WHO Ambient Air Quality Database (Update 2023)

Overview

Update 2023 – Released on 15 May 2023 – 6th edition (V6.0)

The WHO Ambient Air Auality Database compiles data on ground measurements of annual mean concentrations of nitrogen dioxide (NO₂), particulate matter of a diameter equal or smaller than 10 μm (PM₁₀) or equal or smaller than 2.5 μm (PM_2.5) which aim at representing an average for the city or town as a whole, rather than for individual stations. Both groups of pollutants originate mainly from human activities related to fossil fuel combustion.

The Sixth version of the database, also called Update 2023 was released in May 2023 and currently hosts data on air quality for over 8600 human settlements in more than 120 countries.

The database is updated regularly every 2-3 years since 2011 and this is the 6th update. The data compiled in this database is used as input to derive the Sustainable Development Goal Indicator 11.6.2, Air quality in cities, for which WHO is custodial agency.