Exposure to air pollution from human sources in China
China: Exposure to air pollution from human sources was 29.57 micrograms per cubic meter in 2024. ▬ Flat
Exposure to air pollution from human sources in China, 1998–2024
Source: Energy Policy Institute at the University of Chicago (EPIC) (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in micrograms per cubic meter.
Analysis
The most recent figure for exposure to air pollution from human sources in China is 29.57 micrograms per cubic meter, measured in 2024.
That represents a change of down 0.5% on the previous year and down 39.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, exposure to air pollution from human sources in China peaked at 48.67 micrograms per cubic meter in 2014 and was at its lowest, 25.74 micrograms per cubic meter, in 1999.
China ranks 24th of 240 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
Exposure to air pollution from human sources in China, year by year
| Year | micrograms per cubic meter | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1998 | 26.92 micrograms per cubic meter | — |
| 1999 | 25.74 micrograms per cubic meter | -4.4% |
| 2000 | 30.24 micrograms per cubic meter | +17.5% |
| 2001 | 31.54 micrograms per cubic meter | +4.3% |
| 2002 | 33.98 micrograms per cubic meter | +7.7% |
| 2003 | 38.97 micrograms per cubic meter | +14.7% |
| 2004 | 37.39 micrograms per cubic meter | -4.1% |
| 2005 | 40.53 micrograms per cubic meter | +8.4% |
| 2006 | 43.71 micrograms per cubic meter | +7.8% |
| 2007 | 44.33 micrograms per cubic meter | +1.4% |
| 2008 | 43.66 micrograms per cubic meter | -1.5% |
| 2009 | 41.89 micrograms per cubic meter | -4.1% |
| 2010 | 40.98 micrograms per cubic meter | -2.2% |
| 2011 | 45.92 micrograms per cubic meter | +12.1% |
| 2012 | 42.69 micrograms per cubic meter | -7.0% |
| 2013 | 45 micrograms per cubic meter | +5.4% |
| 2014 | 48.67 micrograms per cubic meter | +8.2% |
| 2015 | 45.73 micrograms per cubic meter | -6.0% |
| 2016 | 41.96 micrograms per cubic meter | -8.2% |
| 2017 | 39.7 micrograms per cubic meter | -5.4% |
| 2018 | 35.08 micrograms per cubic meter | -11.6% |
| 2019 | 34.13 micrograms per cubic meter | -2.7% |
| 2020 | 30.59 micrograms per cubic meter | -10.4% |
| 2021 | 28.63 micrograms per cubic meter | -6.4% |
| 2022 | 28.7 micrograms per cubic meter | +0.2% |
| 2023 | 29.73 micrograms per cubic meter | +3.6% |
| 2024 | 29.57 micrograms per cubic meter | -0.5% |
China compared with similar countries
- China's 29.57 micrograms per cubic meter is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 15.58 micrograms per cubic meter, 1.9× the median. (58 countries reporting)
- China's 29.57 micrograms per cubic meter is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 5.49 micrograms per cubic meter, 5.4× the median. (35 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 26.33 micrograms per cubic meter | 25.74 micrograms per cubic meter | 26.92 micrograms per cubic meter | 2 |
| 2000s | 38.62 micrograms per cubic meter | 30.24 micrograms per cubic meter | 44.33 micrograms per cubic meter | 10 |
| 2010s | 41.99 micrograms per cubic meter | 34.13 micrograms per cubic meter | 48.67 micrograms per cubic meter | 10 |
| 2020s | 29.44 micrograms per cubic meter | 28.63 micrograms per cubic meter | 30.59 micrograms per cubic meter | 5 |
Countries ranked near China
- 21 Central African Republic 30.07 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 22 Myanmar 29.65 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 23 El Salvador 29.63 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 25 Egypt 29.47 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 26 Mongolia 29.35 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 27 Honduras 28.77 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 exposure to air pollution from human sources in China?
- Exposure to air pollution from human sources in China was 29.57 micrograms per cubic meter in 2024, according to Energy Policy Institute at the University of Chicago (EPIC) (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest exposure to air pollution from human sources recorded in China?
- The highest recorded value was 48.67 micrograms per cubic meter in 2014.
- What is the lowest exposure to air pollution from human sources recorded in China?
- The lowest recorded value was 25.74 micrograms per cubic meter in 1999.
- How does China rank for exposure to air pollution from human sources?
- China ranks 24th out of 240 countries with data for 2024.
- Is exposure to air pollution from human sources rising or falling in China?
- Over the last ten years it is down 39.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this China data come from?
- The figures come from Energy Policy Institute at the University of Chicago (EPIC) (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Exposure to air pollution from human sources. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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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. This data excludes natural sources of PM2.5, such as dust and sea salt, to focus on human-caused pollution.