diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 528a0e1733..e97212c6da 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -15,6 +15,9 @@ Increment the:
 
 ## [Unreleased]
 
+* [CMAKE] Add pkg-config install consumer tests
+  [#4503](https://github.com/open-telemetry/opentelemetry-cpp/issues/4503)
+
 * [DOC] Fix and clarify the `StartSpanOptions` documentation
   [#4526](https://github.com/open-telemetry/opentelemetry-cpp/pull/4526)
 
diff --git a/cmake/otel-install-functions.cmake b/cmake/otel-install-functions.cmake
index 468d6db653..3e02e3992c 100644
--- a/cmake/otel-install-functions.cmake
+++ b/cmake/otel-install-functions.cmake
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 # Copyright The OpenTelemetry Authors
 # SPDX-License-Identifier: Apache-2.0
 include("${PROJECT_SOURCE_DIR}/cmake/thirdparty-dependency-config.cmake")
+include("${PROJECT_SOURCE_DIR}/cmake/pkgconfig.cmake")
 
 ########################################################################
 # INTERNAL FUNCTIONS - do not call directly. Use the otel_* "Main" functions
@@ -50,10 +51,11 @@ endfunction()
 #     OTEL_COMPONENT_FILES_MATCHING_<component>: Matching pattern for the files to be installed
 #     OTEL_COMPONENT_DEPENDS_<component>: List of components that this component depends on
 #     OTEL_COMPONENT_THIRDPARTY_DEPENDS_<component>: List of thirdparty dependencies that this component depends on
+#     OTEL_COMPONENT_DESCRIPTION_<component>: Optional human-readable component description
 #-----------------------------------------------------------------------
 function(_otel_set_component_properties)
     set(optionArgs )
-    set(oneValueArgs COMPONENT FILES_DIRECTORY FILES_DESTINATION)
+    set(oneValueArgs COMPONENT DESCRIPTION FILES_DIRECTORY FILES_DESTINATION)
     set(multiValueArgs TARGETS TARGETS_ALIAS FILES_MATCHING COMPONENT_DEPENDS THIRDPARTY_DEPENDS)
     cmake_parse_arguments(_PROPERTIES "${optionArgs}" "${oneValueArgs}" "${multiValueArgs}" "${ARGN}")
 
@@ -95,6 +97,10 @@ function(_otel_set_component_properties)
     if(_PROPERTIES_THIRDPARTY_DEPENDS)
       set_property(DIRECTORY ${PROJECT_SOURCE_DIR} PROPERTY OTEL_COMPONENT_THIRDPARTY_DEPENDS_${_PROPERTIES_COMPONENT} "${_PROPERTIES_THIRDPARTY_DEPENDS}")
     endif()
+
+    if(_PROPERTIES_DESCRIPTION)
+      set_property(DIRECTORY ${PROJECT_SOURCE_DIR} PROPERTY OTEL_COMPONENT_DESCRIPTION_${_PROPERTIES_COMPONENT} "${_PROPERTIES_DESCRIPTION}")
+    endif()
 endfunction()
 
 #-----------------------------------------------------------------------
@@ -283,6 +289,10 @@ function(_otel_install_component _COMPONENT)
       COMPONENT ${_COMPONENT}
       FILES_MATCHING ${_COMPONENT_FILES_MATCHING})
   endif()
+
+  foreach(_TARGET IN LISTS _COMPONENT_TARGETS)
+    _otel_install_target_pkgconfig("${_TARGET}" "${_COMPONENT}")
+  endforeach()
 endfunction()
 
