Years of Healthy Life Lost from Air Pollution
CURRENT TOTAL
Live Counter Notable Facts
(Data shown in the table is for 2025. Counter shows current estimate)
Annual Global DALYs
Per Second Rate
Life Expectancy Impact
Understanding Years of Healthy Life Lost from Air Pollution
This counter tracks the years of healthy life lost due to air pollution exposure, measured in disability-adjusted life years (DALYs). Air pollution is now the second leading risk factor for death globally, causing both premature mortality and years lived with disability from diseases linked to poor air quality.
In 2021, ambient PM2.5 air pollution alone caused 103.1 million lost years of healthy life globally. This burden includes both years of life lost to premature death and years lived with chronic diseases such as heart disease, stroke, respiratory infections, and lung cancer caused by air pollution exposure.
The impact varies dramatically by region, with some countries experiencing life expectancy losses of up to 3.2 years due to air pollution. Meeting WHO air quality guidelines could prevent millions of premature deaths and significantly reduce the global disease burden from this environmental risk factor.
Health Impact of Air Pollution Overview
- Disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) combine years of life lost due to premature mortality with years lived with disability, providing a comprehensive measure of the total health burden from air pollution exposure.
- Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) is responsible for approximately 99.2 million years of life lost and 3.9 million years lived with disability annually, making it the most significant air pollutant for human health impacts globally.
- Regional disparities are stark - air pollution reduces life expectancy by 2-3 years in the most affected countries in South Asia and sub-Saharan Africa, while the impact is less than 0.5 years in countries with cleaner air.
- The health burden from air pollution affects all organ systems, not just respiratory health, contributing to cardiovascular disease, diabetes, neurological conditions, adverse birth outcomes, and various cancers throughout the life course.
Health Impact Terminology
- DALY (Disability-Adjusted Life Year): One lost year of healthy life due to disease, combining mortality and morbidity impacts
- Years of Life Lost (YLL): Years of potential life lost due to premature death from air pollution
- Years Lived with Disability (YLD): Years of healthy life lost due to living with disease or disability
- Life Expectancy Loss: Average reduction in lifespan attributable to air pollution exposure
Global DALY Distribution by Region
- South Asia: 36% of global air pollution DALYs
- East Asia & Pacific: 28% of global burden
- Sub-Saharan Africa: 30% of household air pollution DALYs
- Europe & Central Asia: 4% of global burden
- Americas: 2% of global air pollution DALYs
Disease-Specific Health Burden
- Ischemic Heart Disease: 32% of air pollution deaths
- Stroke: 23% of air pollution deaths
- Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: 21% of deaths
- Lung Cancer: 4% of air pollution deaths
- Lower Respiratory Infections: 20% of deaths
Progress and Projections
- Global DALY rate declined 30% since 1990 despite population growth
- Meeting WHO guidelines could prevent 55% of air pollution deaths by 2030
- China reduced air pollution DALYs by 30.2% from 1990-2019
- Full implementation of clean air policies could save 7 million lives annually
- Economic cost of health impacts: $8.1 trillion globally in 2019
Data Sources and References
Methodology and Data Collection
Years of healthy life lost are calculated using the Global Burden of Disease methodology, combining mortality data with disability weights for various health conditions caused by air pollution exposure across all age groups and regions.
Real-time estimates apply a rate of 3.27 years of healthy life lost per second, based on annual global DALYs of approximately 103.1 million years attributable to ambient air pollution, with additional burden from household air pollution.