Global deaths from household air pollution drop, but progress remains unequal

Background 

A new paper has looked at data from the Global Burden of Disease Study to understand more about the impact of household air pollution around the world.  

Household air pollution from solid fuels is a major global health issue. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), about 3 billion people still use polluting fuels like wood, coal and charcoal for cooking and heating, often in inefficient stoves. This releases harmful smoke that can cause serious health problems. While cleaner energy use is growing, population increases may still lead to more people being exposed. 

What did the study look at? 

The researchers used global health data from 204 countries between 1990 to 2021. They studied health impacts like deaths and illnesses caused by household air pollution. They measured how many people became ill or died because of household air pollution each year and tracked how these numbers changed over time. This helped show whether things are getting better or worse and in which parts of the world. 

What are the main results?  

The findings reveal several key trends and differences between regions:  

• Global progress: The total health burden caused by household air pollution —measured in lost years of healthy life—has dropped by about 50% globally. This suggests big improvements over time, likely due to cleaner energy technologies and public health efforts. 

• Uneven progress: Despite the global drop, some areas, like Sub-Saharan Africa and Oceania, still have very high levels of illness and early death due to household air pollution.  

• Vulnerable groups: Children under 5 and older adults suffer the most. Women and young children, who spend more time near indoor stoves, are especially vulnerable. 

• Long-term health effects: Several conditions are linked to household air pollution, including maternal and newborn health issues (like low birth weight), heart disease and stroke, lung infections (like pneumonia) and long-term lung conditions (like COPD).  

Why is this important?  

Even with global improvements, millions of people still rely on dirty fuels for cooking. This study highlights the need to continue pushing for cleaner energy solutions —especially in low- and middle-income countries. Addressing this issue can prevent illness and save lives, especially among the most vulnerable populations. 

Read the full paper 

Find out more about the harms caused by household air pollution and tips for protecting your health from our Healthy Lungs for Life campaign.

Learn more about #FRESHAIR4Life which is developing interventions to prevent the harm caused by indoor and outdoor air pollution.