Africa's air pollution crisis claims 1.1 million lives yearly

Air pollution has become one of the most pressing health threats in African cities. Each year, it causes around 1.1 million deaths across the continent, with a mortality rate of about 155 per 100,000 people. The crisis is reshaping respiratory health, affecting millions in urban and rural areas alike. Major cities like Lagos, Nairobi, Accra, Cairo, and Johannesburg face some of the worst air quality on the continent. Many of these areas record PM2.5 levels far above the World Health Organization’s safe limit of 5 micrograms per cubic metre. The tiny particles, linked to serious illnesses, come from multiple sources.

Transport alone accounts for roughly a third of PM2.5 emissions in several megacities. Industrial activities add to the problem, contributing between 11% and 37% of fine particle pollution in some urban zones. These pollutants are tied to asthma, chronic lung diseases, infections, heart conditions, and strokes.

Beyond outdoor air, indoor pollution remains a silent killer. Millions still rely on charcoal, firewood, and kerosene for cooking, filling homes with harmful smoke. This exposure worsens respiratory diseases, particularly among women and children who spend the most time indoors. The combined effects of outdoor and indoor pollution have turned air quality into a public health emergency. With deaths and illnesses rising, cities must address transport, industrial emissions, and household energy use. Without action, the toll on respiratory and cardiovascular health will continue to grow.