Exceedance of air quality standards in Europe (Indicator)

Key messages: The percentage of EU urban citizens exposed to pollutant levels of PM_2.5and nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) above current EU standards set to protect human health fell between 2000 and 2022. However, poor air quality remains a problem: in 2022, 19% of EU citizens were exposed to ozone (O₃) and 9% to particulate matter (PM₁₀) at levels above EU standards. Benchmarking against the 2021 World Health Organization (WHO) air quality guidelines reveals a more significant impact. At least 83% of the urban population is exposed to concentrations of PM, NO₂and O₃ above the WHO recommended levels.

Urban population in the EU-27 exposed to air pollutant concentration above selected EU air quality standards

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Notes: PM_2.5: particulate matter with a diameter of less than 2.5μm. PM₁₀: particulate matter with a diameter of less than 10μm. O₃: tropospheric ozone. NO₂: nitrogen dioxide. Criteria for each pollutant: PM_2.5 — population exposed to concentrations above 25 µg/m3. PM₁₀ — population exposed to daily concentrations exceeding 50µg/m³ for more than 35 days per year. O₃ — population exposed to maximum daily 8-hour mean concentrations exceeding 120µg/m³ for more than 25 days per year. NO₂ — population exposed to annual concentrations above 40µg/m³. These criteria are based on the current limit values (daily for PM₁₀ and annual for PM_2.5 and NO₂) and the target value (for O₃) set in the Ambient Air Quality Directive 2008/50/EC. Different numbers of countries and stations are included over time in the illustrated data sets. The percentage values are rounded to the nearest integer.

Over 70% of EU residents live in urban areas with high population density and economic activities that cause elevated air pollution levels. This exposure is linked to health issues like respiratory problems, heart disease and cancer. Air pollutants such as PM, O₃, NO₂, sulphur dioxide (SO₂) and benzo[a]pyrene (BaP) are associated with serious health risks.

The Ambient air quality Directives have set limit and target values for these pollutants. Currently, the ones applicable are those in Directives 2004/107/EC (EU, 2004) and 2008/508/EC (EU, 2008). From 2030 on, the ones under Directive (EU) 2024/2881 (EU, 2024) will apply.

The percentage of the urban population exposed to most pollutants (especially PM_2.5 and NO₂) at levels above EU standards has decreased since 2000. In 2022, less than 1% of the urban population lived in areas exceeding the EU annual limit values for these pollutants.

The percentage of the urban population exposed to PM_2.5, NO₂ and SO₂ at levels above EU standards has decreased since 2000 to less than 1% in 2022. Nevertheless, 9% and 19% of the EU urban population were still exposed to levels above the PM₁₀daily limit value and the O₃ target value threshold, respectively.

Please consult the relevant indicators and signals below for a more comprehensive overview on the topic.

References and footnotes

EU, 2004, Directive 2004/107/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 15 December 2004 relating to arsenic, cadmium, mercury, nickel and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in ambient air (OJ L 23, 26.1.2005, p. 3–16).
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EU, 2008, Directive 2008/50/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 21 May 2008 on ambient air quality and cleaner air for Europe (OJ L 152, 11.6.2008).
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EU, 2024, Directive (EU) 2024/2881 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 October 2024 on ambient air quality and cleaner air for Europe (recast) PE/88/2024/REV/1 (OJ L, 2024/2881, 20.11.2024).
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Exceedance of air quality standards in Europe (Indicator)

Urban population in the EU-27 exposed to air pollutant concentration above selected EU air quality standards

Zero Pollution Action Plan 2030 target or policy objectives

Other relevant indicators and signals

References and footnotes