Average annual exposure to PM2.5 air pollution in Japan
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
34
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.
Average annual exposure to PM2.5 air pollution in Japan, year by year
| Year | micrograms per cubic meter | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 12.59 micrograms per cubic meter | — |
| 1991 | 12.57 micrograms per cubic meter | -0.1% |
| 1992 | 12.58 micrograms per cubic meter | +0.1% |
| 1993 | 12.59 micrograms per cubic meter | +0.1% |
| 1994 | 12.6 micrograms per cubic meter | +0.1% |
| 1995 | 12.56 micrograms per cubic meter | -0.3% |
| 1996 | 12.61 micrograms per cubic meter | +0.4% |
| 1997 | 12.62 micrograms per cubic meter | +0.1% |
| 1998 | 12.63 micrograms per cubic meter | +0.1% |
| 1999 | 12.63 micrograms per cubic meter | +0.1% |
| 2000 | 12.66 micrograms per cubic meter | +0.2% |
| 2001 | 12.39 micrograms per cubic meter | -2.1% |
| 2002 | 12.13 micrograms per cubic meter | -2.1% |
| 2003 | 11.81 micrograms per cubic meter | -2.6% |
| 2004 | 11.63 micrograms per cubic meter | -1.5% |
| 2005 | 11.93 micrograms per cubic meter | +2.6% |
| 2006 | 13.78 micrograms per cubic meter | +15.5% |
| 2007 | 14.9 micrograms per cubic meter | +8.1% |
| 2008 | 14.54 micrograms per cubic meter | -2.4% |
| 2009 | 14.05 micrograms per cubic meter | -3.4% |
| 2010 | 12.78 micrograms per cubic meter | -9.1% |
| 2011 | 12.9 micrograms per cubic meter | +1.0% |
| 2012 | 13.38 micrograms per cubic meter | +3.7% |
| 2013 | 12.97 micrograms per cubic meter | -3.1% |
| 2014 | 13.71 micrograms per cubic meter | +5.7% |
| 2015 | 13.46 micrograms per cubic meter | -1.8% |
| 2016 | 12.31 micrograms per cubic meter | -8.5% |
| 2017 | 12.19 micrograms per cubic meter | -1.0% |
| 2018 | 12.41 micrograms per cubic meter | +1.7% |
| 2019 | 12 micrograms per cubic meter | -3.3% |
| 2020 | 11.24 micrograms per cubic meter | -6.3% |
| 2021 | 11.54 micrograms per cubic meter | +2.7% |
| 2022 | 12.44 micrograms per cubic meter | +7.8% |
| 2023 | 11.45 micrograms per cubic meter | -7.9% |
Japan compared with similar countries
- Japan's 11.45 micrograms per cubic meter is above the median for high income countries, which is 10.06 micrograms per cubic meter, 1.1× the median. (70 countries reporting)
- Japan's 11.45 micrograms per cubic meter is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 9.77 micrograms per cubic meter, 1.2× the median. (33 countries reporting)
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
More environment data for Japan
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly -4.51 Percentage change (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly -4.8 Percentage change (2025)
- Standard Deviation, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Standard Deviation 0.358 °C (2025)
- Temperature change 1.86 °C (2025)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual -2.8 % 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 -0.4957 % change on previous year (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Agriculture (Mt CO2e), per unit of GDP 0 Mt CO2e per US$ of GDP (2024)
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.
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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.