Long run air pollution in China
China: Long run air pollution was 20.99 million in 2022. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2022)
20.99 million
Change on year
down 3.3%
World rank
1st
of 220 countries
All-time high
31.61 million
in 2012
All-time low
26,180
in 1750
Years of data
273
1750–2022
Long run air pollution in China, 1750–2022
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
China recorded 20.99 million for long run air pollution in 2022.
The figure is down 3.3% on the previous year and down 33.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, long run air pollution in China peaked at 31.61 million in 2012 and was at its lowest, 26,180, in 1750.
China ranks 1st of 220 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Long run air pollution in China, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1750 | 26,180 | — |
| 1751 | 26,258 | +0.3% |
| 1752 | 26,335 | +0.3% |
| 1753 | 26,412 | +0.3% |
| 1754 | 26,490 | +0.3% |
| 1755 | 26,568 | +0.3% |
| 1756 | 26,645 | +0.3% |
| 1757 | 26,722 | +0.3% |
| 1758 | 26,800 | +0.3% |
| 1759 | 26,877 | +0.3% |
| 1760 | 26,954 | +0.3% |
| 1761 | 26,991 | +0.1% |
| 1762 | 27,028 | +0.1% |
| 1763 | 27,065 | +0.1% |
| 1764 | 27,102 | +0.1% |
| 1765 | 27,139 | +0.1% |
| 1766 | 27,175 | +0.1% |
| 1767 | 27,212 | +0.1% |
| 1768 | 27,249 | +0.1% |
| 1769 | 27,286 | +0.1% |
| 1770 | 27,322 | +0.1% |
| 1771 | 28,022 | +2.6% |
| 1772 | 28,721 | +2.5% |
| 1773 | 29,419 | +2.4% |
| 1774 | 30,118 | +2.4% |
| 1775 | 30,816 | +2.3% |
| 1776 | 31,515 | +2.3% |
| 1777 | 32,213 | +2.2% |
| 1778 | 32,910 | +2.2% |
| 1779 | 33,608 | +2.1% |
| 1780 | 34,306 | +2.1% |
| 1781 | 34,471 | +0.5% |
| 1782 | 34,636 | +0.5% |
| 1783 | 34,801 | +0.5% |
| 1784 | 34,966 | +0.5% |
| 1785 | 35,132 | +0.5% |
| 1786 | 35,296 | +0.5% |
| 1787 | 35,462 | +0.5% |
| 1788 | 35,626 | +0.5% |
| 1789 | 35,791 | +0.5% |
| 1790 | 35,956 | +0.5% |
| 1791 | 35,760 | -0.5% |
| 1792 | 35,564 | -0.5% |
| 1793 | 35,368 | -0.6% |
| 1794 | 35,172 | -0.6% |
| 1795 | 34,976 | -0.6% |
| 1796 | 34,780 | -0.6% |
| 1797 | 34,584 | -0.6% |
| 1798 | 34,388 | -0.6% |
| 1799 | 34,193 | -0.6% |
| 1800 | 33,997 | -0.6% |
| 1801 | 34,491 | +1.5% |
| 1802 | 34,987 | +1.4% |
| 1803 | 35,483 | +1.4% |
| 1804 | 35,981 | +1.4% |
| 1805 | 36,480 | +1.4% |
| 1806 | 36,980 | +1.4% |
| 1807 | 37,480 | +1.4% |
| 1808 | 37,983 | +1.3% |
| 1809 | 38,486 | +1.3% |
| 1810 | 38,991 | +1.3% |
| 1811 | 38,999 | +0.0% |
| 1812 | 39,008 | +0.0% |
| 1813 | 39,016 | +0.0% |
| 1814 | 39,024 | +0.0% |
| 1815 | 39,032 | +0.0% |
| 1816 | 39,039 | +0.0% |
| 1817 | 39,047 | +0.0% |
| 1818 | 39,054 | +0.0% |
| 1819 | 39,062 | +0.0% |
| 1820 | 39,069 | +0.0% |
| 1821 | 39,404 | +0.9% |
| 1822 | 39,740 | +0.9% |
| 1823 | 40,077 | +0.8% |
| 1824 | 40,414 | +0.8% |
| 1825 | 40,752 | +0.8% |
| 1826 | 41,090 | +0.8% |
| 1827 | 41,429 | +0.8% |
| 1828 | 41,769 | +0.8% |
| 1829 | 42,110 | +0.8% |
| 1830 | 42,451 | +0.8% |
| 1831 | 42,517 | +0.2% |
| 1832 | 42,584 | +0.2% |
| 1833 | 42,650 | +0.2% |
| 1834 | 42,716 | +0.2% |
| 1835 | 42,782 | +0.2% |
| 1836 | 42,847 | +0.2% |
