Annual mean levels of fine particulate matter (population-weighted) in Canada
Canada: Annual mean levels of fine particulate matter (population-weighted) was 8.83 µg/m³ in 2023. ▬ Flat
Annual mean levels of fine particulate matter (population-weighted) in Canada, 2010–2023
Source: United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database. Measured in µg/m³.
Analysis
In 2023, annual mean levels of fine particulate matter (population-weighted) in Canada stood at 8.83 µg/m³. That is the highest value across all 14 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 33.7% on the previous year and up 23.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, annual mean levels of fine particulate matter (population-weighted) in Canada peaked at 8.83 µg/m³ in 2023 and was at its lowest, 6.15 µg/m³, in 2016.
That places Canada 171st out of 256 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the middle of the range.
Annual mean levels of fine particulate matter (population-weighted) in Canada, year by year
| Year | µg/m³ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 7.46 µg/m³ | — |
| 2011 | 7.34 µg/m³ | -1.6% |
| 2012 | 7.26 µg/m³ | -1.1% |
| 2013 | 7.14 µg/m³ | -1.7% |
| 2014 | 7.19 µg/m³ | +0.7% |
| 2015 | 7.03 µg/m³ | -2.3% |
| 2016 | 6.15 µg/m³ | -12.4% |
| 2017 | 6.69 µg/m³ | +8.7% |
| 2018 | 6.87 µg/m³ | +2.8% |
| 2019 | 6.2 µg/m³ | -9.8% |
| 2020 | 6.19 µg/m³ | -0.2% |
| 2021 | 6.95 µg/m³ | +12.3% |
| 2022 | 6.6 µg/m³ | -5.0% |
| 2023 | 8.83 µg/m³ | +33.7% |
Canada compared with similar countries
- Canada's 8.83 µg/m³ is above the median for high income countries, which is 8.71 µg/m³, 1.0× the median. (82 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Annual mean levels of fine particulate matter (population-weighted) in Canada changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | +33.7% | 6.6 µg/m³ | 8.83 µg/m³ |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 6.93 µg/m³ | 6.15 µg/m³ | 7.46 µg/m³ | 10 |
| 2020s | 7.14 µg/m³ | 6.19 µg/m³ | 8.83 µg/m³ | 4 |
Countries ranked near Canada
- 168 Grenada 8.9 µg/m³ compare
- 169 Republic of Moldova 8.88 µg/m³ compare
- 169 Moldova 8.88 µg/m³ compare
- 172 Martinique 8.81 µg/m³ compare
- 173 France 8.81 µg/m³ compare
- 174 Saint Lucia 8.78 µg/m³ compare
More development goals data for Canada
- Red List Index 0.9638 index (2025)
- Number of refugees per 100,000 population, by country of origin 0.8573 per 100,000 people (2025)
- Manufacturing value added per capita 3,880 constant US$ (2025)
- Number of transboundary breeds 185 (2025)
- Number of transboundary breeds (not extinct) 151 (2025)
- Number of transboundary breeds with unknown risk status 13 (2025)
- Number of local breeds with unknown risk status 0 (2025)
- Number of local breeds (not extinct) 21 (2025)
- Number of local breeds kept in the country 26 (2025)
- Infant deaths 1,692 (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is annual mean levels of fine particulate matter (population-weighted) in Canada?
- Annual mean levels of fine particulate matter (population-weighted) in Canada was 8.83 µg/m³ in 2023, according to United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
- What is the highest annual mean levels of fine particulate matter (population-weighted) recorded in Canada?
- The highest recorded value was 8.83 µg/m³ in 2023.
- What is the lowest annual mean levels of fine particulate matter (population-weighted) recorded in Canada?
- The lowest recorded value was 6.15 µg/m³ in 2016.
- How does Canada rank for annual mean levels of fine particulate matter (population-weighted)?
- Canada ranks 171st out of 256 countries with data for 2023.
- Is annual mean levels of fine particulate matter (population-weighted) rising or falling in Canada?
- Over the last ten years it is up 23.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this Canada data come from?
- The figures come from United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database, published as part of Annual mean levels of fine particulate matter (population-weighted), by location (micrograms per cubic meter). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 14 observations, free to reuse under UN SDG Global Database (open, attribution requested).