Long run air pollution in Hong Kong
Hong Kong: Long run air pollution was 677,510 in 2022. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2022)
677,510
Change on year
up 2.1%
World rank
36th
of 220 countries
All-time high
1.20 million
in 2010
All-time low
0.6473
in 1750
Years of data
273
1750–2022
Long run air pollution in Hong Kong, 1750–2022
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
The most recent figure for long run air pollution in Hong Kong is 677,510, measured in 2022.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 2.1% on the previous year and down 25.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, long run air pollution in Hong Kong peaked at 1.20 million in 2010 and was at its lowest, 0.6473, in 1750.
Hong Kong ranks 36th of 220 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Long run air pollution in Hong Kong, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1750 | 0.6473 | — |
| 1751 | 0.65 | +0.4% |
| 1752 | 0.6527 | +0.4% |
| 1753 | 0.6554 | +0.4% |
| 1754 | 0.6581 | +0.4% |
| 1755 | 0.6608 | +0.4% |
| 1756 | 0.6635 | +0.4% |
| 1757 | 0.6662 | +0.4% |
| 1758 | 0.6688 | +0.4% |
| 1759 | 0.6715 | +0.4% |
| 1760 | 0.6742 | +0.4% |
| 1761 | 0.6771 | +0.4% |
| 1762 | 0.6799 | +0.4% |
| 1763 | 0.6827 | +0.4% |
| 1764 | 0.6855 | +0.4% |
| 1765 | 0.6883 | +0.4% |
| 1766 | 0.6911 | +0.4% |
| 1767 | 0.6939 | +0.4% |
| 1768 | 0.6967 | +0.4% |
| 1769 | 0.6995 | +0.4% |
| 1770 | 0.7023 | +0.4% |
| 1771 | 0.7053 | +0.4% |
| 1772 | 0.7082 | +0.4% |
| 1773 | 0.7111 | +0.4% |
| 1774 | 0.714 | +0.4% |
| 1775 | 0.717 | +0.4% |
| 1776 | 0.7199 | +0.4% |
| 1777 | 0.7228 | +0.4% |
| 1778 | 0.7257 | +0.4% |
| 1779 | 0.7287 | +0.4% |
| 1780 | 0.7316 | +0.4% |
| 1781 | 0.7346 | +0.4% |
| 1782 | 0.7377 | +0.4% |
| 1783 | 0.7407 | +0.4% |
| 1784 | 0.7438 | +0.4% |
| 1785 | 0.7468 | +0.4% |
| 1786 | 0.7499 | +0.4% |
| 1787 | 0.7529 | +0.4% |
| 1788 | 0.756 | +0.4% |
| 1789 | 0.759 | +0.4% |
| 1790 | 0.7621 | +0.4% |
| 1791 | 0.7653 | +0.4% |
| 1792 | 0.7684 | +0.4% |
| 1793 | 0.7716 | +0.4% |
| 1794 | 0.7748 | +0.4% |
| 1795 | 0.778 | +0.4% |
| 1796 | 0.7811 | +0.4% |
| 1797 | 0.7843 | +0.4% |
| 1798 | 0.7875 | +0.4% |
| 1799 | 0.7907 | +0.4% |
| 1800 | 0.7938 | +0.4% |
| 1801 | 0.7975 | +0.5% |
| 1802 | 0.8012 | +0.5% |
| 1803 | 0.8049 | +0.5% |
| 1804 | 0.8086 | +0.5% |
| 1805 | 0.8124 | +0.5% |
| 1806 | 0.8161 | +0.5% |
| 1807 | 0.8198 | +0.5% |
| 1808 | 0.8235 | +0.5% |
| 1809 | 0.8272 | +0.5% |
| 1810 | 0.8309 | +0.5% |
| 1811 | 0.8348 | +0.5% |
| 1812 | 0.8387 | +0.5% |
| 1813 | 0.8426 | +0.5% |
| 1814 | 0.8464 | +0.5% |
| 1815 | 0.8503 | +0.5% |
| 1816 | 0.8542 | +0.5% |
| 1817 | 0.8581 | +0.5% |
| 1818 | 0.862 | +0.5% |
| 1819 | 0.8659 | +0.5% |
| 1820 | 0.8698 | +0.5% |
| 1821 | 0.8876 | +2.0% |
