In 2023, Armenia’s average PM2.5 level was 26.4 µg/m³, significantly higher than neighboring Georgia (16.4 µg/m³), Azerbaijan (18.8 µg/m³), and even Turkey (20.3 µg/m³).
This air pollution correlates with alarmingly high death rates from air pollution-related diseases:
🔴 Ischaemic Heart Disease (IHD): Armenia leads with 378.9 deaths per 100,000, two and a half times Azerbaijan’s 155.1, and significantly above Georgia’s 216.3.
🔴 Stroke: Georgia’s stroke deaths are staggeringly high at 335.8 (Georgia has double the obesity rate of Armenia), but Armenia’s 85.9 is still far above Azerbaijan’s 54.3 and Turkey’s 65.5.
🔴 COPD & Lung Cancers: Armenia and Turkey share similarly high death rates, likely influenced by air quality, smoking, and indoor pollution from fuelwood use.
The health crisis in Armenia is undeniable, and it demands urgent action to address the sources of PM2.5, including unregulated waste burning, vehicle emissions, and residential fuel combustion.
The WHO states that at least 16% of deaths from IHD and stroke are a result of air pollution,and COPD and lung cancers are a direct result of air quality.
Clean air is a right, not a privilege. Let’s push for better air quality standards to protect lives!
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