Emissions of air pollutants in South Korea
South Korea: Emissions of air pollutants was 1.63 million tonnes in 2022. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2022)
1.63 million tonnes
Change on year
up 0.7%
World rank
14th
of 220 countries
All-time high
2.58 million tonnes
in 2004
All-time low
1,058 tonnes
in 1750
Years of data
273
1750–2022
Emissions of air pollutants in South Korea, 1750–2022
Source: Hoesly et al. (2024) – Community Emissions Data System (CEDS) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in tonnes.
Analysis
In 2022, emissions of air pollutants in South Korea stood at 1.63 million tonnes.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 0.7% on the previous year and down 7.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, emissions of air pollutants in South Korea peaked at 2.58 million tonnes in 2004 and was at its lowest, 1,058 tonnes, in 1750.
South Korea ranks 14th 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.
Emissions of air pollutants in South Korea, year by year
| Year | tonnes | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1750 | 1,058 tonnes | — |
| 1751 | 1,058 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1752 | 1,059 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1753 | 1,060 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1754 | 1,061 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1755 | 1,061 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1756 | 1,062 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1757 | 1,063 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1758 | 1,064 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1759 | 1,064 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1760 | 1,065 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1761 | 1,066 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1762 | 1,066 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1763 | 1,067 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1764 | 1,068 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1765 | 1,069 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1766 | 1,069 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1767 | 1,070 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1768 | 1,071 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1769 | 1,071 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1770 | 1,072 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1771 | 1,073 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1772 | 1,073 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1773 | 1,074 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1774 | 1,075 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1775 | 1,075 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1776 | 1,076 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1777 | 1,077 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1778 | 1,077 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1779 | 1,078 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1780 | 1,079 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1781 | 1,079 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1782 | 1,080 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1783 | 1,081 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1784 | 1,081 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1785 | 1,082 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1786 | 1,083 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1787 | 1,083 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1788 | 1,084 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1789 | 1,084 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1790 | 1,085 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1791 | 1,086 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1792 | 1,086 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1793 | 1,087 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1794 | 1,087 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1795 | 1,088 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1796 | 1,089 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1797 | 1,089 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1798 | 1,090 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1799 | 1,090 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1800 | 1,091 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1801 | 1,092 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1802 | 1,092 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1803 | 1,093 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1804 | 1,094 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1805 | 1,095 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1806 | 1,096 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1807 | 1,096 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1808 | 1,097 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1809 | 1,098 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1810 | 1,099 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1811 | 1,099 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1812 | 1,100 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1813 | 1,101 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1814 | 1,102 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1815 | 1,102 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1816 | 1,103 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1817 | 1,104 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1818 | 1,105 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1819 | 1,105 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1820 | 1,106 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1821 | 1,102 tonnes | -0.3% |
| 1822 | 1,099 tonnes | -0.3% |
| 1823 | 1,095 tonnes | -0.3% |
| 1824 | 1,091 tonnes | -0.3% |
| 1825 | 1,088 tonnes | -0.3% |
| 1826 | 1,084 tonnes | -0.3% |
| 1827 | 1,080 tonnes | -0.3% |
| 1828 | 1,077 tonnes | -0.3% |
| 1829 | 1,073 tonnes | -0.3% |
| 1830 | 1,069 tonnes | -0.3% |
