Deaths per 100,000 inhabitants due to PM2.5 pollution in Europe 2005-2021, by country
The number of premature deaths per 100,000 habitants attributable to PM2.5 exposure above WHO guidelines fell across most European countries between 2005 and 2021. One of the few exceptions to this is Poland, where the estimated number of deaths linked to PM2.5 increased by 14 percent to 125 per 100,000 inhabitants. The highest mortality rates in 2021 were typically observed in Eastern European countries. This is due to factors such as the dependency of coal power plants in the region, as well as burning solid fuels for domestic heating.
