Chile vs South Korea: Exposure to air pollution from human sources
Exposure to air pollution from human sources over time
- Chile
- South Korea
How they compare
Chile currently reports 20.1 micrograms per cubic meter against 19.59 micrograms per cubic meter in South Korea, a difference of 0.51 micrograms per cubic meter.
The two have swapped places 5 times across 27 shared years of data; in 1998 it was South Korea ahead.
Chile ranks 59th and South Korea ranks 62nd of 240 countries.
Across the 4 decades both report, Chile averaged higher in 2 and South Korea in 2.
Head to head by decade
| Decade | Chile | South Korea | Difference | Ahead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 16.78 micrograms per cubic meter | 16.19 micrograms per cubic meter | 0.595 micrograms per cubic meter | Chile |
| 2000s | 17.57 micrograms per cubic meter | 20.39 micrograms per cubic meter | 2.82 micrograms per cubic meter | South Korea |
| 2010s | 19.15 micrograms per cubic meter | 21.02 micrograms per cubic meter | 1.88 micrograms per cubic meter | South Korea |
| 2020s | 19.58 micrograms per cubic meter | 17.35 micrograms per cubic meter | 2.23 micrograms per cubic meter | Chile |
Averages of every year both report within each decade.
Frequently asked questions
- Which has higher exposure to air pollution from human sources, Chile or South Korea?
- Chile, at 20.1 micrograms per cubic meter against 19.59 micrograms per cubic meter in South Korea as of 2024.
- What is the difference in exposure to air pollution from human sources between Chile and South Korea?
- 0.51 micrograms per cubic meter, with Chile ahead.
- How many years of comparable data are there for Chile and South Korea?
- 27 years are reported by both, from 1998 to 2024.
- How do Chile and South Korea rank globally for exposure to air pollution from human sources?
- Chile ranks 59th and South Korea ranks 62nd of 240 countries.
- Where does this data come from?
- Energy Policy Institute at the University of Chicago (EPIC) (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as Exposure to air pollution from human sources. Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.
Individual pages
About this data
Annual population-weighted average concentration of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) in the air, measured in micrograms per cubic meter (µg/m³). Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) are particles with a diameter of 2.5 micrometers or less, which can pose significant health risks. This data excludes natural sources of PM2.5, such as dust and sea salt, to focus on human-caused pollution.