Korea vs South Africa: Exposure to outdoor air pollution in urban areas

Korea
19.25 micrograms per cubic meter
in 2023
South Africa
19.81 micrograms per cubic meter
in 2023
Korea rank
82nd
South Africa rank
81st

Exposure to outdoor air pollution in urban areas over time

  • Korea
  • South Africa
0102030201020162023

How they compare

South Africa currently reports 19.81 micrograms per cubic meter against 19.25 micrograms per cubic meter in Korea, a difference of 0.56 micrograms per cubic meter.

The two have swapped places 1 time across 14 shared years of data; in 2010 it was Korea ahead.

Korea ranks 82nd and South Africa ranks 81st of 226 countries.

Across the 2 decades both report, Korea averaged higher in 1 and South Africa in 1.

Head to head by decade

Decade Korea South Africa Difference Ahead
2010s 26.96 micrograms per cubic meter 17.69 micrograms per cubic meter 9.27 micrograms per cubic meter Korea
2020s 19.06 micrograms per cubic meter 19.13 micrograms per cubic meter 0.07 micrograms per cubic meter South Africa

Averages of every year both report within each decade.

Frequently asked questions

Which has higher exposure to outdoor air pollution in urban areas, Korea or South Africa?
South Africa, at 19.81 micrograms per cubic meter against 19.25 micrograms per cubic meter in Korea as of 2023.
What is the difference in exposure to outdoor air pollution in urban areas between Korea and South Africa?
0.56 micrograms per cubic meter, with South Africa ahead.
How many years of comparable data are there for Korea and South Africa?
14 years are reported by both, from 2010 to 2023.
How do Korea and South Africa rank globally for exposure to outdoor air pollution in urban areas?
Korea ranks 82nd and South Africa ranks 81st 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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Korea vs South Africa: Exposure to outdoor air pollution in urban areas. Statizoid, drawing on World Health Organization – processed by Our World in Data. Retrieved 13 September 2026, from https://environment.statizoid.com/compare/exposure-to-outdoor-air-pollution-in-urban-areas/korea-rep/south-africa/

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<a href="https://environment.statizoid.com/compare/exposure-to-outdoor-air-pollution-in-urban-areas/korea-rep/south-africa/">Korea vs South Africa: Exposure to outdoor air pollution in urban areas</a> — Statizoid

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).