Air pollution in Europe

Statistics report on air pollutants and air quality in Europe

Air pollution in Europe

Air pollution is one of the biggest environmental health risks to Europeans, with long-term and short-term exposure to air pollutants like PM2.5 linked to adverse health effects like lung cancer and heart disease. These harmful pollutants are also linked to thousands of premature deaths every year across the continent.

This report provides facts and figures about air pollution in Europe. It looks into emissions of various types of air pollutants like fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and nitrogen oxides, polluting industry sectors, air pollution exposure, as well as the health risks posed by poor air quality.

Table of contents

Overview

5
  • Premium Statistic Global annual deaths due to PM2.5 and ozone air pollution
  • Premium Statistic EU-27 urban population exposed to air pollution concentrations above standards 2021
  • Premium Statistic Most polluted capital cities based on PM2.5 concentration in Europe 2023
  • Premium Statistic Premature deaths related to air pollution in the European Union 2021, by pollutant
  • Premium Statistic Industrial air pollution costs in the European Union 2012-2021

Emissions

5
  • Premium Statistic Air pollutant emissions in the European Union (EU-27) 1990-2021, by pollutant
  • Premium Statistic Air pollutant emission change in the EU-27 1990-2021, by pollutant
  • Premium Statistic Black carbon emissions in the European Union (EU-27) 2000-2021
  • Premium Statistic PM2.5 emissions in the European Union (EU-27) 2000-2021, by member state
  • Premium Statistic PM10 emissions in the European Union (EU-27) 2000-2021, by member state

Sources

5
  • Premium Statistic Breakdown of air pollutant emissions in the EU-27 2021, by sector
  • Premium Statistic PM2.5 particle emissions in the European Union 2000-2021, by sector
  • Premium Statistic Nitrogen oxide emissions in the European Union 1990-2021, by sector
  • Premium Statistic Change in transport sector air pollutant emissions in the EU-27 1990-2021, by mode
  • Premium Statistic External costs of industrial air pollution in the European Union 2012-2021, by sector

Exposure

6
  • Premium Statistic Percentage of urban population exposed to air pollutants in the EU-27 2000-2021
  • Premium Statistic Share of population facing air pollution above WHO limits in Europe 2022, by country
  • Premium Statistic Annual average number of PM2.5 unclean air days in Europe 2003-2019, by country
  • Premium Statistic Most polluted cities based on PM2.5 concentration in Europe 2023
  • Premium Statistic Average PM2.5 levels in the most populated cities in Europe 2021-2022
  • Premium Statistic Average PM2.5 concentrations in the least polluted cities in Europe 2021-2022

Health impacts

5
  • Premium Statistic Annual deaths attributable to PM2.5 exposure in the European Union 2005-2021
  • Premium Statistic Premature deaths attributable to PM2.5 exposure in Europe 2021, by cause
  • Premium Statistic Deaths attributable to PM2.5 exposure in Europe 2021, by country
  • Premium Statistic Deaths attributable to nitrogen dioxide exposure in Europe 2021, by country
  • Premium Statistic Deaths per 100,000 inhabitants due to PM2.5 pollution in Europe 2005-2021, by country

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