air pollution.

  • 1.Palmerston
    0.4 years lost
  • 2.Darwin
    0.4 years lost
  • 3.Wagait
    0.3 years lost
  • 4.Belyuen
    0.3 years lost
  • 5.Tiwi Islands
    0.2 years lost
  • 6.Litchfield
    0.2 years lost
  • 7.Unincorporated Norther Territori
    0.1 years lost
  • 8.Coomalie
    0.1 years lost
  • 9.Victoria-Daly
    0.1 years lost
  • 10.West Arnhem
    0 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
25.5%
60K
5-10 µg/m³
74.5%
175K
10-15 µg/m³
0%
0
15-25 µg/m³
0%
0
25-35 µg/m³
0%
0
> 35 µg/m³
0%
0
Districts

All 17 Districts in Northern Territory

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

DistrictPopulationPM2.5 µg/m³Years Lost
Darwin83K
8.7
0.4 years
Palmerston38K
9.1
0.4 years
Alice Springs27K
2.4
0.0 years
Litchfield22K
7.3
0.2 years
Katherine10K
4.6
0.0 years
Unincorporated Norther Territori9K
5.8
0.1 years
East Arnhem8K
5.2
0.0 years
Barkly7K
3.0
0.0 years
Roper Gulf7K
4.2
0.0 years
West Arnhem6K
5.5
0.0 years
Victoria-Daly6K
5.7
0.1 years
MacDonnell6K
1.7
0.0 years
Central Desert4K
2.3
0.0 years
Tiwi Islands2K
7.4
0.2 years
Coomalie1K
5.8
0.1 years
Wagait421
8.5
0.3 years
Belyuen156
7.6
0.3 years

Showing 17 districts, sorted by population (largest first). PM2.5 values are for 2023. Years lost calculated against WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³.