| 1822 | 0.9054 | +2.0% |
| 1823 | 0.9233 | +2.0% |
| 1824 | 0.9412 | +1.9% |
| 1825 | 0.9591 | +1.9% |
| 1826 | 0.977 | +1.9% |
| 1827 | 0.9949 | +1.8% |
| 1828 | 1.01 | +1.8% |
| 1829 | 1.03 | +1.8% |
| 1830 | 1.05 | +1.7% |
| 1831 | 1.07 | +2.1% |
| 1832 | 1.09 | +2.1% |
| 1833 | 1.12 | +2.0% |
| 1834 | 1.14 | +2.0% |
| 1835 | 1.16 | +2.0% |
| 1836 | 1.18 | +1.9% |
| 1837 | 1.21 | +1.9% |
| 1838 | 1.23 | +1.9% |
| 1839 | 1.25 | +1.8% |
| 1840 | 1.27 | +1.8% |
| 1841 | 1.29 | +1.4% |
| 1842 | 1.31 | +1.4% |
| 1843 | 1.33 | +1.4% |
| 1844 | 1.35 | +1.4% |
| 1845 | 1.36 | +1.4% |
| 1846 | 1.38 | +1.3% |
| 1847 | 1.4 | +1.3% |
| 1848 | 1.42 | +1.3% |
| 1849 | 1.44 | +1.3% |
| 1850 | 1.46 | +1.3% |
| 1851 | 1.6 | +10.0% |
| 1852 | 1.8 | +12.5% |
| 1853 | 2.01 | +11.5% |
| 1854 | 2.23 | +10.8% |
| 1855 | 2.45 | +10.2% |
| 1856 | 2.69 | +9.7% |
| 1857 | 2.94 | +9.3% |
| 1858 | 3.2 | +9.0% |
| 1859 | 3.49 | +8.8% |
| 1860 | 3.79 | +8.6% |
| 1861 | 4.11 | +8.6% |
| 1862 | 4.25 | +3.5% |
| 1863 | 4.4 | +3.4% |
| 1864 | 4.55 | +3.3% |
| 1865 | 4.69 | +3.2% |
| 1866 | 4.84 | +3.1% |
| 1867 | 5.01 | +3.5% |
| 1868 | 5.18 | +3.4% |
| 1869 | 5.35 | +3.3% |
| 1870 | 5.52 | +3.2% |
| 1871 | 5.69 | +3.1% |
| 1872 | 5.88 | +3.3% |
| 1873 | 6.07 | +3.3% |
| 1874 | 6.26 | +3.2% |
| 1875 | 6.45 | +3.1% |
| 1876 | 6.65 | +3.0% |
| 1877 | 6.86 | +3.1% |
| 1878 | 7.07 | +3.0% |
| 1879 | 7.28 | +3.0% |
| 1880 | 7.49 | +2.9% |
| 1881 | 7.7 | +2.9% |
| 1882 | 7.95 | +3.3% |
| 1883 | 8.21 | +3.2% |
| 1884 | 8.47 | +3.2% |
| 1885 | 8.73 | +3.1% |
| 1886 | 9 | +3.1% |
| 1887 | 9.21 | +2.2% |
| 1888 | 9.41 | +2.2% |
| 1889 | 9.61 | +2.2% |
| 1890 | 9.82 | +2.1% |
| 1891 | 10.2 | +3.9% |
| 1892 | 10.58 | +3.8% |
| 1893 | 10.97 | +3.6% |
| 1894 | 11.35 | +3.5% |
| 1895 | 11.74 | +3.4% |
| 1896 | 12.14 | +3.3% |
| 1897 | 12.63 | +4.1% |
| 1898 | 13.14 | +4.0% |
| 1899 | 13.66 | +4.0% |
| 1900 | 14.19 | +3.9% |
| 1901 | 15.38 | +8.4% |
| 1902 | 16.76 | +8.9% |
| 1903 | 18.15 | +8.3% |
| 1904 | 19.56 | +7.7% |
| 1905 | 20.97 | +7.2% |
| 1906 | 22.39 | +6.8% |
| 1907 | 23.89 | +6.7% |
| 1908 | 25.39 | +6.3% |
| 1909 | 26.89 | +5.9% |
| 1910 | 28.39 | +5.6% |
| 1911 | 29.82 | +5.0% |
| 1912 | 31.6 | +6.0% |
| 1913 | 35.02 | +10.8% |
| 1914 | 36.72 | +4.9% |
| 1915 | 38.44 | +4.7% |
| 1916 | 40.17 | +4.5% |
| 1917 | 41.9 | +4.3% |
| 1918 | 43.64 | +4.2% |
| 1919 | 45.39 | +4.0% |
| 1920 | 47.15 | +3.9% |
| 1921 | 47.37 | +0.5% |
| 1922 | 48.62 | +2.6% |
| 1923 | 50.33 | +3.5% |
| 1924 | 53.34 | +6.0% |
| 1925 | 31.45 | -41.0% |
| 1926 | 31.65 | +0.6% |
| 1927 | 31.65 | -0.0% |
| 1928 | 31.51 | -0.5% |
| 1929 | 31.18 | -1.0% |
| 1930 | 30.72 | -1.5% |
| 1931 | 33.05 | +7.6% |
| 1932 | 34.96 | +5.8% |
| 1933 | 36.42 | +4.2% |
| 1934 | 37.43 | +2.8% |
| 1935 | 37.97 | +1.5% |
