Top 10 · environment
Top 10 countries with the cleanest air (PM2.5)
Population-weighted exposure to fine particles (PM2.5). World Bank (satellite-derived) data, latest year 2023, covering 192 countries.
The top 10
1st of 192 · 2023
Micronesia3.5 µg/m³
The other end · bottom 5 of 192
- 188thNiger65.2 µg/m³
- 189thNigeria65.7 µg/m³
- 190thBangladesh69.3 µg/m³
- 191stSaudi Arabia73.5 µg/m³
- 192ndQatar107.8 µg/m³
Where the big countries land
- 19thUnited States7 µg/m³
- 150thChina32 µg/m³
- 182ndIndia54.1 µg/m³
- 31stGermany8.8 µg/m³
- 61stBrazil13.4 µg/m³
Common questions
Questions people ask about air pollution (PM2.5)
Which country has the cleanest air (PM2.5)?
Micronesia ranks 1st of 192 countries at 3.5 µg/m³ (2023 data). Source: World Bank (satellite-derived).
Which countries are in the top 10 for air pollution (PM2.5)?
The top 10 are Micronesia, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Finland, Samoa, Tonga, Nauru, Iceland, Palau and Tuvalu — computed from World Bank (satellite-derived) data, latest year 2023.
Where does the United States rank in air pollution (PM2.5)?
The United States ranks 19th of 192 countries at 7 µg/m³ (2023 data). Source: World Bank (satellite-derived).
What is the median air pollution (PM2.5) worldwide?
Across the 192 countries covered, the median is 18.4 µg/m³. Values run from 3.5 µg/m³ (Micronesia, ranked 1st) to 107.8 µg/m³ (Qatar, ranked 192nd).
Is air pollution (PM2.5) higher in Europe or the US?
The median across 43 European countries is 11.6 µg/m³, against 7 µg/m³ in the United States — it is higher in Europe. Source: World Bank (satellite-derived).
Which country has the highest air pollution (PM2.5)?
Qatar sits at the other end of the list: 107.8 µg/m³ ranks 192nd of 192 (2023 data). Source: World Bank (satellite-derived).
Keep ranking
Keep exploring
More on environment
- Environmental performanceComposite environmental performance index.
- CO₂ emissionsEnergy-related carbon dioxide emissions per person, tonnes.
- Renewable energyRenewables' share of final energy consumption.
- Forest coverageShare of land area covered by forest.
- Life expectancyPeriod life expectancy at birth.
- Homicide rateDeaths by assault per 100,000 population.
Who leads the world
- Monacotops life expectancy86.5 years
- Singaporetops homicide rate0.1 per 100k
- Bulgariatops paid maternity leave59 weeks
Micronesia leads on air pollution (PM2.5) — see where it lands on every other measure, and which US state it most resembles.
From the blog: How reliable is World Bank data?
All 68 measures →Every country ranked →Every US state →All the Top 10s →The overall board →How we read the data →