Exposure to air pollution from human sources in South Korea
South Korea: Exposure to air pollution from human sources was 19.59 micrograms per cubic meter in 2024. ▬ Flat
Latest (2024)
19.59 micrograms per cubic meter
Change on year
up 13.9%
World rank
62nd
of 240 countries
All-time high
23.53 micrograms per cubic meter
in 2003
All-time low
16.01 micrograms per cubic meter
in 1999
Years of data
27
1998–2024
Exposure to air pollution from human sources in South Korea, 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 South Korea is 19.59 micrograms per cubic meter, measured in 2024.
The figure is up 13.9% on the previous year and down 14.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, exposure to air pollution from human sources in South Korea peaked at 23.53 micrograms per cubic meter in 2003 and was at its lowest, 16.01 micrograms per cubic meter, in 1999.
That places South Korea 62nd out of 240 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the middle of the range.
Exposure to air pollution from human sources in South Korea, year by year
| Year | micrograms per cubic meter | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1998 | 16.36 micrograms per cubic meter | — |
| 1999 | 16.01 micrograms per cubic meter | -2.1% |
| 2000 | 19.49 micrograms per cubic meter | +21.7% |
| 2001 | 19.22 micrograms per cubic meter | -1.4% |
| 2002 | 17.27 micrograms per cubic meter | -10.1% |
| 2003 | 23.53 micrograms per cubic meter | +36.2% |
| 2004 | 19.15 micrograms per cubic meter | -18.6% |
| 2005 | 20.06 micrograms per cubic meter | +4.8% |
| 2006 | 22 micrograms per cubic meter | +9.7% |
| 2007 | 21.29 micrograms per cubic meter | -3.2% |
| 2008 | 21.65 micrograms per cubic meter | +1.7% |
| 2009 | 20.22 micrograms per cubic meter | -6.6% |
| 2010 | 18.45 micrograms per cubic meter | -8.8% |
| 2011 | 19.08 micrograms per cubic meter | +3.4% |
| 2012 | 19.67 micrograms per cubic meter | +3.1% |
| 2013 | 21.51 micrograms per cubic meter | +9.4% |
| 2014 | 22.77 micrograms per cubic meter | +5.9% |
| 2015 | 22.67 micrograms per cubic meter | -0.4% |
| 2016 | 23.47 micrograms per cubic meter | +3.5% |
| 2017 | 21.85 micrograms per cubic meter | -6.9% |
| 2018 | 20.24 micrograms per cubic meter | -7.4% |
| 2019 | 20.52 micrograms per cubic meter | +1.4% |
| 2020 | 17.38 micrograms per cubic meter | -15.3% |
| 2021 | 16.31 micrograms per cubic meter | -6.2% |
| 2022 | 16.27 micrograms per cubic meter | -0.2% |
| 2023 | 17.2 micrograms per cubic meter | +5.7% |
| 2024 | 19.59 micrograms per cubic meter | +13.9% |
South Korea compared with similar countries
- South Korea's 19.59 micrograms per cubic meter is above the median for high income countries, which is 8.08 micrograms per cubic meter, 2.4× the median. (83 countries reporting)
- South Korea's 19.59 micrograms per cubic meter is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 5.49 micrograms per cubic meter, 3.6× the median. (35 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 16.19 micrograms per cubic meter | 16.01 micrograms per cubic meter | 16.36 micrograms per cubic meter | 2 |
| 2000s | 20.39 micrograms per cubic meter | 17.27 micrograms per cubic meter | 23.53 micrograms per cubic meter | 10 |
| 2010s | 21.02 micrograms per cubic meter | 18.45 micrograms per cubic meter | 23.47 micrograms per cubic meter | 10 |
| 2020s | 17.35 micrograms per cubic meter | 16.27 micrograms per cubic meter | 19.59 micrograms per cubic meter | 5 |
Countries ranked near South Korea
- 59 Chile 20.1 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 59 Lebanon 20.1 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 61 Malawi 19.94 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 63 North Macedonia 19.42 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 64 Bulgaria 19.14 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 65 Turkmenistan 19.03 micrograms per cubic meter compare
More environment data for South Korea
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual -0.2791 % 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 -2.27 % 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 -0.2415 % change on previous year (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Building (Energy) (Mt CO2e), per unit of 0 Mt CO2e per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Building (Energy) (Mt CO2e), per capita 0 Mt CO2e per person (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Fugitive Emissions (Energy) (Mt CO2e) 1.61 % change on previous year (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is exposure to air pollution from human sources in South Korea?
- Exposure to air pollution from human sources in South Korea was 19.59 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 South Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 23.53 micrograms per cubic meter in 2003.
- What is the lowest exposure to air pollution from human sources recorded in South Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 16.01 micrograms per cubic meter in 1999.
- How does South Korea rank for exposure to air pollution from human sources?
- South Korea ranks 62nd out of 240 countries with data for 2024.
- Is exposure to air pollution from human sources rising or falling in South Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is down 14.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this South Korea 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
CSV · JSON — 27 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
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.