Air quality statistics
An annual update on concentrations of major air pollutants in the UK.
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This publication summarises the concentrations of major air pollutants as measured by the Automatic Urban and Rural Network (AURN) across the UK. This release includes statistics on the concentrations of:
- nitrogen dioxide (NO2)
- particulates (PM2.5)
- particulates (PM10)
- ozone (O3)
The release also covers the number of days when air pollution was ‘Moderate’ or higher for any one of five pollutants listed below:
- nitrogen dioxide (NO2)
- particulates (PM2.5)
- particulates (PM10)
- ozone (O3)
- sulphur dioxide (SO2)
The release also covers progress towards meeting two PM2.5 concentrations targets in England:
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Population Exposure Reduction Target
-
Annual Mean Concentration Target
Improvements in air quality help reduce harm to human health and the environment.
The statistics in this publication are based on data from the Automatic Urban and Rural Network (AURN) of air quality monitors. You can check current air quality levels and forecasts in your area, or sign up to receive alerts, by using the Check Air Quality Service. AURN monitoring data is available from the new Get Air Pollution Data Service, and from the UK-AIR website which also contains information about monitoring networks for other UK air pollutants.
Air quality in the UK is strongly linked to anthropogenic (human-caused) emissions of pollutants. For more information on UK emissions data and other information please refer to the air quality and emissions statistics GOV.UK page.
The monitoring data is continuously reviewed and subject to change when issues are highlighted. This means that the time series for certain statistics may vary slightly from year to year. You can access editions of this publication via The National Archives or the links below.
The datasets associated with this publication can be found here ENV02 - Air quality statistics.
As part of our ongoing commitment to compliance with the Code of Practice for Official Statistics we wish to strengthen our engagement with users of air quality data and better understand how the data is used and the types of decisions that they inform. We invite users to register as a “user of Air Quality data”, so that we can retain your details, inform you of any new releases of Air Quality statistics and provide you with the opportunity to take part in user engagement activities that we may run. If you would like to register as a user of Air Quality data, please provide your details in the attached form.
2025
Air Quality Statistics in the UK, 1987 to 2024
2024
Air Quality Statistics in the UK, 1987 to 2023
2023
Air Quality Statistics in the UK, 1987 to 2022
2022
Air Quality Statistics in the UK, 1987 to 2021
2021
Air Quality Statistics in the UK, 1987 to 2020
2020
Air Quality Statistics in the UK, 1987 to 2019
2019
Air Quality Statistics in the UK, 1987 to 2018
2018
Air Quality Statistics in the UK, 1987 to 2017
2017
Air Quality Statistics in the UK, 1987 to 2016
2016
Air Quality Statistics in the UK, 1987 to 2015
2015
Air Quality Statistics in the UK, 1987 to 2014
2014
Air Quality Statistics in the UK, 1987 to 2013
2013
Air Quality Statistics in the UK, 1987 to 2012
2012
Air Quality Statistics in the UK, 1987 to 2011
2011
Air Quality Indicators – 2010 final UK Results
2010
Air Quality Indicator for sustainable development: 2009 final results
2009
Air Quality Indicator for sustainable development: 2008 final results
2008
Air Quality Indicator for sustainable development: 2007 final results
Defra statistics: Air Quality and Industrial Emissions