Estimated number of people exposed to unhealthy noise levels, based on END thresholds, in the EU in 2007, 2012 and 2017

Methodology

Based on data officially reported by countries under the EU Environmental Noise Directive (2002/49/EC) up to 01/01/2021 (https://www.eea.europa.eu/data-and-maps/data/data-on-noise-exposure-8). Because of gaps in the reported data, a gap-filling routine is used to estimate the number of people exposed to levels above the thresholds set by the Environmental Noise Directive, i.e. 55 dB Lden and 50 dB Lnight. (https://www.eionet.europa.eu/etcs/etc-atni/products/etc-atni-reports/etc-atni-report-06-2021-noise-indicators-under-the-environmental-noise-directive-2021-methodology-for-estimating-missing-data).There are comparability issues between 2007 and the other reporting years because of different reporting requirements. There may also be comparability issues between 2012 and 2017 because of a lack of consistency in the mapping method employed by countries across years.

Units

Number of people exposed to noise levels  ≥55 Lden (dB)

Number of people exposed to noise levels ≥50 dB Lnight (dB)