| 1936 | 38.19 | +0.6% |
| 1937 | 37.86 | -0.9% |
| 1938 | 36.96 | -2.4% |
| 1939 | 35.45 | -4.1% |
| 1940 | 41.25 | +16.4% |
| 1941 | 42.01 | +1.8% |
| 1942 | 42.72 | +1.7% |
| 1943 | 43.47 | +1.8% |
| 1944 | 44.29 | +1.9% |
| 1945 | 45.17 | +2.0% |
| 1946 | 46.25 | +2.4% |
| 1947 | 47.44 | +2.6% |
| 1948 | 48.7 | +2.7% |
| 1949 | 50.16 | +3.0% |
| 1950 | 9,660 | +19157.6% |
| 1951 | 11,331 | +17.3% |
| 1952 | 10,893 | -3.9% |
| 1953 | 12,963 | +19.0% |
| 1954 | 13,283 | +2.5% |
| 1955 | 13,518 | +1.8% |
| 1956 | 16,859 | +24.7% |
| 1957 | 17,231 | +2.2% |
| 1958 | 17,030 | -1.2% |
| 1959 | 19,401 | +13.9% |
| 1960 | 21,038 | +8.4% |
| 1961 | 23,767 | +13.0% |
| 1962 | 25,734 | +8.3% |
| 1963 | 29,584 | +15.0% |
| 1964 | 29,095 | -1.7% |
| 1965 | 32,740 | +12.5% |
| 1966 | 34,898 | +6.6% |
| 1967 | 40,698 | +16.6% |
| 1968 | 40,597 | -0.2% |
| 1969 | 50,476 | +24.3% |
| 1970 | 53,916 | +6.8% |
| 1971 | 120,641 | +123.8% |
| 1972 | 172,116 | +42.7% |
| 1973 | 182,543 | +6.1% |
| 1974 | 147,118 | -19.4% |
| 1975 | 122,797 | -16.5% |
| 1976 | 152,899 | +24.5% |
| 1977 | 143,675 | -6.0% |
| 1978 | 144,989 | +0.9% |
| 1979 | 178,872 | +23.4% |
| 1980 | 176,189 | -1.5% |
| 1981 | 179,032 | +1.6% |
| 1982 | 206,221 | +15.2% |
| 1983 | 222,521 | +7.9% |
| 1984 | 162,675 | -26.9% |
| 1985 | 234,297 | +44.0% |
| 1986 | 241,948 | +3.3% |
| 1987 | 248,887 | +2.9% |
| 1988 | 289,455 | +16.3% |
| 1989 | 321,454 | +11.1% |
| 1990 | 346,664 | +7.8% |
| 1991 | 345,352 | -0.4% |
| 1992 | 407,059 | +17.9% |
| 1993 | 434,291 | +6.7% |
| 1994 | 428,072 | -1.4% |
| 1995 | 477,951 | +11.7% |
| 1996 | 473,115 | -1.0% |
| 1997 | 441,370 | -6.7% |
| 1998 | 569,005 | +28.9% |
| 1999 | 668,160 | +17.4% |
| 2000 | 610,980 | -8.6% |
| 2001 | 628,594 | +2.9% |
| 2002 | 690,158 | +9.8% |
| 2003 | 719,901 | +4.3% |
| 2004 | 879,065 | +22.1% |
| 2005 | 747,212 | -15.0% |
| 2006 | 855,272 | +14.5% |
| 2007 | 946,585 | +10.7% |
| 2008 | 821,990 | -13.2% |
| 2009 | 1.06 million | +28.4% |
| 2010 | 1.20 million | +14.0% |
| 2011 | 973,678 | -19.1% |
| 2012 | 910,968 | -6.4% |
| 2013 | 930,301 | +2.1% |
| 2014 | 843,378 | -9.3% |
| 2015 | 907,827 | +7.6% |
| 2016 | 921,638 | +1.5% |
| 2017 | 1.06 million | +15.3% |
| 2018 | 1.05 million | -1.4% |
| 2019 | 957,374 | -8.6% |
| 2020 | 735,077 | -23.2% |
| 2021 | 663,341 | -9.8% |
| 2022 | 677,510 | +2.1% |
Hong Kong compared with similar countries
- Hong Kong's 677,510 is above the median for high income countries, which is 90,409, 7.5× the median. (78 countries reporting)
- Hong Kong's 677,510 is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 102,909, 6.6× the median. (34 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Long run air pollution in Hong Kong 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1950 | +19157.6% | 50.16 | 9,660 |
