In Estonia, half the land is covered by forests, and pristine bogs and wetlands dot the landscape. But there’s more to it than just pretty greenery—the country is quite special when it comes to air quality.
According to the recently released 2024 World Air Quality Report by IQAir, Estonia stands out as one of only 12 countries globally that meet the World Health Organization’s (WHO) annual PM2.5 air quality guideline of 5.0 µg/m³.
The report, which evaluated air quality data from 8,954 cities across 138 countries and territories, paints a concerning picture: 99% of the world’s population continues to breathe air that exceeds WHO’s recommended levels.
This pollution crisis contributes significantly to global health issues, with air pollution ranking as the second leading global risk factor for death, responsible for 8.1 million deaths in 2021 alone.
Estonia’s air quality performance
With an annual average PM2.5 (fine particulate matter less than 2.5 micrometres in diameter) concentration of just 4.6 µg/m³, Estonia ranks 127th in the pollution rankings (where lower rankings indicate cleaner air). This places Estonia among the world’s cleanest air countries, alongside other fellow Nordic and island nations. Only Iceland (4.0 µg/m³) recorded better air quality within Europe. In the continental Europe, Estonia is unmatched.
Europe’s cleanest air ranking
The speed of changes in the energy system and environmental protection give strong signals this might only improve—the country ranks in the top-10 for energy transition, currently ditching a more polluting oil shell generation for clean, efficient energy projects, such as the region’s biggest solar and wind farms. Another Estonian bet on pollution-free energy—green hydrogen—is also speeding up with startup fundraising and industrial plans.
Bigger context
While Estonia and other European nations generally fare well, countries in Central and South Asia and Africa continue to struggle with dangerous levels of air pollution. Chad recorded the highest national average at 91.8 µg/m³, followed by Bangladesh at 78.0 µg/m³ and Pakistan at 73.7 µg/m³.
But not all hope is lost. The report shows some encouraging signs globally, with 17% of cities now meeting the WHO air quality guideline level, up from 9% in 2023. In Estonia, almost a half of the population lives in Tallinn and its metropolitan area — yet the capital city reported an annual average of 4.3 µg/m³, maintaining levels well below the WHO guideline.
The significance of Estonia’s clean air extends beyond ratings. PM2.5 pollution can penetrate deep into the lungs and even enter the bloodstream, contributing to conditions including asthma, cancer, stroke, and various lung diseases.
Children are especially vulnerable, with exposure during early years linked to congenital heart defects, cognitive impairments, and various developmental disorders. Estonia’s low pollution levels translate to significant public health benefits for its population.
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