Breathing in Nariño is Injurious to Health.

Air pollution threatens the health of 1.7 million people across 64 districts in Nariño. The average PM2.5 level is 12.2 µg/m³—2.4× higher than the WHO guideline.

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Brought to you by Amrit Sharma

Overview

Air Pollution in Nariño

Nariño faces significant air pollution challenges. 100% of districts exceed the WHO guideline for clean air. This is putting 1.7 million across 64 districts at risk.

The average PM2.5 over 2023 was 12.2µg/m³. That's 2.4 times the WHO guideline for clean air of 5µg/m³.

This is equivalent of everybody, including children, smoking about 202 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 Nariño met the WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³, the average person would live 0.69 years longer.

That's 1.2M years of life stolen from 1.7 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 Nariño. These areas face the greatest health burden from air pollution.

  • 1.Ipiales
    0.8 years lost
  • 2.Potosí
    0.8 years lost
  • 3.Puerres
    0.8 years lost
  • 4.Córdoba
    0.8 years lost
  • 5.Ricaurte
    0.8 years lost
  • 6.Funes
    0.8 years lost
  • 7.Contadero
    0.8 years lost
  • 8.Gualmatán
    0.8 years lost
  • 9.Pupiales
    0.8 years lost
  • 10.Iles
    0.8 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
4.7%
82K
10-15 µg/m³
95.3%
1.7M
15-25 µg/m³
0%
0
25-35 µg/m³
0%
0
> 35 µg/m³
0%
0
Districts

All 64 Districts in Nariño

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

DistrictPopulationPM2.5 µg/m³Years Lost
San Juan de Pasto450K
12.6
0.7 years
Tumaco165K
11.0
0.6 years
Ipiales149K
13.7
0.8 years
Samaniego47K
12.6
0.7 years
El Charco43K
10.1
0.5 years
Barbacoas41K
12.4
0.7 years
Cumbal39K
12.7
0.8 years
Túquerres39K
12.4
0.7 years
Olaya Herrera33K
9.6
0.5 years
Santa Cruz31K
12.5
0.7 years
Buesaco26K
12.8
0.8 years
Magüí25K
10.7
0.6 years
Sandoná25K
12.6
0.7 years
Roberto Payán25K
10.6
0.5 years
La Unión24K
12.3
0.7 years
Albán23K
12.7
0.8 years
La Cruz23K
12.4
0.7 years
Taminango22K
12.3
0.7 years
San Bernardo21K
12.5
0.7 years
San Lorenzo20K
12.4
0.7 years
Los Andes20K
12.2
0.7 years
Ricaurte20K
13.3
0.8 years
Pupiales19K
13.0
0.8 years
Policarpa18K
11.8
0.7 years
Mosquera18K
9.4
0.4 years
Cumbitara17K
11.7
0.7 years
Francisco Pizarro17K
9.2
0.4 years
San Pablo16K
12.2
0.7 years
Leiva14K
11.1
0.6 years
Guachucal14K
12.5
0.7 years
Providencia14K
12.4
0.7 years
Chachagüí14K
12.7
0.8 years
La Tola14K
9.8
0.5 years
Santa Bárbara14K
10.1
0.5 years
Córdoba13K
13.5
0.8 years
El Tablón de Gomez12K
12.8
0.8 years
Potosí11K
13.6
0.8 years
El Tambo11K
12.4
0.7 years
Guaitarilla11K
12.6
0.7 years
Yacuanquér11K
12.8
0.8 years
Colón10K
12.3
0.7 years
Iles9K
13.0
0.8 years
El Rosario9K
11.4
0.6 years
Cuaspud9K
12.9
0.8 years
Linares9K
12.5
0.7 years
La Florida9K
12.5
0.7 years
Tangua9K
12.8
0.8 years
Puerres9K
13.6
0.8 years
Consacá9K
12.8
0.8 years
Ospina8K
12.7
0.7 years
San Pedro de Cartago8K
12.4
0.7 years
Arboleda7K
12.7
0.7 years
Mallama7K
12.7
0.8 years
Contadero7K
13.2
0.8 years
Funes7K
13.3
0.8 years
El Peñol6K
12.4
0.7 years
Sapuyes6K
12.5
0.7 years
Ancuyá6K
12.8
0.8 years
Imués6K
12.8
0.8 years
La Llanada6K
12.2
0.7 years
Aldana5K
12.8
0.8 years
Gualmatán5K
13.0
0.8 years
Nariño5K
12.5
0.7 years
Belén3K
12.3
0.7 years

Showing 64 districts, sorted by population (largest first). PM2.5 values are for 2023. Years lost calculated against WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³.