Exposure to air pollution from human sources in Japan
Japan: Exposure to air pollution from human sources was 10 micrograms per cubic meter in 2024. ▼ Falling
Exposure to air pollution from human sources in Japan, 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
In 2024, exposure to air pollution from human sources in Japan stood at 10 micrograms per cubic meter.
The figure is down 5.8% on the previous year and down 20.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, exposure to air pollution from human sources in Japan peaked at 14.67 micrograms per cubic meter in 2000 and was at its lowest, 9.66 micrograms per cubic meter, in 1999.
That places Japan 134th out of 240 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 27 years of available data.
Exposure to air pollution from human sources in Japan, year by year
| Year | micrograms per cubic meter | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1998 | 11.31 micrograms per cubic meter | — |
| 1999 | 9.66 micrograms per cubic meter | -14.6% |
| 2000 | 14.67 micrograms per cubic meter | +51.9% |
| 2001 | 13.33 micrograms per cubic meter | -9.1% |
| 2002 | 12.72 micrograms per cubic meter | -4.6% |
| 2003 | 13.95 micrograms per cubic meter | +9.7% |
| 2004 | 12.41 micrograms per cubic meter | -11.0% |
| 2005 | 13.53 micrograms per cubic meter | +9.0% |
| 2006 | 14.01 micrograms per cubic meter | +3.5% |
| 2007 | 12.98 micrograms per cubic meter | -7.4% |
| 2008 | 14.51 micrograms per cubic meter | +11.8% |
| 2009 | 12.72 micrograms per cubic meter | -12.3% |
| 2010 | 11.41 micrograms per cubic meter | -10.3% |
| 2011 | 11.81 micrograms per cubic meter | +3.5% |
| 2012 | 12.73 micrograms per cubic meter | +7.8% |
| 2013 | 12.03 micrograms per cubic meter | -5.5% |
| 2014 | 12.57 micrograms per cubic meter | +4.5% |
| 2015 | 12.48 micrograms per cubic meter | -0.7% |
| 2016 | 11.6 micrograms per cubic meter | -7.1% |
| 2017 | 11.47 micrograms per cubic meter | -1.1% |
| 2018 | 11.48 micrograms per cubic meter | +0.1% |
| 2019 | 11.47 micrograms per cubic meter | -0.1% |
| 2020 | 10.68 micrograms per cubic meter | -6.9% |
| 2021 | 10.65 micrograms per cubic meter | -0.3% |
| 2022 | 11.3 micrograms per cubic meter | +6.1% |
| 2023 | 10.62 micrograms per cubic meter | -6.0% |
| 2024 | 10 micrograms per cubic meter | -5.8% |
Japan compared with similar countries
- Japan's 10 micrograms per cubic meter is above the median for high income countries, which is 8.08 micrograms per cubic meter, 1.2× the median. (83 countries reporting)
- Japan's 10 micrograms per cubic meter is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 5.49 micrograms per cubic meter, 1.8× the median. (35 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 10.48 micrograms per cubic meter | 9.66 micrograms per cubic meter | 11.31 micrograms per cubic meter | 2 |
| 2000s | 13.48 micrograms per cubic meter | 12.41 micrograms per cubic meter | 14.67 micrograms per cubic meter | 10 |
| 2010s | 11.9 micrograms per cubic meter | 11.41 micrograms per cubic meter | 12.73 micrograms per cubic meter | 10 |
| 2020s | 10.65 micrograms per cubic meter | 10 micrograms per cubic meter | 11.3 micrograms per cubic meter | 5 |
Countries ranked near Japan
- 131 Lithuania 10.6 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 132 Haiti 10.43 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 133 Liechtenstein 10.26 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 135 Morocco 9.91 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 136 Austria 9.63 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 137 Papua New Guinea 9.49 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 exposure to air pollution from human sources in Japan?
- Exposure to air pollution from human sources in Japan was 10 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 Japan?
- The highest recorded value was 14.67 micrograms per cubic meter in 2000.
- What is the lowest exposure to air pollution from human sources recorded in Japan?
- The lowest recorded value was 9.66 micrograms per cubic meter in 1999.
- How does Japan rank for exposure to air pollution from human sources?
- Japan ranks 134th out of 240 countries with data for 2024.
- Is exposure to air pollution from human sources rising or falling in Japan?
- Over the last ten years it is down 20.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Japan 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.
Download this data
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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.