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About This Map

LeadPollution.org is a repository of reputable data related to lead (Pb) exposures around the world. Developed and managed by Pure Earth, it is intended for researchers and policy makers globally.

This interactive map is a central repository, by country, for data sets, research, regulatory information and more pertaining to the global health crisis of lead exposure and poisoning. The intent of the website is to increase awareness, understand the drivers of this crisis, and accelerate the pace of solutions.

Global Lead Exposure Statistics

  • Annual deaths from lead exposure:3.5 million
    (IHME Global Burden of Disease, 2023)
  • Percent of lead-attributable deaths that occur in low- and middle-income countries: 83.1%
    (IHME Global Burden of Disease, 2023)
  • Total annual IQ loss in children, age 0–4:764.3 million IQ points
    (World Bank (Larsen, Sánchez-Triana), 2019)
  • Percent of IQ loss in low- and middle-income countries: 94.4%
    (World Bank (Larsen, Sánchez-Triana), 2019)
  • Number of children with blood lead level > 5µg/dL, age 0–19:1.1 billion
    (IHME Global Burden of Disease, 2023)
  • Number of children with blood lead level > 10µg/dL, age 0–19:251.9 million
    (IHME Global Burden of Disease, 2023)
  • Average blood lead level (BLL) of children, age 0–19: 4.5 μg/dL
    (IHME Global Burden of Disease, 2023)
  • Average blood lead level (BLL) of children, age 0–19, in low- and middle-income countries: 5.1 μg/dL
    (IHME Global Burden of Disease, 2023)
  • Average blood lead level (BLL) of children, age 0–19, in high-income countries: 1.7 μg/dL
    (IHME Global Burden of Disease, 2023)
  • Associated cost of IQ loss in children, age 0–4:$1.4 trillion annually
    (World Bank (Larsen, Sánchez-Triana), 2019)
  • Associated cost of cardiovascular disease deaths:$4.6 trillion annually
    (World Bank (Larsen, Sánchez-Triana), 2019)
  • Total annual cost:$5.9 trillion
    (World Bank (Larsen, Sánchez-Triana), 2019)

Last updated: January 2026

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Lead Country Statistics

What's included:

  • Average blood lead level (BLL) for children (19 and under).
  • Number of annual deaths attributed to lead.
  • Percentage of annual deaths attributed to lead.
  • Number of children (19 and under) with blood lead levels (BLL) over 5 ug/dl. This is higher than the current WHO and CDC level of concern of 3.5 ug/dl.
  • Percent of children (19 and under) with blood lead levels (BLL) over 5 ug/dl. This is higher than the current WHO and CDC level of concern of 3.5 ug/dl.
  • Number of children (19 and under) with BLL over 10 ug/dl. This is higher than the current WHO and CDC level of concern of 3.5 ug/dl.
  • Percent of children (19 and under) with BLL over 10 ug/dl. This is higher than the current WHO and CDC level of concern of 3.5 ug/dl.
  • Annual Disability Adjusted Life Years (DALYs) attributed to lead.
  • The total country population.

Data Source: The Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation's 2023 Global Burden of Disease (GBD) study.