SDG 3 | Sustainable developments Goals

SDG 3. Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages

SDG Indicator 3.9.1: Mortality rate attributed to household and ambient air pollution

1. Key features and metadata

Definition: This indicator tracks the mortality attributable to the joint effects of household and ambient air pollution and is expressed as deaths per 100,000 population for any given five-year population group (e.g. children under 5 years of age, 5 to 9 years, 10 to 14 years, etc.). Rates are age-standardized.

Sub-indicator	Disaggregated by
SH_STA_ASAIRP Age-standardized mortality rate attributed to household and ambient air pollution (deaths per 100,000 population)	No current data disaggregation available.
SH_HAP_ASMORT Age-standardized mortality rate attributed to household air pollution (deaths per 100,000 population)
SH_AAP_ASMORT Age-standardized mortality rate attributed to ambient air pollution (deaths per 100,000 population)

Sub-indicator

Disaggregated by

SH_STA_ASAIRP

Age-standardized mortality rate attributed to household and ambient air pollution (deaths per 100,000 population)

No current data disaggregation available.

SH_HAP_ASMORT

Age-standardized mortality rate attributed to household air pollution (deaths per 100,000 population)

SH_AAP_ASMORT

Age-standardized mortality rate attributed to ambient air pollution (deaths per 100,000 population)

Sources of information: The total number of deaths by country are estimated by the World Health Organization (WHO) based on national data from the WHO’s Global Health Estimates (GHE) for background health burden; SDG 7.1.2 (Proportion of population with primary reliance on clean fuels and technology) and SDG 11.6.2 (Annual mean levels of fine particulate matter in cities) for household and ambient air pollution exposures respectively; and the Integrated Exposure-Response (IER) functions for five causes of death (i.e., stroke, ischemic heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, acute lower respiratory infections and lung cancer).

Related SDG Indicators:11.6.2 (Annual mean levels of fine particulate matter in cities) and 7.1.2 (Proportion of population with primary reliance on clean fuels and technology).

2. Data availability by region, SDG Global Database, as of 02 July 2025

Figure 4.6 Mortality rate attributed to household and ambient air pollution

3. Proposed disaggregation, links to policymaking and its impact

Proposed disaggregation	Link to policymaking	Impact
Mortality rate attributed to household and ambient air pollution, by age (deaths per 100,000 population)(WHO 2010): 5 years 5 years Applies to: SH_STA_ASAIRP	This disaggregation provides useful indications for decision-makers on the impacts of air pollution on population health according to their age. It helps identify the most appropriate remedial measures for preventing and reducing related illnesses and risks. More specifically, for children who are particularly affected (e.g. those with pneumonia and its consequences)(WHO 2017; WHO n.d.a).	Air pollution is a major environmental threat: 99% of the world’s population live in areas with air pollution concentrations higher than proposed by the WHO Air Quality Guidelines to protect human health. It is responsible for about 6.7 million premature deaths per year due to a variety of Non-Communicable Diseases (i.e. ischemic heart disease, stroke, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and lung cancer) and communicable diseases (i.e. acute respiratory infections such as pneumonia) which mainly affect children(WHO 2017; WHO n.d.a). Within poorer households, the children, elderly and pregnant women are more prone to air pollution-related diseases. In particular, the evidence suggests that air pollution may lead to adverse pregnancy outcomes (i.e. pre-term or low birthweight) and neurological development of children. Other risks are associated with pollutants emitting from home equipment for cooking and/or heating as well as physical injury. Pollutants also impact the earth’s climate and ecosystems globally. The populations of developingcountries –and more specifically rural households – are more vulnerable due to their exposition to higher air pollution levels and the higher prevalence rates of air pollution related diseases. Similarly, slum dwellers and people living close to road infrastructure or with little or no access to clean fuels and efficient cooking stoves are more vulnerable to the consequences of air pollution. Coordinated and multisectoral policies can effectively address air pollution by implementing concerted policy at regional, national and local levels encompassing all sectors contributing to air pollution (i.e. energy, industry, transport, waste management, urban planning, agriculture, and households(WHO n.d.a; WHO n.d.b; WHO n.d.c).
Mortality rate attributed to household and ambient air pollution, by sex (deaths per 100,000 population)(UNEP and IUCN 2018): Male Female Applies to: SH_STA_ASAIRP	This disaggregation provides useful indications for decision-makers on the impacts of household and ambient air pollution on population health according to sex. It also helps identify the most appropriate remedial measures for preventing and reducing related illnesses and risks. The use of polluting cooking fuels contributes to household air pollution and has a detrimental effect on human health, particularly affecting women who typically spend more time indoors (WHO n.d.a).
Mortality rate attributed to household and ambient air pollution, by disease (deaths per 100,000 population)(WHO 2024): Acute lower respiratory infections (estimated in all age groups) Stroke, estimated in adults >25 years Ischemic heart disease, estimated in adults > 25 years Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, estimated in adults > 25 years Lung cancer, estimated in adults > 25 years Applies to: SH_STA_ASAIRP	This disaggregation provides useful indications for decision-makers on the impacts of air pollution on population health according to the type of illness contracted. In particular, non-communicable diseases – such as ischemic heart disease, stroke, lung cancer, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease – since this pollution is one of the main risk factors and causes a huge disease burden. It also helps in identifying the most appropriate remedial measures for preventing and reducing those impacts (e.g. a shift towards the use of clean fuels)(WHO n.d.a).

