24/7 Wall St. Insights

• In the United States, there are 14.2 deaths due to air pollution per 100,000 Americans each year.
• In some developed countries, however, there are nearly three times as many deaths due to air pollution.
• Most of the developed countries with the highest air pollution mortality are in Eastern Europe.
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Air pollution is one of the deadliest environmental threats in the world, leading to millions of premature deaths each year. While air pollution is worst in developing, rapidly industrializing nations, many advanced economies also struggle to curb harmful emissions and contain pollutants like fine particulate matter and nitrogen oxide.

In the United States, the decline in air pollution was one of the great public health achievements of the 20th century, aided by the passage of the Clean Air Act in 1963 and other wide-reaching environmental regulations. But while there are currently 14.2 annual deaths due to air pollution per 100,000 Americans, in some developed countries the mortality rate due to air pollution is nearly three times that. No amount of particulate matter is safe to breathe, and pollution from transportation, industry, and wildfires can lead to significant health burdens and premature death. A closer look at the data reveals the developed countries where air pollution kills the most people.

To determine the developed countries where air pollution kills the most people, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed data on mortality due to air pollution from the World Bank. Countries designated as advanced economies by the International Monetary Fund were ranked based on the annual mortality rate attributed to household and ambient air pollution. Mortality rates are age-standardized, and include respiratory infections estimated for all ages, cerebrovascular diseases in adults, ischaemic heart diseases in adults, chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases in adults, and lung cancer in adults. Supplemental data on the mean annual exposure to PM2.5 air pollution, the percentage of the population exposed to PM2.5 levels exceeding WHO guidelines, and GNI per capita are also from the World Bank. All data is for the most recent period available.

34. Finland

• Mortality rate attributed to air pollution: 7.4 deaths per 100,000 residents
• Mean annual exposure to PM2.5 air pollution: 4.9 micrograms per cubic meter
• Population exposed to PM2.5 air pollution levels exceeding WHO guidelines: 0.0%
• Gross national income: $61,910 per capita

33. Norway

• Mortality rate attributed to air pollution: 7.9 deaths per 100,000 residents
• Mean annual exposure to PM2.5 air pollution: 6.1 micrograms per cubic meter
• Population exposed to PM2.5 air pollution levels exceeding WHO guidelines: 2.0%
• Gross national income: $105,340 per capita

32. Sweden

• Mortality rate attributed to air pollution: 8.1 deaths per 100,000 residents
• Mean annual exposure to PM2.5 air pollution: 5.6 micrograms per cubic meter
• Population exposed to PM2.5 air pollution levels exceeding WHO guidelines: 3.6%
• Gross national income: $69,500 per capita

31. Canada

• Mortality rate attributed to air pollution: 8.1 deaths per 100,000 residents
• Mean annual exposure to PM2.5 air pollution: 6.6 micrograms per cubic meter
• Population exposed to PM2.5 air pollution levels exceeding WHO guidelines: 0.0%
• Gross national income: $62,540 per capita

30. Iceland

• Mortality rate attributed to air pollution: 8.2 deaths per 100,000 residents
• Mean annual exposure to PM2.5 air pollution: 5.1 micrograms per cubic meter
• Population exposed to PM2.5 air pollution levels exceeding WHO guidelines: 10.3%
• Gross national income: $77,490 per capita

29. Australia

• Mortality rate attributed to air pollution: 9.8 deaths per 100,000 residents
• Mean annual exposure to PM2.5 air pollution: 8.3 micrograms per cubic meter
• Population exposed to PM2.5 air pollution levels exceeding WHO guidelines: 24.9%
• Gross national income: $67,310 per capita

28. Portugal

• Mortality rate attributed to air pollution: 10.0 deaths per 100,000 residents
• Mean annual exposure to PM2.5 air pollution: 8.5 micrograms per cubic meter
• Population exposed to PM2.5 air pollution levels exceeding WHO guidelines: 16.0%
• Gross national income: $46,010 per capita

27. France

• Mortality rate attributed to air pollution: 10.0 deaths per 100,000 residents
• Mean annual exposure to PM2.5 air pollution: 9.6 micrograms per cubic meter
• Population exposed to PM2.5 air pollution levels exceeding WHO guidelines: 78.2%
• Gross national income: $58,920 per capita

