PM2.5 stands for particulate matter 2.5 microns or smaller. These particles are 30 times thinner than a human hair and come from car exhaust, power plants, wildfires, and burning fuel. They are small enough to bypass your body's natural defenses and enter your bloodstream.

How does air pollution affect the body?

Air pollution affects virtually every organ in the body. PM2.5 particles enter your lungs, pass into your bloodstream, and travel to your heart, brain, kidneys, liver, and other organs. This causes chronic inflammation, increasing risks of heart disease, stroke, lung cancer, dementia, and many other conditions.

How many people are affected by air pollution?

99% of the global population breathes air that exceeds WHO safety guidelines. Air pollution kills approximately 8 million people every year—more than AIDS, malaria, and tuberculosis combined.

New Zealand's Wellington Air Pollution Report

Overview

Air Pollution in Wellington

Wellington faces significant air pollution challenges. 0% of districts exceed the WHO guideline for clean air. This is putting 538 thousand across 8 districts at risk.

The average PM2.5 over 2023 was 2.9µg/m³. That's 0.6 times the WHO guideline for clean air of 5µg/m³.

This is equivalent of everybody, including children, smoking about 48 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 Wellington met the WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³, the average person would live 0 years longer.

That's 0 years of life stolen from 538 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 8 most polluted districts in Wellington. These areas face the greatest health burden from air pollution.

1.Kapiti Coast
0 years lost
2.Upper Hutt
0 years lost
3.Porirua
0 years lost
4.Masterton
0 years lost
5.Carterton
0 years lost
6.Wellington
0 years lost
7.Lower Hutt
0 years lost
8.South Wairarapa
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

100%

538K

5-10 µg/m³

10-15 µg/m³

15-25 µg/m³

25-35 µg/m³

> 35 µg/m³

Districts

All 8 Districts in Wellington

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

District	Population	PM2.5 µg/m³
Wellington	214K	2.8
Lower Hutt	112K	2.7
Porirua	60K	3.0
Kapiti Coast	56K	3.5
Upper Hutt	48K	3.0
Masterton	27K	2.9
South Wairarapa	11K	2.7
Carterton	10K	2.8

Showing 8 districts, sorted by population (largest first). PM2.5 values are for 2023. Years lost calculated against WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³.

Breathing in Wellington is Injurious to Health.