What is the highest average annual exposure to pm2.5 air pollution recorded in Japan?

The highest recorded value was 14.9 micrograms per cubic meter in 2007.

What is the lowest average annual exposure to pm2.5 air pollution recorded in Japan?

The lowest recorded value was 11.24 micrograms per cubic meter in 2020.

How does Japan rank for average annual exposure to pm2.5 air pollution?

Japan ranks 144th out of 200 countries with data for 2023.

Is average annual exposure to pm2.5 air pollution rising or falling in Japan?

Over the last ten years it is down 11.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.

Where does this Japan 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.

Average annual exposure to PM2.5 air pollution in Japan

Name: Average annual exposure to PM2.5 air pollution in Japan
Creator: Global Burden of Disease Study 2023, Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME), via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data
License: CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)

Japan: Average annual exposure to PM2.5 air pollution was 11.45 micrograms per cubic meter in 2023. ▬ Flat

Latest (2023)

11.45 micrograms per cubic meter

Change on year

down 7.9%

World rank

144th

of 200 countries

All-time high

14.9 micrograms per cubic meter

in 2007

All-time low

11.24 micrograms per cubic meter

in 2020

Years of data

1990–2023

Average annual exposure to PM2.5 air pollution in Japan, 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

Japan recorded 11.45 micrograms per cubic meter for average annual exposure to pm2.5 air pollution in 2023.

The figure is down 7.9% on the previous year and down 11.7% over ten years.

Over the whole period, average annual exposure to pm2.5 air pollution in Japan peaked at 14.9 micrograms per cubic meter in 2007 and was at its lowest, 11.24 micrograms per cubic meter, in 2020.

That places Japan 144th out of 200 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the middle of the range.

Averages by decade

Decade	Average	Lowest	Highest	Years
1990s	12.6 micrograms per cubic meter	12.56 micrograms per cubic meter	12.63 micrograms per cubic meter	10
2000s	12.98 micrograms per cubic meter	11.63 micrograms per cubic meter	14.9 micrograms per cubic meter	10
2010s	12.81 micrograms per cubic meter	12 micrograms per cubic meter	13.71 micrograms per cubic meter	10
2020s	11.67 micrograms per cubic meter	11.24 micrograms per cubic meter	12.44 micrograms per cubic meter	4

Countries ranked near Japan

141 Belarus 11.98 micrograms per cubic meter compare
142 Russia 11.57 micrograms per cubic meter compare
143 Dominica 11.52 micrograms per cubic meter compare
145 Monaco 11.38 micrograms per cubic meter compare
146 Maldives 11.16 micrograms per cubic meter compare
147 Grenada 11.03 micrograms per cubic meter compare

See the full ranking of 200 places →

More environment data for Japan

Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF 1,063 Mt CO2e (2024)
Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF per capita 8.58 t CO2e/capita (2024)
Methane (CH4) emissions from Agriculture 38.9 Mt CO2e (2024)
Methane (CH4) emissions from Building (Energy) 1.04 Mt CO2e (2024)
Methane (CH4) emissions from Fugitive Emissions (Energy) 3.5 Mt CO2e (2024)
Methane (CH4) emissions from Industrial Combustion (Energy) 0.3162 Mt CO2e (2024)
Methane (CH4) emissions (total) excluding LULUCF 50.87 Mt CO2e (2024)
Methane (CH4) emissions from Power Industry (Energy) 0.6478 Mt CO2e (2024)
Methane (CH4) emissions from Transport (Energy) 0.4564 Mt CO2e (2024)
Methane (CH4) emissions from Waste 5.74 Mt CO2e (2024)

All data for Japan →

Frequently asked questions

What is average annual exposure to pm2.5 air pollution in Japan?: Average annual exposure to pm2.5 air pollution in Japan was 11.45 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 Japan?: The highest recorded value was 14.9 micrograms per cubic meter in 2007.
What is the lowest average annual exposure to pm2.5 air pollution recorded in Japan?: The lowest recorded value was 11.24 micrograms per cubic meter in 2020.
How does Japan rank for average annual exposure to pm2.5 air pollution?: Japan ranks 144th out of 200 countries with data for 2023.
Is average annual exposure to pm2.5 air pollution rising or falling in Japan?: Over the last ten years it is down 11.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
Where does this Japan 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.

Download this data

CSV · JSON — 34 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).

About this data

Indicator: Average annual exposure to PM2.5 air pollution
Unit: micrograms per cubic meter
Source: Global Burden of Disease Study 2023, Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME), via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data
Licence: CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage: 200 places, 6,800 data points, 1990–2023
Last refreshed: 07 August 2026

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.