North Korea vs Sri Lanka: Exposure to outdoor air pollution
North Korea
21.2 µg/m³
in 2024
Sri Lanka
20.7 µg/m³
in 2024
North Korea rank
76th
Sri Lanka rank
78th
Exposure to outdoor air pollution over time
- North Korea
- Sri Lanka
How they compare
North Korea currently reports 21.2 µg/m³ against 20.7 µg/m³ in Sri Lanka, a difference of 0.5 µg/m³.
The two have swapped places 6 times across 27 shared years of data; in 1998 it was North Korea ahead.
North Korea ranks 76th and Sri Lanka ranks 78th of 241 countries.
Across the 4 decades both report, North Korea averaged higher in 3 and Sri Lanka in 1.
Head to head by decade
| Decade | North Korea | Sri Lanka | Difference | Ahead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 17.55 µg/m³ | 14.2 µg/m³ | 3.35 µg/m³ | North Korea |
| 2000s | 23.22 µg/m³ | 19.71 µg/m³ | 3.51 µg/m³ | North Korea |
| 2010s | 22.87 µg/m³ | 22.67 µg/m³ | 0.2 µg/m³ | North Korea |
| 2020s | 19.36 µg/m³ | 20.44 µg/m³ | 1.08 µg/m³ | Sri Lanka |
Averages of every year both report within each decade.
Frequently asked questions
- Which has higher exposure to outdoor air pollution, North Korea or Sri Lanka?
- North Korea, at 21.2 µg/m³ against 20.7 µg/m³ in Sri Lanka as of 2024.
- What is the difference in exposure to outdoor air pollution between North Korea and Sri Lanka?
- 0.5 µg/m³, with North Korea ahead.
- How many years of comparable data are there for North Korea and Sri Lanka?
- 27 years are reported by both, from 1998 to 2024.
- How do North Korea and Sri Lanka rank globally for exposure to outdoor air pollution?
- North Korea ranks 76th and Sri Lanka ranks 78th of 241 countries.
- Where does this data come from?
- SatPM, Atmospheric Composition Analysis Group, Washington University in St. Louis (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as Exposure to outdoor air pollution. 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.