An atmosphere less deadly

The air we breathe is becoming significantly less deadly. Globally, the rate of deaths caused by air pollution fell by 21 percent in one decade, from 2013 to 2023. That death rate is age-adjusted because the young and the old are far more severely affected by dirty air.

Much of the progress has come from a drop in household smoke as billions have gained access to cleaner cooking methods. Many advanced economies have broken the connection between economic growth and rising pollution, so that air is cleaner even as economies grow and energy demands rise. In China, higher air quality has added 2.9 years to average lifespans.

Source: State of Global Air.