| 1837 | 42,914 | +0.2% |
| 1838 | 42,980 | +0.2% |
| 1839 | 43,046 | +0.2% |
| 1840 | 43,113 | +0.2% |
| 1841 | 43,178 | +0.2% |
| 1842 | 43,244 | +0.2% |
| 1843 | 43,309 | +0.2% |
| 1844 | 43,375 | +0.2% |
| 1845 | 43,440 | +0.1% |
| 1846 | 43,505 | +0.2% |
| 1847 | 43,571 | +0.2% |
| 1848 | 43,637 | +0.2% |
| 1849 | 43,702 | +0.2% |
| 1850 | 43,768 | +0.2% |
| 1851 | 43,450 | -0.7% |
| 1852 | 43,132 | -0.7% |
| 1853 | 42,815 | -0.7% |
| 1854 | 42,498 | -0.7% |
| 1855 | 42,182 | -0.7% |
| 1856 | 41,867 | -0.7% |
| 1857 | 41,553 | -0.8% |
| 1858 | 41,239 | -0.8% |
| 1859 | 40,927 | -0.8% |
| 1860 | 40,614 | -0.8% |
| 1861 | 40,543 | -0.2% |
| 1862 | 40,470 | -0.2% |
| 1863 | 40,398 | -0.2% |
| 1864 | 40,324 | -0.2% |
| 1865 | 40,249 | -0.2% |
| 1866 | 40,174 | -0.2% |
| 1867 | 40,098 | -0.2% |
| 1868 | 40,020 | -0.2% |
| 1869 | 39,943 | -0.2% |
| 1870 | 39,864 | -0.2% |
| 1871 | 40,105 | +0.6% |
| 1872 | 40,345 | +0.6% |
| 1873 | 40,587 | +0.6% |
| 1874 | 40,830 | +0.6% |
| 1875 | 41,073 | +0.6% |
| 1876 | 41,318 | +0.6% |
| 1877 | 41,564 | +0.6% |
| 1878 | 41,809 | +0.6% |
| 1879 | 42,057 | +0.6% |
| 1880 | 42,304 | +0.6% |
| 1881 | 42,572 | +0.6% |
| 1882 | 42,841 | +0.6% |
| 1883 | 43,112 | +0.6% |
| 1884 | 43,384 | +0.6% |
| 1885 | 43,657 | +0.6% |
| 1886 | 43,931 | +0.6% |
| 1887 | 44,207 | +0.6% |
| 1888 | 44,521 | +0.7% |
| 1889 | 44,838 | +0.7% |
| 1890 | 45,155 | +0.7% |
| 1891 | 45,564 | +0.9% |
| 1892 | 45,977 | +0.9% |
| 1893 | 46,392 | +0.9% |
| 1894 | 46,809 | +0.9% |
| 1895 | 47,229 | +0.9% |
| 1896 | 47,649 | +0.9% |
| 1897 | 48,071 | +0.9% |
| 1898 | 48,496 | +0.9% |
| 1899 | 49,154 | +1.4% |
| 1900 | 49,353 | +0.4% |
| 1901 | 52,528 | +6.4% |
| 1902 | 55,967 | +6.5% |
| 1903 | 63,763 | +13.9% |
| 1904 | 67,366 | +5.7% |
| 1905 | 71,214 | +5.7% |
| 1906 | 111,171 | +56.1% |
| 1907 | 114,151 | +2.7% |
| 1908 | 132,477 | +16.1% |
| 1909 | 131,545 | -0.7% |
| 1910 | 130,119 | -1.1% |
| 1911 | 155,208 | +19.3% |
| 1912 | 114,722 | -26.1% |
| 1913 | 120,531 | +5.1% |
| 1914 | 133,822 | +11.0% |
| 1915 | 139,287 | +4.1% |
| 1916 | 149,378 | +7.2% |
| 1917 | 159,909 | +7.0% |
| 1918 | 169,177 | +5.8% |
| 1919 | 183,827 | +8.7% |
| 1920 | 197,336 | +7.3% |
| 1921 | 198,034 | +0.4% |
| 1922 | 206,279 | +4.2% |
| 1923 | 225,891 | +9.5% |
| 1924 | 238,646 | +5.6% |
| 1925 | 239,897 | +0.5% |
| 1926 | 235,081 | -2.0% |
| 1927 | 250,305 | +6.5% |
| 1928 | 256,144 | +2.3% |
| 1929 | 265,007 | +3.5% |
| 1930 | 275,333 | +3.9% |
| 1931 | 286,618 | +4.1% |
| 1932 | 286,753 | +0.0% |
| 1933 | 301,399 | +5.1% |
| 1934 | 325,145 | +7.9% |
| 1935 | 353,093 | +8.6% |
| 1936 | 378,898 | +7.3% |
| 1937 | 372,816 | -1.6% |
| 1938 | 366,740 | -1.6% |
| 1939 | 406,789 | +10.9% |
| 1940 | 469,262 | +15.4% |
| 1941 | 545,279 | +16.2% |
| 1942 | 581,254 | +6.6% |
| 1943 | 534,752 | -8.0% |
| 1944 | 548,024 | +2.5% |
| 1945 | 409,262 | -25.3% |
| 1946 | 349,288 | -14.7% |
| 1947 | 360,603 | +3.2% |
| 1948 | 335,580 | -6.9% |
| 1949 | 451,561 | +34.6% |
| 1950 | 516,470 | +14.4% |
| 1951 | 603,108 | +16.8% |
| 1952 | 695,788 | +15.4% |