 #-----------------------------------------------------------------------
@@ -357,6 +367,7 @@ endfunction()
 # Usage:
 #    otel_add_component(
 #      COMPONENT <component_name>
+#      [DESCRIPTION "<human-readable component summary>"]
 #      [DEPRECATED_NAMES <old_name1> <old_name2> ...]
 #      TARGETS <target1> <target2> ...
 #      [FILES_DIRECTORY <directory>
@@ -365,7 +376,7 @@ endfunction()
 #-----------------------------------------------------------------------
 function(otel_add_component)
   set(optionArgs DEPRECATED)
-  set(oneValueArgs COMPONENT FILES_DIRECTORY FILES_DESTINATION)
+  set(oneValueArgs COMPONENT DESCRIPTION FILES_DIRECTORY FILES_DESTINATION)
   set(multiValueArgs TARGETS FILES_MATCHING DEPRECATED_NAMES)
   cmake_parse_arguments(_OTEL_ADD_COMP "${optionArgs}" "${oneValueArgs}" "${multiValueArgs}" "${ARGN}")
 
@@ -404,9 +415,11 @@ function(otel_add_component)
   message(DEBUG "  FILES_DIRECTORY: ${_OTEL_ADD_COMP_FILES_DIRECTORY}")
   message(DEBUG "  FILES_DESTINATION: ${_OTEL_ADD_COMP_FILES_DESTINATION}")
   message(DEBUG "  FILES_MATCHING: ${_OTEL_ADD_COMP_FILES_MATCHING}")
+  message(DEBUG "  DESCRIPTION: ${_OTEL_ADD_COMP_DESCRIPTION}")
 
   _otel_set_component_properties(
     COMPONENT ${_OTEL_ADD_COMP_COMPONENT}
+    DESCRIPTION ${_OTEL_ADD_COMP_DESCRIPTION}
     TARGETS ${_OTEL_ADD_COMP_TARGETS}
     TARGETS_ALIAS ${_ALIAS_TARGETS}
     FILES_DIRECTORY ${_OTEL_ADD_COMP_FILES_DIRECTORY}
@@ -450,8 +463,12 @@ function(otel_install_components)
     get_property(_COMPONENT_FILES_DIRECTORY DIRECTORY ${PROJECT_SOURCE_DIR} PROPERTY OTEL_COMPONENT_FILES_DIRECTORY_${_COMPONENT})
     get_property(_COMPONENT_FILES_DESTINATION DIRECTORY ${PROJECT_SOURCE_DIR} PROPERTY OTEL_COMPONENT_FILES_DESTINATION_${_COMPONENT})
     get_property(_COMPONENT_FILES_MATCHING DIRECTORY ${PROJECT_SOURCE_DIR} PROPERTY OTEL_COMPONENT_FILES_MATCHING_${_COMPONENT})
+    get_property(_COMPONENT_DESCRIPTION DIRECTORY ${PROJECT_SOURCE_DIR} PROPERTY OTEL_COMPONENT_DESCRIPTION_${_COMPONENT})
 
     message(STATUS "Install COMPONENT ${_COMPONENT}")
+    if(_COMPONENT_DESCRIPTION)
+      message(STATUS "  DESCRIPTION: ${_COMPONENT_DESCRIPTION}")
+    endif()
     message(STATUS "  TARGETS: ${_COMPONENT_TARGETS}")
     message(STATUS "  TARGETS_ALIAS: ${_COMPONENT_TARGETS_ALIAS}")
     message(STATUS "  COMPONENT_DEPENDS: ${_COMPONENT_DEPENDS}")
diff --git a/cmake/pkgconfig.cmake b/cmake/pkgconfig.cmake
index 63c1a2affd..7685b739e4 100644
--- a/cmake/pkgconfig.cmake
+++ b/cmake/pkgconfig.cmake
@@ -5,53 +5,88 @@ include_guard(GLOBAL)
 
