Germany vs Japan: Exposure to outdoor air pollution in urban areas

Germany
8.85 micrograms per cubic meter
in 2023
Japan
8.53 micrograms per cubic meter
in 2023
Germany rank
162nd
Japan rank
172nd

Exposure to outdoor air pollution in urban areas over time

  • Germany
  • Japan
051015201020162023

How they compare

Germany currently reports 8.85 micrograms per cubic meter against 8.53 micrograms per cubic meter in Japan, a difference of 0.32 micrograms per cubic meter.

The two have swapped places 3 times across 14 shared years of data; in 2010 it was Japan ahead.

Germany ranks 162nd and Japan ranks 172nd of 226 countries.

Across the 2 decades both report, Germany averaged higher in 1 and Japan in 1.

Head to head by decade

Decade Germany Japan Difference Ahead
2010s 12.38 micrograms per cubic meter 13 micrograms per cubic meter 0.618 micrograms per cubic meter Japan
2020s 9.43 micrograms per cubic meter 8.8 micrograms per cubic meter 0.62 micrograms per cubic meter Germany

Averages of every year both report within each decade.

Frequently asked questions

Which has higher exposure to outdoor air pollution in urban areas, Germany or Japan?
Germany, at 8.85 micrograms per cubic meter against 8.53 micrograms per cubic meter in Japan as of 2023.
What is the difference in exposure to outdoor air pollution in urban areas between Germany and Japan?
0.32 micrograms per cubic meter, with Germany ahead.
How many years of comparable data are there for Germany and Japan?
14 years are reported by both, from 2010 to 2023.
How do Germany and Japan rank globally for exposure to outdoor air pollution in urban areas?
Germany ranks 162nd and Japan ranks 172nd of 226 countries.
Where does this data come from?
World Health Organization – processed by Our World in Data, published as Exposure to outdoor air pollution in urban areas. Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.

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Germany vs Japan: Exposure to outdoor air pollution in urban areas. Statizoid, drawing on World Health Organization – processed by Our World in Data. Retrieved 03 September 2026, from https://environment.statizoid.com/compare/exposure-to-outdoor-air-pollution-in-urban-areas/germany/japan/

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About this data

Indicator
Exposure to outdoor air pollution in urban areas
Unit
micrograms per cubic meter
Source
World Health Organization – processed by Our World in Data
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage
226 places, 3,156 data points, 2010–2023
Last refreshed

Annual mean levels of fine particulate matter (population-weighted), by location (micrograms per cubic meter).