Breathing in Pernambuco is Injurious to Health.

Air pollution threatens the health of 9.5 million people across 185 districts in Pernambuco. The average PM2.5 level is 6.8 µg/m³—1.4× higher than the WHO guideline.

AboutMake Air Quality Great AgainAQLI Data

Brought to you by Amrit Sharma

Overview

Air Pollution in Pernambuco

Pernambuco faces significant air pollution challenges. 98% of districts exceed the WHO guideline for clean air. This is putting 9.5 million across 185 districts at risk.

The average PM2.5 over 2023 was 6.8µg/m³. That's 1.4 times the WHO guideline for clean air of 5µg/m³.

This is equivalent of everybody, including children, smoking about 113 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 Pernambuco met the WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³, the average person would live 0.17 years longer.

That's 1.6M 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 Pernambuco. These areas face the greatest health burden from air pollution.

  • 1.Ipubi
    0.3 years lost
  • 2.Parnamirim
    0.3 years lost
  • 3.Serrita
    0.3 years lost
  • 4.Cedro
    0.3 years lost
  • 5.Terra Nova
    0.3 years lost
  • 6.Trindade
    0.3 years lost
  • 7.Salgueiro
    0.3 years lost
  • 8.Moreilândia
    0.3 years lost
  • 9.Petrolina
    0.3 years lost
  • 10.Santa Maria da Boa Vista
    0.3 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
0.7%
65K
5-10 µg/m³
99.3%
9.4M
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 185 Districts in Pernambuco

