Average annual exposure to PM2.5 air pollution in South Korea
South Korea: Average annual exposure to PM2.5 air pollution was 21.89 micrograms per cubic meter in 2023. ▲ Rising
Average annual exposure to PM2.5 air pollution in South Korea, 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
South Korea recorded 21.89 micrograms per cubic meter for average annual exposure to pm2.5 air pollution in 2023.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 6.6% on the previous year and down 12.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, average annual exposure to pm2.5 air pollution in South Korea peaked at 26.22 micrograms per cubic meter in 2014 and was at its lowest, 20.11 micrograms per cubic meter, in 2004.
South Korea ranks 73rd of 200 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 34 years of available data.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 21.32 micrograms per cubic meter | 21.26 micrograms per cubic meter | 21.36 micrograms per cubic meter | 10 |
| 2000s | 22.25 micrograms per cubic meter | 20.11 micrograms per cubic meter | 24.76 micrograms per cubic meter | 10 |
| 2010s | 23.26 micrograms per cubic meter | 21.49 micrograms per cubic meter | 26.22 micrograms per cubic meter | 10 |
| 2020s | 21.97 micrograms per cubic meter | 21 micrograms per cubic meter | 23.44 micrograms per cubic meter | 4 |
Countries ranked near South Korea
- 70 Palestine 22.39 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 71 Philippines 22.21 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 72 Israel 21.9 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 74 North Macedonia 21.81 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 75 North Korea 21.78 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 76 Jamaica 21.65 micrograms per cubic meter compare
More environment data for South Korea
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF 668.25 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF per capita 12.91 t CO2e/capita (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Agriculture 21.02 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Building (Energy) 0.3304 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Fugitive Emissions (Energy) 3.86 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Industrial Combustion (Energy) 0.1549 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions (total) excluding LULUCF 44.74 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Power Industry (Energy) 0.2523 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Transport (Energy) 0.2291 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Waste 18.6 Mt CO2e (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is average annual exposure to pm2.5 air pollution in South Korea?
- Average annual exposure to pm2.5 air pollution in South Korea was 21.89 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 South Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 26.22 micrograms per cubic meter in 2014.
- What is the lowest average annual exposure to pm2.5 air pollution recorded in South Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 20.11 micrograms per cubic meter in 2004.
- How does South Korea rank for average annual exposure to pm2.5 air pollution?
- South Korea ranks 73rd out of 200 countries with data for 2023.
- Is average annual exposure to pm2.5 air pollution rising or falling in South Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is down 12.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this South Korea 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.