Air Quality in Cambridge
Maximum modelled annual-mean 8 μg/m³ PM2.5 and 20 μg/m³ NO2 in Cambridge (DEFRA 2024), with ONS life expectancy of 82.6 years. Part of Cambridgeshire.
What is the air quality in Cambridge?
In Cambridge, the highest modelled annual-mean concentrations in 2024 were 8 μg/m³ for PM2.5 and 20 μg/m³ for NO2, per DEFRA's UK-AIR Local Authority compliance data, and ONS life expectancy at birth is 82.6 years. The WHO 2021 annual-mean guidelines are 5 μg/m³ (PM2.5) and 10 μg/m³ (NO2).
| Pollutant | Cambridge (max annual mean) | Compliance | WHO 2021 | UK limit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PM2.5 | 8 μg/m³ | Compliant | 5 μg/m³ | 20 μg/m³ |
| NO2 | 20 μg/m³ | Compliant | 10 μg/m³ | 40 μg/m³ |
Cambridge within Cambridgeshire
Cambridgeshire scores 68.9/100 on the Gera Healthy-Place Index (rank 42), with 89.2% of GP practices rated Good or Outstanding by the CQC and life expectancy of 82.8 years.
See the full Healthy-Place profile for Cambridgeshire →Air quality in Cambridge: FAQs
- What is the air pollution level in Cambridge?
- The maximum modelled annual-mean air pollution in Cambridge in 2024 was 8 μg/m³ for fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and 20 μg/m³ for nitrogen dioxide (NO2), from DEFRA UK-AIR compliance data. DEFRA reports the maximum across the authority for limit-value assessment; the WHO 2021 guideline annual means are 5 μg/m³ (PM2.5) and 10 μg/m³ (NO2).
- What is the life expectancy in Cambridge?
- Life expectancy at birth in Cambridge is 82.6 years (combined male and female, ONS). This is a population period estimate, not a prediction for any individual.
- Where does Cambridge sit within the Healthy-Place ranking?
- Cambridge is a lower-tier district within Cambridgeshire, which scores 68.9/100 on the Gera Healthy-Place Index (rank 42) and has 89.2% of GP practices rated Good or Outstanding by the CQC. The Healthy-Place Index is computed at upper-tier authority level because air, life expectancy and GP-access data align there.
Healthcare in Cambridge
A GeraClinic UK-registered clinician can see you by secure video from anywhere in the UK — useful for air-quality-related concerns such as asthma or COPD.
Contains public sector information published by Gera Systems and licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0 (source data). Source: Gera Healthy-Place Index — composite of DEFRA + ONS + CQC open data (Air 2024 calendar year; life expectancy 2017-19; GP ratings 2026-06-01, published 19 June 2026).