Proposed disaggregation

Link to policymaking

Impact

Mortality rate attributed to household and ambient air pollution, by age (deaths per 100,000 population)(WHO 2010):

5 years
5 years

Applies to:

SH_STA_ASAIRP

This disaggregation provides useful indications for decision-makers on the impacts of air pollution on population health according to their age. It helps identify the most appropriate remedial measures for preventing and reducing related illnesses and risks. More specifically, for children who are particularly affected (e.g. those with pneumonia and its consequences)(WHO 2017; WHO n.d.a).

Air pollution is a major environmental threat: 99% of the world’s population live in areas with air pollution concentrations higher than proposed by the WHO Air Quality Guidelines to protect human health. It is responsible for about 6.7 million premature deaths per year due to a variety of Non-Communicable Diseases (i.e. ischemic heart disease, stroke, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and lung cancer) and communicable diseases (i.e. acute respiratory infections such as pneumonia) which mainly affect children(WHO 2017; WHO n.d.a).

Within poorer households, the children, elderly and pregnant women are more prone to air pollution-related diseases. In particular, the evidence suggests that air pollution may lead to adverse pregnancy outcomes (i.e. pre-term or low birthweight) and neurological development of children.

Other risks are associated with pollutants emitting from home equipment for cooking and/or heating as well as physical injury.

Pollutants also impact the earth’s climate and ecosystems globally.

The populations of developingcountries –and more specifically rural households – are more vulnerable due to their exposition to higher air pollution levels and the higher prevalence rates of air pollution related diseases. Similarly, slum dwellers and people living close to road infrastructure or with little or no access to clean fuels and efficient cooking stoves are more vulnerable to the consequences of air pollution.

Coordinated and multisectoral policies can effectively address air pollution by implementing concerted policy at regional, national and local levels encompassing all sectors contributing to air pollution (i.e. energy, industry, transport, waste management, urban planning, agriculture, and households(WHO n.d.a; WHO n.d.b; WHO n.d.c).

Mortality rate attributed to household and ambient air pollution, by sex (deaths per 100,000 population)(UNEP and IUCN 2018):

Male
Female

Applies to:

SH_STA_ASAIRP

This disaggregation provides useful indications for decision-makers on the impacts of household and ambient air pollution on population health according to sex. It also helps identify the most appropriate remedial measures for preventing and reducing related illnesses and risks. The use of polluting cooking fuels contributes to household air pollution and has a detrimental effect on human health, particularly affecting women who typically spend more time indoors (WHO n.d.a).

Mortality rate attributed to household and ambient air pollution, by disease (deaths per 100,000 population)(WHO 2024):

Acute lower respiratory infections (estimated in all age groups)
Stroke, estimated in adults >25 years
Ischemic heart disease, estimated in adults > 25 years
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, estimated in adults > 25 years
Lung cancer, estimated in adults > 25 years

Applies to:

SH_STA_ASAIRP

This disaggregation provides useful indications for decision-makers on the impacts of air pollution on population health according to the type of illness contracted. In particular, non-communicable diseases – such as ischemic heart disease, stroke, lung cancer, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease – since this pollution is one of the main risk factors and causes a huge disease burden. It also helps in identifying the most appropriate remedial measures for preventing and reducing those impacts (e.g. a shift towards the use of clean fuels)(WHO n.d.a).