The 13 countries with the highest death rates from air pollution

pulse

April 19, 2018 8:57 PM

An overwhelming majority of the world's population breathes polluted air, according to a new report from State of Global Air.

Ninety-five percent of the world's population lives in an area where the air quality does not meet the World Health Organization's healthy air guideline, which is PM2.5.

PM2.5 means particulate matter in the air — caused by motor exhaust or anything combustible — that is less than 2.5 micrometers.

The State of Global Air report also includes data detailing the number and rate of deaths attributable to air pollution in each country in 2016.

Below are the 13 countries with the highest death rates from air pollution:

13. Cote d'Ivoire

Death rate per 100,000 people: 248

Overall deaths: 23,700

Source:

12. North Korea

Death rate per 100,000 people: 249

Overall deaths: 56,100

Source:

11. Togo

Death rate per 100,000 people: 250

Overall deaths: 6,800

Source:

10. Soloman Islands

Death rate per 100,000 people: 250

Overall deaths: 700

Source:

9. Chad

Death rate per 100,000 people: 252

Overall deaths: 17,100

Source:

8. Sierra Leone

Death rate per 100,000 people: 261

Overall deaths: 7,200

Source:

7. Somalia

Death rate per 100,000 people: 265

Overall deaths: 12,200

Source:

6. Guinea

Death rate per 100,000 people: 265

Overall deaths: 15,200

Source:

5. Niger

Death rate per 100,000 people: 267

Overall deaths: 23,500

Source:

4. Guinea-Bissau

Death rate per 100,000 people: 317

Overall deaths: 2,500

Source:

3. Central African Republic

Death rate per 100,000 people: 320

Overall deaths: 8,600

Source:

2. Papua New Guinea

Death rate per 100,000 people: 322

Overall deaths: 11,300

Source:

1. Afghanistan

Death rate per 100,000 people: 406

Overall deaths: 51,700

Source:

Although China and the US are the largest

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