Air pollution kills 357,000 people in Europe in 2022
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Air pollution continues to claim the lives of hundreds of thousands of people and remains one of the biggest environmental threats to public health in Europe. In 2022, it is responsible for 357,000 deaths, most of which are caused by exposure to fine PM2.5 particles. These airborne particles settle in the lungs and bloodstream, causing cardiovascular and respiratory diseases, strokes, diabetes, lung cancer and even pregnancy complications.
The problem is particularly acute in the Balkans. Northern Macedonia leads the way with the highest mortality rate in Europe, with 255 premature deaths per 100,000 people. It is followed by Serbia (217) and Montenegro (174). Bulgaria (158), Poland (125) and Hungary (107) were also in the high-risk zone. This indicates that air pollution levels remain disproportionately high in countries with less developed environmental infrastructure.
Meanwhile, there has been a decline in deaths from air pollution over the past decades. Between 2005 and 2022, the mortality rate from PM2.5 in the European Union fell by 45%. However, the European Environment Agency (AEE) estimates that air pollution remains a major environmental health risk, continuing to damage not only people but also ecosystems. It degrades water quality, soil quality, reduces agricultural productivity and increases health care costs.
In addition to direct health effects, air pollution has an economic impact. Reduced life expectancy, reduced ability to work and increased health care costs cost EU countries billions of euros each year. This creates a need for urgent action.
In 2024, the EU adopted new air quality standards aimed at moving closer to the World Health Organisation's recommendations. These rules give citizens, for the first time, the right to sue the government if environmental standards are ignored. This historic innovation could be a turning point in the fight for clean air in Europe.
