Exposure to air pollution in England, 2003–23

Key findings

Across people living in England, average exposure to fine particulate matter (PM2.5) – the most harmful air pollutant, largely arising from transport, domestic woodburning and industrial emissions – fell by 54% between 2003 and 2023.

Almost everywhere in England is now below England’s 2040 target for PM2.5, but still falling short of the World Health Organisation’s recommended limit. The share of the English population exposed to levels of PM2.5 above England’s 2040 target fell from 99% in 2003 to less than 0.1% in 2023. However, 96% of people still live in areas above the WHO’s more stringent recommended limit.

Levels of PM2.5 fell dramatically during the COVID-19 pandemic and have remained at these lower levels since. Two-fifths of the decrease in PM2.5 exposure over the last two decades occurred in 2020.

Lower-income areas have persistently higher levels of air pollution than richer areas. In 2023, individuals in the top 20% most deprived areas experienced 8% higher average PM2.5 concentrations than those in the bottom 20%. There is no clear trend in this gap over the last two decades.

Ethnic minorities were exposed to levels of air pollution 6% higher than average levels for white populations in 2023, down from 13% in 2003. This fall in the ‘ethnic pollution gap’ was initially down to ethnic minorities moving to less polluted parts of the country (e.g. moving out of London to a smaller city). Since 2019, however, areas with large ethnic minority populations (namely London and the Midlands) have experienced substantial decreases in air pollution, further shrinking the gap.