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

DistrictPopulationPM2.5 µg/m³Years Lost
Recife1.6M
7.5
0.2 years
Jaboatão dos Guararapes686K
6.7
0.2 years
Petrolina409K
7.8
0.3 years
Caruaru398K
6.2
0.1 years
Paulista362K
7.0
0.2 years
Olinda358K
7.3
0.2 years
Cabo de Santo Agostinho213K
6.4
0.1 years
Camaragibe155K
6.9
0.2 years
Garanhuns150K
6.2
0.1 years
Vitória de Santo Antão142K
6.3
0.1 years
Igarassu121K
6.9
0.2 years
São Lourenço da Mata117K
6.5
0.1 years
Abreu e Lima105K
6.6
0.2 years
Santa Cruz do Capibaribe103K
6.4
0.1 years
Ipojuca101K
6.2
0.1 years
Serra Talhada96K
7.5
0.2 years
Gravatá91K
6.3
0.1 years
Araripina90K
7.7
0.3 years
Goiana84K
6.4
0.1 years
Belo Jardim83K
6.4
0.1 years
Carpina83K
6.4
0.1 years
Arcoverde82K
6.8
0.2 years
Ouricuri69K
7.5
0.2 years
Surubim67K
6.1
0.1 years
Salgueiro65K
7.9
0.3 years
Bezerros65K
5.9
0.1 years
Pesqueira64K
6.3
0.1 years
Escada63K
6.7
0.2 years
Limoeiro59K
6.1
0.1 years
Paudalho58K
6.4
0.1 years
Moreno58K
6.3
0.1 years
Palmares57K
6.3
0.1 years
Buíque52K
6.2
0.1 years
São Bento do Una51K
6.1
0.1 years
Brejo da Madre de Deus51K
6.5
0.1 years
Timbaúba48K
6.4
0.1 years
Bom Conselho46K
5.3
0.0 years
Águas Belas44K
5.8
0.1 years
Santa Maria da Boa Vista43K
7.8
0.3 years
Toritama43K
6.2
0.1 years
Afogados da Ingazeira42K
6.7
0.2 years
Barreiros42K
4.7
0.0 years
Lajedo42K
6.2
0.1 years
Bonito40K
6.6
0.2 years
Bom Jardim39K
6.2
0.1 years
São Caitano39K
6.1
0.1 years
Sirinhaém39K
6.1
0.1 years
Custódia38K
7.0
0.2 years
Aliança37K
6.8
0.2 years
Itambé37K
6.2
0.1 years
São José do Belmonte37K
7.0
0.2 years
Bodocó36K
7.7
0.3 years
Petrolândia36K
6.9
0.2 years
Itaíba35K
6.4
0.1 years
Ribeirão35K
6.5
0.1 years
Catende34K
6.5
0.2 years
Exu33K
7.8
0.3 years
Sertânia33K
6.6
0.2 years
São José do Egito33K
6.4
0.1 years
Cabrobó32K
7.7
0.3 years
Nazaré da Mata32K
6.8
0.2 years
Trindade32K
7.9
0.3 years
Floresta32K
7.1
0.2 years
Pombos31K
6.3
0.1 years
Glória do Goitá31K
6.2
0.1 years
Caetés30K
6.1
0.1 years
Ipubi30K
8.1
0.3 years
Tupanatinga30K
6.3
0.1 years
Passira30K
5.6
0.1 years
João Alfredo29K
6.0
0.1 years
Itapissuma29K
7.2
0.2 years
Tabira29K
6.7
0.2 years
Ibimirim29K
7.0
0.2 years
Água Preta28K
5.9
0.1 years
Vicência28K
7.0
0.2 years
Condado26K
6.3
0.1 years
Canhotinho26K
6.3
0.1 years
Taquaritinga do Norte26K
6.2
0.1 years
Manari26K
6.8
0.2 years
Inajá25K
7.0
0.2 years
Agrestina25K
6.0
0.1 years
Lagoa Grande25K
7.5
0.2 years
Tamandaré25K
5.4
0.0 years
Cupira25K
5.8
0.1 years
São João25K
6.3
0.1 years
Macaparana24K
6.7
0.2 years
Tacaratu24K
7.3
0.2 years
Pedra24K
6.2
0.1 years
Panelas24K
5.7
0.1 years
Ilha de Itamaracá23K
6.9
0.2 years
Vertentes23K
6.1
0.1 years
Feira Nova22K
5.9
0.1 years
Orobó22K
6.3
0.1 years
Altinho22K
5.6
0.1 years
Chã Grande22K
6.5
0.2 years
Riacho das Almas21K
5.9
0.1 years
Flores21K
6.9
0.2 years
São Joaquim do Monte21K
6.2
0.1 years
Rio Formoso21K
5.8
0.1 years
Cachoeirinha21K
5.9
0.1 years
Araçoiaba20K
6.3
0.1 years
Lagoa de Itaenga20K
6.3
0.1 years
São José da Coroa Grande20K
5.0
0.0 years
Sanharó20K
6.2
0.1 years
Parnamirim20K
8.0
0.3 years
Capoeiras19K
6.1
0.1 years
Carnaíba19K
6.6
0.2 years
Belém do São Francisco19K
7.5
0.2 years
Amaraji19K
6.9
0.2 years
Serrita19K
8.0
0.3 years
Gameleira19K
6.2
0.1 years
Quipapá19K
6.3
0.1 years
Venturosa19K
6.2
0.1 years
Lagoa do Carro18K
6.3
0.1 years
Camocim de São Félix18K
6.4
0.1 years
Correntes18K
5.7
0.1 years
Iati18K
5.5
0.0 years
Itaquitinga17K
6.3
0.1 years
Afrânio17K
7.0
0.2 years
São Vicente Férrer17K
6.8
0.2 years
Dormentes17K
7.4
0.2 years
Cumaru17K
5.6
0.1 years
São Benedito do Sul16K
6.3
0.1 years
Jataúba16K
6.4
0.1 years
Jupi16K
6.5
0.1 years
Ferreiros16K
6.3
0.1 years
Triunfo15K
6.9
0.2 years
Santa Cruz15K
7.4
0.2 years
Lagoa dos Gatos15K
6.2
0.1 years
Jatobá15K
7.3
0.2 years
Tracunhaém15K
6.5
0.1 years
Santa Maria do Cambucá14K
6.3
0.1 years
Orocó14K
7.6
0.3 years
Frei Miguelinho14K
6.1
0.1 years
Tacaimbó14K
6.1
0.1 years
Primavera14K
6.9
0.2 years
Saloá14K
5.5
0.1 years
Itapetim14K
6.5
0.1 years
Mirandiba14K
7.2
0.2 years
Alagoinha14K
6.4
0.1 years
Joaquim Nabuco14K
6.4
0.1 years
Buenos Aires13K
6.6
0.2 years
Jurema13K
6.1
0.1 years
Casinhas13K
6.1
0.1 years
Chã de Alegria13K
6.6
0.2 years
Barra de Guabiraba13K
6.7
0.2 years
Carnaubeira da Penha13K
7.3
0.2 years
Paranatama13K
5.9
0.1 years
Lagoa do Ouro12K
5.5
0.1 years
Santa Filomena12K
7.2
0.2 years
Santa Cruz da Baixa Verde12K
7.0
0.2 years
Jucati12K
6.3
0.1 years
Betânia12K
6.5
0.2 years
Xexéu12K
6.1
0.1 years
Calçado12K
6.3
0.1 years
Machados12K
6.6
0.2 years
Iguaracy12K
6.5
0.2 years
Sairé11K
6.3
0.1 years
Cedro11K
7.9
0.3 years
Moreilândia11K
7.9
0.3 years
Poção11K
6.5
0.2 years
Cortês11K
6.8
0.2 years
Belém de Maria11K
6.4
0.1 years
Jaqueira11K
6.4
0.1 years
Santa Terezinha11K
6.8
0.2 years
Angelim10K
6.2
0.1 years
Verdejante10K
7.1
0.2 years
Brejão10K
5.6
0.1 years
Maraial9K
6.3
0.1 years
Terra Nova9K
7.9
0.3 years
Tuparetama8K
6.3
0.1 years
Camutanga8K
6.1
0.1 years
Brejinho8K
6.5
0.2 years
Vertente do Lério8K
6.2
0.1 years
Ibirajuba8K
5.6
0.1 years
Palmeirina7K
6.0
0.1 years
Granito7K
7.7
0.3 years
Terezinha7K
5.4
0.0 years
Quixaba7K
6.4
0.1 years
Salgadinho6K
5.7
0.1 years
Solidão6K
6.3
0.1 years
Calumbi6K
7.0
0.2 years
Ingazeira5K
6.5
0.1 years
Itacuruba5K
6.9
0.2 years
Fernando de Noronha3K
3.4
0.0 years

Showing 185 districts, sorted by population (largest first). PM2.5 values are for 2023. Years lost calculated against WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³.