Share of urban population exposed to pollutant concentrations above EU air quality standards in the European Union from 2000 to 2021, by pollutant type
Characteristic
PM2.5*
PM10
O3
NO2
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Criteria for each pollutant: PM2.5 — population exposed to concentrations above 25 µg/m3; PM10 — population exposed to daily concentrations exceeding 50 µg/m3 for more than 35 days per year; O3 — population exposed to maximum daily 8-hour mean concentrations exceeding 120 µg/m3 for more than 25 days per year; NO2 — population exposed to annual concentrations above 40 µg/m3. These criteria are based on the limit values (for PM and NO2) and target values (for O3) set in the Ambient Air Quality Directive 2008/50/EC.
*PM2.5 figures were not available prior to 2006.
Citation formats
Percentage of urban population exposed to air pollutants in the EU-27 2000-2021
The share of the European Union's urban population exposed to air pollutant concentrations above EU standards has fallen over the past two decades. In 2021, just *** percent of the EU urban population was exposed to high levels of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) concentrations, compared to ** percent in 2000. However, ** percent of the EU urban population were still exposed to high levels of PM10 and ozone (O3) in 2021.
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EEA. (April 4, 2023). Share of urban population exposed to pollutant concentrations above EU air quality standards in the European Union from 2000 to 2021, by pollutant type [Graph]. In ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ. Retrieved July 23, 2026, from /statistics/793420/urban-population-pollution-exposure-europe/
EEA. "Share of urban population exposed to pollutant concentrations above EU air quality standards in the European Union from 2000 to 2021, by pollutant type." Chart. April 4, 2023. ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ. Accessed July 23, 2026. /statistics/793420/urban-population-pollution-exposure-europe/
EEA. (2023). Share of urban population exposed to pollutant concentrations above EU air quality standards in the European Union from 2000 to 2021, by pollutant type. ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ. ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ Inc.. Accessed: July 23, 2026. /statistics/793420/urban-population-pollution-exposure-europe/
EEA. "Share of Urban Population Exposed to Pollutant Concentrations above Eu Air Quality Standards in The European Union from 2000 to 2021, by Pollutant Type." ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ, ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ Inc., 4 Apr 2023, /statistics/793420/urban-population-pollution-exposure-europe/
EEA, Share of urban population exposed to pollutant concentrations above EU air quality standards in the European Union from 2000 to 2021, by pollutant type ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ, /statistics/793420/urban-population-pollution-exposure-europe/ (last visited July 23, 2026)
Share of urban population exposed to pollutant concentrations above EU air quality standards in the European Union from 2000 to 2021, by pollutant type [Graph], EEA, April 4, 2023. [Online]. Available: /statistics/793420/urban-population-pollution-exposure-europe/
