Average annual exposure to PM2.5 air pollution in China
China: Average annual exposure to PM2.5 air pollution was 31.99 micrograms per cubic meter in 2023. ▼ Falling
Latest (2023)
31.99 micrograms per cubic meter
Change on year
up 0.3%
World rank
43rd
of 200 countries
All-time high
52.73 micrograms per cubic meter
in 2011
All-time low
31.9 micrograms per cubic meter
in 2022
Years of data
34
1990–2023
Average annual exposure to PM2.5 air pollution in China, 1990–2023
Source: Global Burden of Disease Study 2023, Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME), via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in micrograms per cubic meter.
Analysis
The most recent figure for average annual exposure to pm2.5 air pollution in China is 31.99 micrograms per cubic meter, measured in 2023.
The figure is up 0.3% on the previous year and down 38.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, average annual exposure to pm2.5 air pollution in China peaked at 52.73 micrograms per cubic meter in 2011 and was at its lowest, 31.9 micrograms per cubic meter, in 2022.
China ranks 43rd of 200 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 34 years of available data.
Average annual exposure to PM2.5 air pollution in China, year by year
| Year | micrograms per cubic meter | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 43.06 micrograms per cubic meter | — |
| 1991 | 42.84 micrograms per cubic meter | -0.5% |
| 1992 | 43.07 micrograms per cubic meter | +0.5% |
| 1993 | 43.29 micrograms per cubic meter | +0.5% |
| 1994 | 43.52 micrograms per cubic meter | +0.5% |
| 1995 | 42.86 micrograms per cubic meter | -1.5% |
| 1996 | 43.97 micrograms per cubic meter | +2.6% |
| 1997 | 44.19 micrograms per cubic meter | +0.5% |
| 1998 | 44.41 micrograms per cubic meter | +0.5% |
| 1999 | 44.64 micrograms per cubic meter | +0.5% |
| 2000 | 45.3 micrograms per cubic meter | +1.5% |
| 2001 | 45.7 micrograms per cubic meter | +0.9% |
| 2002 | 46.13 micrograms per cubic meter | +0.9% |
| 2003 | 45.74 micrograms per cubic meter | -0.8% |
| 2004 | 45.26 micrograms per cubic meter | -1.1% |
| 2005 | 46.13 micrograms per cubic meter | +1.9% |
| 2006 | 49.95 micrograms per cubic meter | +8.3% |
| 2007 | 51.67 micrograms per cubic meter | +3.5% |
| 2008 | 51.09 micrograms per cubic meter | -1.1% |
| 2009 | 49.94 micrograms per cubic meter | -2.2% |
| 2010 | 48.95 micrograms per cubic meter | -2.0% |
| 2011 | 52.73 micrograms per cubic meter | +7.7% |
| 2012 | 48.66 micrograms per cubic meter | -7.7% |
| 2013 | 51.75 micrograms per cubic meter | +6.4% |
| 2014 | 52.51 micrograms per cubic meter | +1.5% |
| 2015 | 49.47 micrograms per cubic meter | -5.8% |
| 2016 | 45.28 micrograms per cubic meter | -8.5% |
| 2017 | 43.09 micrograms per cubic meter | -4.8% |
| 2018 | 38.51 micrograms per cubic meter | -10.6% |
| 2019 | 37.2 micrograms per cubic meter | -3.4% |
| 2020 | 33.69 micrograms per cubic meter | -9.4% |
| 2021 | 31.92 micrograms per cubic meter | -5.3% |
| 2022 | 31.9 micrograms per cubic meter | -0.1% |
| 2023 | 31.99 micrograms per cubic meter | +0.3% |
China compared with similar countries
- China's 31.99 micrograms per cubic meter is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 18.51 micrograms per cubic meter, 1.7× the median. (58 countries reporting)
- China's 31.99 micrograms per cubic meter is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 9.77 micrograms per cubic meter, 3.3× the median. (33 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 43.58 micrograms per cubic meter | 42.84 micrograms per cubic meter | 44.64 micrograms per cubic meter | 10 |
| 2000s | 47.69 micrograms per cubic meter | 45.26 micrograms per cubic meter | 51.67 micrograms per cubic meter | 10 |
| 2010s | 46.81 micrograms per cubic meter | 37.2 micrograms per cubic meter | 52.73 micrograms per cubic meter | 10 |
| 2020s | 32.37 micrograms per cubic meter | 31.9 micrograms per cubic meter | 33.69 micrograms per cubic meter | 4 |
Countries ranked near China
- 40 Jordan 32.63 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 41 Guinea-Bissau 32.29 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 42 Syria 32.06 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 44 Gabon 31.32 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 45 Turkmenistan 31.25 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 46 Uganda 31.21 micrograms per cubic meter compare
More environment data for China
- Standard Deviation, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Standard Deviation 0.279 °C (2025)
- Temperature change 1.92 °C (2025)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual 0.8065 % change on previous year (2024)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), per unit 0 Mt CO2e per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), per capita 0 Mt CO2e per person (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Agriculture (Mt CO2e), annual growth rate -0.2517 % change on previous year (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Agriculture (Mt CO2e), per unit of GDP 0 Mt CO2e per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Agriculture (Mt CO2e), per capita 0 Mt CO2e per person (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Building (Energy) (Mt CO2e), annual 0.9037 % change on previous year (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is average annual exposure to pm2.5 air pollution in China?
- Average annual exposure to pm2.5 air pollution in China was 31.99 micrograms per cubic meter in 2023, according to Global Burden of Disease Study 2023, Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME), via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest average annual exposure to pm2.5 air pollution recorded in China?
- The highest recorded value was 52.73 micrograms per cubic meter in 2011.
- What is the lowest average annual exposure to pm2.5 air pollution recorded in China?
- The lowest recorded value was 31.9 micrograms per cubic meter in 2022.
- How does China rank for average annual exposure to pm2.5 air pollution?
- China ranks 43rd out of 200 countries with data for 2023.
- Is average annual exposure to pm2.5 air pollution rising or falling in China?
- Over the last ten years it is down 38.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this China data come from?
- The figures come from Global Burden of Disease Study 2023, Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME), via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Average annual exposure to PM2.5 air pollution. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
The average level of exposure of the population to suspended particles less than 2.5 microns in diameter, which are capable of penetrating deep into the respiratory tract and damaging health. This is measured in micrograms per cubic meter.