 # Unlike functions, macros do not introduce a scope. This is an advantage when
 # trying to set global variables, as we do here.
-macro (opentelemetry_set_pkgconfig_paths)
-    if (IS_ABSOLUTE "${CMAKE_INSTALL_LIBDIR}")
-      set(OPENTELEMETRY_PC_LIBDIR "${CMAKE_INSTALL_LIBDIR}")
-    else ()
-      set(OPENTELEMETRY_PC_LIBDIR
-            "\${exec_prefix}/${CMAKE_INSTALL_LIBDIR}")
-    endif ()
-
-    if (IS_ABSOLUTE "${CMAKE_INSTALL_INCLUDEDIR}")
-      set(OPENTELEMETRY_PC_INCLUDEDIR "${CMAKE_INSTALL_INCLUDEDIR}")
-    else ()
-      set(OPENTELEMETRY_PC_INCLUDEDIR
-            "\${prefix}/${CMAKE_INSTALL_INCLUDEDIR}")
-    endif ()
-endmacro ()
-
-# Create the pkgconfig configuration file (aka *.pc files) and the rules to install it.
+macro(opentelemetry_set_pkgconfig_paths)
+  if(IS_ABSOLUTE "${CMAKE_INSTALL_LIBDIR}")
+    set(OPENTELEMETRY_PC_LIBDIR "${CMAKE_INSTALL_LIBDIR}")
+  else()
+    set(OPENTELEMETRY_PC_LIBDIR "\${exec_prefix}/${CMAKE_INSTALL_LIBDIR}")
+  endif()
+
+  if(IS_ABSOLUTE "${CMAKE_INSTALL_INCLUDEDIR}")
+    set(OPENTELEMETRY_PC_INCLUDEDIR "${CMAKE_INSTALL_INCLUDEDIR}")
+  else()
+    set(OPENTELEMETRY_PC_INCLUDEDIR "\${prefix}/${CMAKE_INSTALL_INCLUDEDIR}")
+  endif()
+endmacro()
+
+# Register pkg-config metadata on a target. Installation is performed later by
+# _otel_install_target_pkgconfig() from _otel_install_component().
 #
 # * library:     the short name of the target, such as `api` or `resources`.
 # * name:        the displayed name of the library, such as "OpenTelemetry API".
 # * description: the description of the library.
 # * ARGN:        the names of any pkgconfig modules the generated module depends on.
 #
-function (opentelemetry_add_pkgconfig library name description)
+function(opentelemetry_add_pkgconfig library name description)
+  set(_target "opentelemetry_${library}")
+
+  if(NOT TARGET "${_target}")
+    message(FATAL_ERROR
+            "opentelemetry_add_pkgconfig: target ${_target} not found")
+  endif()
+
+  set_target_properties(
+    "${_target}"
+    PROPERTIES INTERFACE_OTEL_PKGCONFIG_SHORT_NAME "${library}"
+               INTERFACE_OTEL_PKGCONFIG_NAME "${name}"
+               INTERFACE_OTEL_PKGCONFIG_DESCRIPTION "${description}"
+               INTERFACE_OTEL_PKGCONFIG_REQUIRES "${ARGN}")
+endfunction()
+
+# Generate and install a pkg-config file for a target that registered metadata
+# via opentelemetry_add_pkgconfig().
+function(_otel_install_target_pkgconfig _TARGET _COMPONENT)
+  get_target_property(_short_name "${_TARGET}" INTERFACE_OTEL_PKGCONFIG_SHORT_NAME)
+  if(NOT _short_name OR _short_name STREQUAL "_short_name-NOTFOUND")
+    return()
+  endif()
+
+  get_target_property(_pc_name "${_TARGET}" INTERFACE_OTEL_PKGCONFIG_NAME)
