Indoor air pollution causes almost three million premature deaths every year

Most of the world's poorest people still rely on solid fuels — such as crop waste, dung, wood, and charcoal — for cooking and heating.

These fuels generate household air pollution when they’re burned. This has health impacts for those who breathe them in, and can increase the risk of a range of illnesses, including cardiovascular disease, stroke and some cancers.

Estimates from the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation suggest that indoor air pollution causes almost three million premature deaths each year. That’s three million people dying earlier than they otherwise would without this pollution.

As shown on the chart, deaths from indoor pollution have fallen as more people get access to cleaner cooking fuels. Improving access to clean energy could prevent many more early deaths.

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This page was imported from Our World in Data. “Indoor air pollution causes almost three million premature deaths every year” by Hannah Ritchie, published by Our World in Data under CC BY 4.0. Changed here: set as a page, its interactive charts shown as pictures. Data from third parties keeps its own licence.

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