| 1971 | +123.8% | 53,916 | 120,641 |
| 1925 | -41.0% | 53.34 | 31.45 |
| 1985 | +44.0% | 162,675 | 234,297 |
| 1972 | +42.7% | 120,641 | 172,116 |
| 1984 | -26.9% | 222,521 | 162,675 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1750s | 0.6594 | 0.6473 | 0.6715 | 10 |
| 1760s | 0.6869 | 0.6742 | 0.6995 | 10 |
| 1770s | 0.7155 | 0.7023 | 0.7287 | 10 |
| 1780s | 0.7453 | 0.7316 | 0.759 | 10 |
| 1790s | 0.7764 | 0.7621 | 0.7907 | 10 |
| 1800s | 0.8105 | 0.7938 | 0.8272 | 10 |
| 1810s | 0.8484 | 0.8309 | 0.8659 | 10 |
| 1820s | 0.9502 | 0.8698 | 1.03 | 10 |
| 1830s | 1.15 | 1.05 | 1.25 | 10 |
| 1840s | 1.36 | 1.27 | 1.44 | 10 |
| 1850s | 2.39 | 1.46 | 3.49 | 10 |
| 1860s | 4.62 | 3.79 | 5.35 | 10 |
| 1870s | 6.37 | 5.52 | 7.28 | 10 |
| 1880s | 8.58 | 7.49 | 9.61 | 10 |
| 1890s | 11.62 | 9.82 | 13.66 | 10 |
| 1900s | 20.36 | 14.19 | 26.89 | 10 |
| 1910s | 37.11 | 28.39 | 45.39 | 10 |
| 1920s | 40.43 | 31.18 | 53.34 | 10 |
| 1930s | 35.9 | 30.72 | 38.19 | 10 |
| 1940s | 45.15 | 41.25 | 50.16 | 10 |
| 1950s | 14,217 | 9,660 | 19,401 | 10 |
| 1960s | 32,863 | 21,038 | 50,476 | 10 |
| 1970s | 141,957 | 53,916 | 182,543 | 10 |
| 1980s | 228,268 | 162,675 | 321,454 | 10 |
| 1990s | 459,104 | 345,352 | 668,160 | 10 |
| 2000s | 795,489 | 610,980 | 1.06 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 975,839 | 843,378 | 1.20 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 691,976 | 663,341 | 735,077 | 3 |
Countries ranked near Hong Kong
More environment data for Hong Kong
- 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 hectares per person (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly -5.98 Percentage change (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly -5.54 Percentage change (2025)
- Grazing land use over the long-term, per square kilometre 0 hectares per square kilometre (2024)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual 1.45 % 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 % 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 long run air pollution in Hong Kong?
- Long run air pollution in Hong Kong was 677,510 in 2022, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest long run air pollution recorded in Hong Kong?
- The highest recorded value was 1.20 million in 2010.
- What is the lowest long run air pollution recorded in Hong Kong?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.6473 in 1750.
- How does Hong Kong rank for long run air pollution?
- Hong Kong ranks 36th out of 220 countries with data for 2022.
- Is long run air pollution rising or falling in Hong Kong?
- Over the last ten years it is down 25.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Hong Kong 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).