| 1953 | 726,742 | +4.4% |
| 1954 | 828,726 | +14.0% |
| 1955 | 940,954 | +13.5% |
| 1956 | 1.03 million | +9.0% |
| 1957 | 1.14 million | +11.2% |
| 1958 | 1.91 million | +67.1% |
| 1959 | 2.46 million | +28.8% |
| 1960 | 2.60 million | +5.7% |
| 1961 | 1.99 million | -23.4% |
| 1962 | 1.69 million | -14.9% |
| 1963 | 1.70 million | +0.3% |
| 1964 | 1.72 million | +1.3% |
| 1965 | 1.88 million | +9.1% |
| 1966 | 2.06 million | +9.9% |
| 1967 | 1.81 million | -12.0% |
| 1968 | 1.96 million | +8.1% |
| 1969 | 2.32 million | +18.4% |
| 1970 | 2.96 million | +27.5% |
| 1971 | 3.37 million | +13.7% |
| 1972 | 3.59 million | +6.5% |
| 1973 | 3.77 million | +5.2% |
| 1974 | 3.88 million | +2.7% |
| 1975 | 4.36 million | +12.5% |
| 1976 | 4.49 million | +3.0% |
| 1977 | 5.00 million | +11.2% |
| 1978 | 5.65 million | +13.0% |
| 1979 | 5.84 million | +3.5% |
| 1980 | 5.86 million | +0.3% |
| 1981 | 5.79 million | -1.2% |
| 1982 | 6.02 million | +3.9% |
| 1983 | 6.34 million | +5.4% |
| 1984 | 6.87 million | +8.3% |
| 1985 | 7.06 million | +2.8% |
| 1986 | 7.54 million | +6.8% |
| 1987 | 8.18 million | +8.5% |
| 1988 | 8.84 million | +8.0% |
| 1989 | 9.32 million | +5.5% |
| 1990 | 9.58 million | +2.8% |
| 1991 | 10.26 million | +7.1% |
| 1992 | 11.17 million | +8.8% |
| 1993 | 12.05 million | +7.9% |
| 1994 | 12.58 million | +4.4% |
| 1995 | 13.86 million | +10.2% |
| 1996 | 14.92 million | +7.7% |
| 1997 | 14.47 million | -3.0% |
| 1998 | 14.77 million | +2.1% |
| 1999 | 15.05 million | +1.9% |
| 2000 | 16.32 million | +8.5% |
| 2001 | 16.65 million | +2.0% |
| 2002 | 17.72 million | +6.4% |
| 2003 | 20.13 million | +13.6% |
| 2004 | 22.97 million | +14.1% |
| 2005 | 25.03 million | +8.9% |
| 2006 | 27.10 million | +8.3% |
| 2007 | 28.59 million | +5.5% |
| 2008 | 29.03 million | +1.5% |
| 2009 | 28.85 million | -0.6% |
| 2010 | 28.93 million | +0.3% |
| 2011 | 31.15 million | +7.6% |
| 2012 | 31.61 million | +1.5% |
| 2013 | 30.14 million | -4.7% |
| 2014 | 27.72 million | -8.0% |
| 2015 | 26.38 million | -4.8% |
| 2016 | 25.17 million | -4.6% |
| 2017 | 24.63 million | -2.2% |
| 2018 | 23.81 million | -3.3% |
| 2019 | 22.27 million | -6.5% |
| 2020 | 21.53 million | -3.3% |
| 2021 | 21.71 million | +0.8% |
| 2022 | 20.99 million | -3.3% |
China compared with similar countries
- China's 20.99 million is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 104,784, 200.3× the median. (57 countries reporting)
- China's 20.99 million is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 102,909, 204.0× the median. (34 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Long run air pollution in China changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1958 | +67.1% | 1.14 million | 1.91 million |
| 1906 | +56.1% | 71,214 | 111,171 |
| 1949 | +34.6% | 335,580 | 451,561 |
| 1959 | +28.8% | 1.91 million | 2.46 million |
| 1970 | +27.5% | 2.32 million | 2.96 million |
| 1912 | -26.1% | 155,208 | 114,722 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1750s | 26,529 | 26,180 | 26,877 | 10 |
| 1760s | 27,120 | 26,954 | 27,286 | 10 |
