Breathing in Atlántico is Injurious to Health.

Air pollution threatens the health of 2.5 million people across 23 districts in Atlántico. The average PM2.5 level is 10.9 µg/m³—2.2× higher than the WHO guideline.

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Overview

Air Pollution in Atlántico

Atlántico faces significant air pollution challenges. 100% of districts exceed the WHO guideline for clean air. This is putting 2.5 million across 23 districts at risk.

The average PM2.5 over 2023 was 10.9µg/m³. That's 2.2 times the WHO guideline for clean air of 5µg/m³.

This is equivalent of everybody, including children, smoking about 181 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 Atlántico met the WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³, the average person would live 0.54 years longer.

That's 1.4M years of life stolen from 2.5 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 Atlántico. These areas face the greatest health burden from air pollution.

  • 1.Suan
    0.8 years lost
  • 2.Campo de la Cruz
    0.8 years lost
  • 3.Santa Lucía
    0.8 years lost
  • 4.Sabanagrande
    0.7 years lost
  • 5.Santo Tomás
    0.7 years lost
  • 6.Manatí
    0.7 years lost
  • 7.Candelaria
    0.7 years lost
  • 8.Palmar de Varela
    0.7 years lost
  • 9.Ponedera
    0.7 years lost
  • 10.Repelón
    0.7 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%
0
5-10 µg/m³
6.9%
174K
10-15 µg/m³
93.1%
2.3M
15-25 µg/m³
0%
0
25-35 µg/m³
0%
0
> 35 µg/m³
0%
0
Districts

All 23 Districts in Atlántico

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

DistrictPopulationPM2.5 µg/m³Years Lost
Barranquilla1.2M
10.6
0.5 years
Soledad671K
11.5
0.6 years
Malambo128K
11.6
0.6 years
Sabanalarga100K
10.3
0.5 years
Baranoa59K
9.0
0.4 years
Galapa47K
9.3
0.4 years
Santo Tomás41K
12.3
0.7 years
Sabanagrande34K
12.3
0.7 years
Luruaco28K
10.3
0.5 years
Repelón27K
11.7
0.7 years
Ponedera21K
12.0
0.7 years
Juan de Acosta17K
9.3
0.4 years
Manatí16K
12.2
0.7 years
Campo de la Cruz14K
13.3
0.8 years
Polonuevo14K
9.1
0.4 years
Candelaria14K
12.2
0.7 years
Puerto Colombia12K
8.9
0.4 years
Santa Lucía11K
13.1
0.8 years
Tubará10K
8.9
0.4 years
Palmar de Varela9K
12.2
0.7 years
Usiacurí9K
9.1
0.4 years
Suan8K
13.4
0.8 years
Piojó5K
9.5
0.4 years

Showing 23 districts, sorted by population (largest first). PM2.5 values are for 2023. Years lost calculated against WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³.