+  get_target_property(_pc_desc "${_TARGET}" INTERFACE_OTEL_PKGCONFIG_DESCRIPTION)
+  get_target_property(_pc_requires "${_TARGET}" INTERFACE_OTEL_PKGCONFIG_REQUIRES)
+
   opentelemetry_set_pkgconfig_paths()
-  set(target "opentelemetry_${library}")
-  set(OPENTELEMETRY_PC_NAME "${name}")
-  set(OPENTELEMETRY_PC_DESCRIPTION ${description})
-  string(JOIN " " OPENTELEMETRY_PC_REQUIRES ${ARGN})
-  get_target_property(target_type ${target} TYPE)
-  if ("${target_type}" STREQUAL "INTERFACE_LIBRARY")
+
+  set(OPENTELEMETRY_PC_NAME "${_pc_name}")
+  set(OPENTELEMETRY_PC_DESCRIPTION "${_pc_desc}")
+  string(JOIN " " OPENTELEMETRY_PC_REQUIRES ${_pc_requires})
+
+  get_target_property(_target_type "${_TARGET}" TYPE)
+  if("${_target_type}" STREQUAL "INTERFACE_LIBRARY")
     # Interface libraries only contain headers. They do not generate lib files
     # to link against with `-l`.
     set(OPENTELEMETRY_PC_LIBS "")
-  else ()
-    set(OPENTELEMETRY_PC_LIBS "-l${target}")
-  endif ()
-  get_target_property(target_defs ${target} INTERFACE_COMPILE_DEFINITIONS)
-  if (target_defs)
-    foreach (def ${target_defs})
-      string(APPEND OPENTELEMETRY_PC_CFLAGS " -D${def}")
-    endforeach ()
-  endif ()
-
-  # Create and install the pkg-config files.
-  configure_file("${PROJECT_SOURCE_DIR}/cmake/templates/config.pc.in" "${target}.pc" @ONLY)
+  else()
+    set(OPENTELEMETRY_PC_LIBS "-lopentelemetry_${_short_name}")
+  endif()
+
+  set(OPENTELEMETRY_PC_CFLAGS "")
+  get_target_property(_target_defs "${_TARGET}" INTERFACE_COMPILE_DEFINITIONS)
+  if(_target_defs AND NOT _target_defs STREQUAL "_target_defs-NOTFOUND")
+    foreach(_def IN LISTS _target_defs)
+      string(APPEND OPENTELEMETRY_PC_CFLAGS " -D${_def}")
+    endforeach()
+  endif()
+
+  set(_target "opentelemetry_${_short_name}")
+  set(_pc_file "${PROJECT_BINARY_DIR}/pkgconfig/${_target}.pc")
+  file(MAKE_DIRECTORY "${PROJECT_BINARY_DIR}/pkgconfig")
+
+  configure_file("${PROJECT_SOURCE_DIR}/cmake/templates/config.pc.in" "${_pc_file}"
+                 @ONLY)
+
   install(
-    FILES "${CMAKE_CURRENT_BINARY_DIR}/${target}.pc"
-    DESTINATION "${CMAKE_INSTALL_LIBDIR}/pkgconfig")
+    FILES "${_pc_file}"
+    DESTINATION "${CMAKE_INSTALL_LIBDIR}/pkgconfig"
+    COMPONENT "${_COMPONENT}")
 endfunction()
diff --git a/install/test/cmake/CMakeLists.txt b/install/test/cmake/CMakeLists.txt
index 9e8db3f229..379dc23306 100644
--- a/install/test/cmake/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/install/test/cmake/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -90,6 +90,33 @@ add_test(NAME full-package-run-test
          COMMAND ${CMAKE_BINARY_DIR}/build-full-package-test/full_test)
 # -----------------------------------------------------------
 