| 1770s | 30,466 | 27,322 | 33,608 | 10 |
| 1780s | 35,049 | 34,306 | 35,791 | 10 |
| 1790s | 35,074 | 34,193 | 35,956 | 10 |
| 1800s | 36,235 | 33,997 | 38,486 | 10 |
| 1810s | 39,027 | 38,991 | 39,062 | 10 |
| 1820s | 40,585 | 39,069 | 42,110 | 10 |
| 1830s | 42,749 | 42,451 | 43,046 | 10 |
| 1840s | 43,407 | 43,113 | 43,702 | 10 |
| 1850s | 42,343 | 40,927 | 43,768 | 10 |
| 1860s | 40,283 | 39,943 | 40,614 | 10 |
| 1870s | 40,955 | 39,864 | 42,057 | 10 |
| 1880s | 43,537 | 42,304 | 44,838 | 10 |
| 1890s | 47,050 | 45,155 | 49,154 | 10 |
| 1900s | 84,954 | 49,353 | 132,477 | 10 |
| 1910s | 145,598 | 114,722 | 183,827 | 10 |
| 1920s | 231,262 | 197,336 | 265,007 | 10 |
| 1930s | 335,358 | 275,333 | 406,789 | 10 |
| 1940s | 458,486 | 335,580 | 581,254 | 10 |
| 1950s | 1.08 million | 516,470 | 2.46 million | 10 |
| 1960s | 1.97 million | 1.69 million | 2.60 million | 10 |
| 1970s | 4.29 million | 2.96 million | 5.84 million | 10 |
| 1980s | 7.18 million | 5.79 million | 9.32 million | 10 |
| 1990s | 12.87 million | 9.58 million | 15.05 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 23.24 million | 16.32 million | 29.03 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 27.18 million | 22.27 million | 31.61 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 21.41 million | 20.99 million | 21.71 million | 3 |
Countries ranked near China
More environment data for China
- Grazing land use over the long-term, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Grazing land use over the long-term, per unit of GDP 0 hectares per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Grazing land use over the long-term, per capita 0.2791 hectares per person (2025)
- Standard Deviation, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Standard Deviation 0.279 °C (2025)
- Temperature change 1.92 °C (2025)
- Grazing land use over the long-term, per square kilometre 41.82 hectares per square kilometre (2024)
- Sawnwood, coniferous — Production, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2024)
- Wood-based panels — Production, annual growth rate 5.29 % change on previous year (2024)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual 0.8065 % change on previous year (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is long run air pollution in China?
- Long run air pollution in China was 20.99 million in 2022, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest long run air pollution recorded in China?
- The highest recorded value was 31.61 million in 2012.
- What is the lowest long run air pollution recorded in China?
- The lowest recorded value was 26,180 in 1750.
- How does China rank for long run air pollution?
- China ranks 1st out of 220 countries with data for 2022.
- Is long run air pollution rising or falling in China?
- Over the last ten years it is down 33.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this China data come from?
- The figures come from Our World in Data, published as part of Long run air pollution. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 273 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).