26. Spain

• Mortality rate attributed to air pollution: 10.1 deaths per 100,000 residents
• Mean annual exposure to PM2.5 air pollution: 9.6 micrograms per cubic meter
• Population exposed to PM2.5 air pollution levels exceeding WHO guidelines: 41.1%
• Gross national income: $52,660 per capita

25. Switzerland

• Mortality rate attributed to air pollution: 10.4 deaths per 100,000 residents
• Mean annual exposure to PM2.5 air pollution: 9.1 micrograms per cubic meter
• Population exposed to PM2.5 air pollution levels exceeding WHO guidelines: 49.3%
• Gross national income: $86,820 per capita

24. Japan

• Mortality rate attributed to air pollution: 11.8 deaths per 100,000 residents
• Mean annual exposure to PM2.5 air pollution: 12.8 micrograms per cubic meter
• Population exposed to PM2.5 air pollution levels exceeding WHO guidelines: 76.8%
• Gross national income: $52,840 per capita

23. New Zealand

• Mortality rate attributed to air pollution: 12.2 deaths per 100,000 residents
• Mean annual exposure to PM2.5 air pollution: 6.5 micrograms per cubic meter
• Population exposed to PM2.5 air pollution levels exceeding WHO guidelines: 0.0%
• Gross national income: $51,780 per capita

22. Luxembourg

• Mortality rate attributed to air pollution: 12.5 deaths per 100,000 residents
• Mean annual exposure to PM2.5 air pollution: 8.7 micrograms per cubic meter
• Population exposed to PM2.5 air pollution levels exceeding WHO guidelines: 68.8%
• Gross national income: $90,540 per capita

21. Ireland

• Mortality rate attributed to air pollution: 12.8 deaths per 100,000 residents
• Mean annual exposure to PM2.5 air pollution: 8.2 micrograms per cubic meter
• Population exposed to PM2.5 air pollution levels exceeding WHO guidelines: 0.3%
• Gross national income: $94,860 per capita

20. Estonia

• Mortality rate attributed to air pollution: 12.8 deaths per 100,000 residents
• Mean annual exposure to PM2.5 air pollution: 6.1 micrograms per cubic meter
• Population exposed to PM2.5 air pollution levels exceeding WHO guidelines: 0.0%
• Gross national income: $45,270 per capita

19. Denmark

• Mortality rate attributed to air pollution: 12.9 deaths per 100,000 residents
• Mean annual exposure to PM2.5 air pollution: 9.1 micrograms per cubic meter
• Population exposed to PM2.5 air pollution levels exceeding WHO guidelines: 56.9%
• Gross national income: $75,640 per capita

18. Netherlands

• Mortality rate attributed to air pollution: 13.1 deaths per 100,000 residents
• Mean annual exposure to PM2.5 air pollution: 10.9 micrograms per cubic meter
• Population exposed to PM2.5 air pollution levels exceeding WHO guidelines: 99.6%
• Gross national income: $77,450 per capita

17. United Kingdom

• Mortality rate attributed to air pollution: 13.4 deaths per 100,000 residents
• Mean annual exposure to PM2.5 air pollution: 9.9 micrograms per cubic meter
• Population exposed to PM2.5 air pollution levels exceeding WHO guidelines: 66.5%
• Gross national income: $56,820 per capita

16. United States

• Mortality rate attributed to air pollution: 14.2 deaths per 100,000 residents
• Mean annual exposure to PM2.5 air pollution: 7.8 micrograms per cubic meter
• Population exposed to PM2.5 air pollution levels exceeding WHO guidelines: 3.3%
• Gross national income: $82,340 per capita

15. Germany

• Mortality rate attributed to air pollution: 14.7 deaths per 100,000 residents
• Mean annual exposure to PM2.5 air pollution: 10.3 micrograms per cubic meter
• Population exposed to PM2.5 air pollution levels exceeding WHO guidelines: 89.2%
• Gross national income: $70,710 per capita

14. Italy

• Mortality rate attributed to air pollution: 15.0 deaths per 100,000 residents
• Mean annual exposure to PM2.5 air pollution: 14.7 micrograms per cubic meter
• Population exposed to PM2.5 air pollution levels exceeding WHO guidelines: 94.8%
• Gross national income: $56,400 per capita

