South Korea vs Malawi: Exposure to air pollution from human sources
Exposure to air pollution from human sources over time
- South Korea
- Malawi
How they compare
Malawi currently reports 19.94 micrograms per cubic meter against 19.59 micrograms per cubic meter in South Korea, a difference of 0.35 micrograms per cubic meter.
The two have swapped places 3 times across 27 shared years of data; in 1998 it was South Korea ahead.
South Korea ranks 62nd and Malawi ranks 61st of 240 countries.
Across the 4 decades both report, South Korea averaged higher in 3 and Malawi in 1.
Head to head by decade
| Decade | South Korea | Malawi | Difference | Ahead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 16.19 micrograms per cubic meter | 11 micrograms per cubic meter | 5.18 micrograms per cubic meter | South Korea |
| 2000s | 20.39 micrograms per cubic meter | 17.35 micrograms per cubic meter | 3.04 micrograms per cubic meter | South Korea |
| 2010s | 21.02 micrograms per cubic meter | 16.84 micrograms per cubic meter | 4.18 micrograms per cubic meter | South Korea |
| 2020s | 17.35 micrograms per cubic meter | 17.48 micrograms per cubic meter | 0.13 micrograms per cubic meter | Malawi |
Averages of every year both report within each decade.
Frequently asked questions
- Which has higher exposure to air pollution from human sources, South Korea or Malawi?
- Malawi, at 19.94 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 South Korea and Malawi?
- 0.35 micrograms per cubic meter, with Malawi ahead.
- How many years of comparable data are there for South Korea and Malawi?
- 27 years are reported by both, from 1998 to 2024.
- How do South Korea and Malawi rank globally for exposure to air pollution from human sources?
- South Korea ranks 62nd and Malawi ranks 61st 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.