+# -----------------------------------------------------------
+# Pkg-config consumer test (compile/link/run against installed .pc files)
+find_package(PkgConfig QUIET)
+if(PKG_CONFIG_FOUND)
+  add_test(
+    NAME pkgconfig-test-config-test
+    COMMAND
+      ${CMAKE_COMMAND} --log-level=DEBUG -S ${CMAKE_SOURCE_DIR}/pkgconfig_test
+      -B build-pkgconfig-test "-DCMAKE_PREFIX_PATH=${CMAKE_PREFIX_PATH}"
+      ${INSTALL_TEST_CMAKE_OPTIONS}
+      "-DINSTALL_TEST_COMPONENTS=${INSTALL_TEST_COMPONENTS}"
+      "-DINSTALL_TEST_SRC_DIR=${INSTALL_TEST_SRC_DIR}")
+
+  set_tests_properties(
+    pkgconfig-test-config-test
+    PROPERTIES ENVIRONMENT "PKG_CONFIG_PATH=${CMAKE_PREFIX_PATH}/lib/pkgconfig")
+
+  add_test(NAME pkgconfig-test-build-test
+           COMMAND ${CMAKE_COMMAND} --build
+                   ${CMAKE_BINARY_DIR}/build-pkgconfig-test --parallel)
+
+  add_test(NAME pkgconfig-test-run-test
+           COMMAND ${CMAKE_BINARY_DIR}/build-pkgconfig-test/full_pkgconfig_test)
+else()
+  message(STATUS "PkgConfig not found; skipping pkg-config install tests")
+endif()
+
 # -----------------------------------------------------------
 # Loop over all the components to test
 foreach(component ${INSTALL_TEST_COMPONENTS})
diff --git a/install/test/cmake/pkgconfig_test/CMakeLists.txt b/install/test/cmake/pkgconfig_test/CMakeLists.txt
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..520a4ac773
--- /dev/null
+++ b/install/test/cmake/pkgconfig_test/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -0,0 +1,60 @@
+# Copyright The OpenTelemetry Authors
+# SPDX-License-Identifier: Apache-2.0
+
+cmake_minimum_required(VERSION 3.16)
+
+project(opentelemetry-cpp-pkgconfig-install-test LANGUAGES CXX)
+
+if(NOT DEFINED INSTALL_TEST_SRC_DIR)
+  message(
+    FATAL_ERROR
+      "INSTALL_TEST_SRC_DIR must be defined when running cmake on this test project"
+  )
+endif()
+
+if(NOT INSTALL_TEST_COMPONENTS)
+  message(FATAL_ERROR "INSTALL_TEST_COMPONENTS is empty")
+endif()
+
+find_package(PkgConfig REQUIRED)
+find_package(GTest CONFIG REQUIRED)
+
+file(GLOB _pkgconfig_pc_files
+     "${CMAKE_PREFIX_PATH}/lib/pkgconfig/opentelemetry_*.pc")
+if(NOT _pkgconfig_pc_files)
+  message(
+    FATAL_ERROR
+      "No installed opentelemetry pkg-config files found under ${CMAKE_PREFIX_PATH}/lib/pkgconfig"
+  )
+endif()
+
+set(_pkgconfig_modules "")
+foreach(_pc_file IN LISTS _pkgconfig_pc_files)
+  get_filename_component(_module "${_pc_file}" NAME_WE)
+  list(APPEND _pkgconfig_modules "${_module}")
+endforeach()
+list(SORT _pkgconfig_modules)
+
+message(STATUS "Testing pkg-config install on modules = ${_pkgconfig_modules}")
+message(
+  STATUS "Testing pkg-config install on components = ${INSTALL_TEST_COMPONENTS}"
+)
+
+pkg_check_modules(OTEL_PKGCONFIG REQUIRED ${_pkgconfig_modules})
+
+add_executable(full_pkgconfig_test)
+
+foreach(component IN LISTS INSTALL_TEST_COMPONENTS)
+  message(STATUS "Adding test source for component ${component}")
+  target_sources(full_pkgconfig_test
+                 PRIVATE "${INSTALL_TEST_SRC_DIR}/test_${component}.cc")
+endforeach()
+
+target_include_directories(full_pkgconfig_test
+                           PRIVATE ${OTEL_PKGCONFIG_INCLUDE_DIRS})
+target_compile_options(full_pkgconfig_test
+                       PRIVATE ${OTEL_PKGCONFIG_CFLAGS_OTHER})
+target_link_libraries(
+  full_pkgconfig_test
+  PRIVATE ${OTEL_PKGCONFIG_LIBRARIES} ${OTEL_PKGCONFIG_LDFLAGS} GTest::gtest
+          GTest::gtest_main)