Air pollution surpasses tobacco and diet as the second leading risk factor for death globally, State of Global Air 2024 report finds.
The cover for the State of Global Air 2024 report.
Last week, the Health Effects Institute and UNICEF released the State of Global Air 2024 report. Air pollution is now the second leading risk factor for death around the world.
In 2021, air pollution accounted for 8.1 million deaths globally including more than 700,000 deaths in children under 5 years, which represents 15% of all global deaths in children under 5.
Air pollution poses a major threat to children's health and development. From pregnancy through childhood and adolescence, children are particularly vulnerable to the effects of air pollution.
The State of Global Air created an air pollution and children's health factsheet [PDF 186KB] about how air pollution impacts children's health.
To learn more, visit the State of Global Air website and interactive map