13. Israel

• Mortality rate attributed to air pollution: 15.1 deaths per 100,000 residents
• Mean annual exposure to PM2.5 air pollution: 18.6 micrograms per cubic meter
• Population exposed to PM2.5 air pollution levels exceeding WHO guidelines: 100.0%
• Gross national income: $53,400 per capita

12. Belgium

• Mortality rate attributed to air pollution: 15.3 deaths per 100,000 residents
• Mean annual exposure to PM2.5 air pollution: 11.2 micrograms per cubic meter
• Population exposed to PM2.5 air pollution levels exceeding WHO guidelines: 91.9%
• Gross national income: $69,270 per capita

11. Cyprus

• Mortality rate attributed to air pollution: 15.8 deaths per 100,000 residents
• Mean annual exposure to PM2.5 air pollution: 13.5 micrograms per cubic meter
• Population exposed to PM2.5 air pollution levels exceeding WHO guidelines: 100.0%
• Gross national income: $51,610 per capita

10. Austria

• Mortality rate attributed to air pollution: 17.5 deaths per 100,000 residents
• Mean annual exposure to PM2.5 air pollution: 10.9 micrograms per cubic meter
• Population exposed to PM2.5 air pollution levels exceeding WHO guidelines: 85.1%
• Gross national income: $70,080 per capita

9. Slovenia

• Mortality rate attributed to air pollution: 18.8 deaths per 100,000 residents
• Mean annual exposure to PM2.5 air pollution: 14.3 micrograms per cubic meter
• Population exposed to PM2.5 air pollution levels exceeding WHO guidelines: 99.5%
• Gross national income: $53,080 per capita

8. South Korea

• Mortality rate attributed to air pollution: 18.9 deaths per 100,000 residents
• Mean annual exposure to PM2.5 air pollution: 25.9 micrograms per cubic meter
• Population exposed to PM2.5 air pollution levels exceeding WHO guidelines: 100.0%
• Gross national income: $52,680 per capita

7. Malta

• Mortality rate attributed to air pollution: 20.9 deaths per 100,000 residents
• Mean annual exposure to PM2.5 air pollution: 11.7 micrograms per cubic meter
• Population exposed to PM2.5 air pollution levels exceeding WHO guidelines: 100.0%
• Gross national income: $54,820 per capita

6. Greece

• Mortality rate attributed to air pollution: 23.0 deaths per 100,000 residents
• Mean annual exposure to PM2.5 air pollution: 14.4 micrograms per cubic meter
• Population exposed to PM2.5 air pollution levels exceeding WHO guidelines: 100.0%
• Gross national income: $40,260 per capita

5. Slovak Republic

• Mortality rate attributed to air pollution: 30.3 deaths per 100,000 residents
• Mean annual exposure to PM2.5 air pollution: 15.4 micrograms per cubic meter
• Population exposed to PM2.5 air pollution levels exceeding WHO guidelines: 100.0%
• Gross national income: $42,350 per capita

4. Croatia

• Mortality rate attributed to air pollution: 31.3 deaths per 100,000 residents
• Mean annual exposure to PM2.5 air pollution: 16.1 micrograms per cubic meter
• Population exposed to PM2.5 air pollution levels exceeding WHO guidelines: 99.8%
• Gross national income: $45,330 per capita

3. Czechia

• Mortality rate attributed to air pollution: 32.5 deaths per 100,000 residents
• Mean annual exposure to PM2.5 air pollution: 14.1 micrograms per cubic meter
• Population exposed to PM2.5 air pollution levels exceeding WHO guidelines: 99.7%
• Gross national income: $49,160 per capita

2. Lithuania

• Mortality rate attributed to air pollution: 38.8 deaths per 100,000 residents
• Mean annual exposure to PM2.5 air pollution: 9.2 micrograms per cubic meter
• Population exposed to PM2.5 air pollution levels exceeding WHO guidelines: 96.0%
• Gross national income: $48,850 per capita

1. Latvia

• Mortality rate attributed to air pollution: 40.1 deaths per 100,000 residents
• Mean annual exposure to PM2.5 air pollution: 11.6 micrograms per cubic meter
• Population exposed to PM2.5 air pollution levels exceeding WHO guidelines: 89.0%
• Gross national income: $42,830 per capita

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