| 1831 | 1,071 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1832 | 1,072 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1833 | 1,073 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1834 | 1,075 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1835 | 1,076 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1836 | 1,077 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1837 | 1,079 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1838 | 1,080 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1839 | 1,081 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1840 | 1,083 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1841 | 1,084 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1842 | 1,085 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1843 | 1,086 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1844 | 1,088 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1845 | 1,089 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1846 | 1,090 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1847 | 1,092 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1848 | 1,093 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1849 | 1,094 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1850 | 1,095 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1851 | 1,097 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1852 | 1,098 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1853 | 1,100 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1854 | 1,101 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1855 | 1,102 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1856 | 1,104 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1857 | 1,105 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1858 | 1,107 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1859 | 1,108 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1860 | 1,110 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1861 | 1,111 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1862 | 1,113 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1863 | 1,115 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1864 | 1,117 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1865 | 1,119 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1866 | 1,120 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1867 | 1,122 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1868 | 1,124 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1869 | 1,126 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1870 | 1,128 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1871 | 1,129 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1872 | 1,130 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1873 | 1,131 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1874 | 1,132 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1875 | 1,133 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1876 | 1,134 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1877 | 1,135 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1878 | 1,135 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1879 | 1,136 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1880 | 1,137 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1881 | 1,139 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1882 | 1,140 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1883 | 1,142 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1884 | 1,143 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1885 | 1,145 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1886 | 1,146 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1887 | 1,148 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1888 | 1,150 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1889 | 1,153 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1890 | 1,156 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1891 | 1,159 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1892 | 1,162 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1893 | 1,165 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1894 | 1,168 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1895 | 1,170 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1896 | 1,173 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1897 | 1,176 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1898 | 1,179 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1899 | 1,182 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1900 | 1,185 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1901 | 1,246 tonnes | +5.1% |
| 1902 | 1,307 tonnes | +4.9% |
| 1903 | 1,368 tonnes | +4.7% |
| 1904 | 1,430 tonnes | +4.5% |
| 1905 | 1,501 tonnes | +5.0% |
| 1906 | 1,555 tonnes | +3.6% |
| 1907 | 1,619 tonnes | +4.1% |
| 1908 | 1,684 tonnes | +4.0% |
| 1909 | 1,852 tonnes | +10.0% |
| 1910 | 1,944 tonnes | +5.0% |
| 1911 | 2,059 tonnes | +5.9% |
| 1912 | 2,191 tonnes | +6.4% |
| 1913 | 2,320 tonnes | +5.8% |
| 1914 | 2,532 tonnes | +9.2% |
| 1915 | 2,728 tonnes | +7.8% |
| 1916 | 2,770 tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1917 | 2,514 tonnes | -9.2% |
| 1918 | 3,004 tonnes | +19.5% |
| 1919 | 3,198 tonnes | +6.5% |
| 1920 | 3,461 tonnes | +8.2% |
| 1921 | 3,683 tonnes | +6.4% |
| 1922 | 3,883 tonnes | +5.5% |
| 1923 | 4,214 tonnes | +8.5% |
| 1924 | 4,450 tonnes | +5.6% |
| 1925 | 5,163 tonnes | +16.0% |
| 1926 | 5,439 tonnes | +5.3% |
| 1927 | 5,670 tonnes | +4.2% |
| 1928 | 6,081 tonnes | +7.2% |
| 1929 | 6,538 tonnes | +7.5% |
| 1930 | 6,598 tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1931 | 6,912 tonnes | +4.8% |
| 1932 | 7,474 tonnes | +8.1% |
| 1933 | 8,124 tonnes | +8.7% |
| 1934 | 9,232 tonnes | +13.6% |
| 1935 | 10,070 tonnes | +9.1% |
| 1936 | 11,098 tonnes | +10.2% |
| 1937 | 11,717 tonnes | +5.6% |
| 1938 | 14,232 tonnes | +21.5% |
| 1939 | 16,554 tonnes | +16.3% |
| 1940 | 20,319 tonnes | +22.7% |
| 1941 | 23,066 tonnes | +13.5% |
| 1942 | 26,617 tonnes | +15.4% |
| 1943 | 27,620 tonnes | +3.8% |
| 1944 | 30,798 tonnes | +11.5% |
| 1945 | 8,195 tonnes | -73.4% |
| 1946 | 10,165 tonnes | +24.0% |
| 1947 | 11,723 tonnes | +15.3% |
| 1948 | 14,261 tonnes | +21.6% |
| 1949 | 16,059 tonnes | +12.6% |
| 1950 | 15,100 tonnes | -6.0% |
| 1951 | 16,722 tonnes | +10.7% |
| 1952 | 18,628 tonnes | +11.4% |
| 1953 | 23,106 tonnes | +24.0% |
| 1954 | 24,136 tonnes | +4.5% |
| 1955 | 27,699 tonnes | +14.8% |
| 1956 | 31,481 tonnes | +13.7% |
| 1957 | 33,670 tonnes | +7.0% |
| 1958 | 35,719 tonnes | +6.1% |
| 1959 | 42,522 tonnes | +19.0% |
| 1960 | 45,705 tonnes | +7.5% |
| 1961 | 50,957 tonnes | +11.5% |
| 1962 | 57,126 tonnes | +12.1% |
| 1963 | 66,036 tonnes | +15.6% |
| 1964 | 64,116 tonnes | -2.9% |
| 1965 | 71,017 tonnes | +10.8% |
| 1966 | 80,638 tonnes | +13.5% |
| 1967 | 94,178 tonnes | +16.8% |
| 1968 | 106,847 tonnes | +13.5% |
| 1969 | 124,701 tonnes | +16.7% |
| 1970 | 159,299 tonnes | +27.7% |
| 1971 | 223,480 tonnes | +40.3% |
| 1972 | 242,532 tonnes | +8.5% |
| 1973 | 275,878 tonnes | +13.7% |
| 1974 | 259,868 tonnes | -5.8% |
| 1975 | 254,096 tonnes | -2.2% |
| 1976 | 274,097 tonnes | +7.9% |
| 1977 | 338,722 tonnes | +23.6% |
| 1978 | 368,787 tonnes | +8.9% |
| 1979 | 455,861 tonnes | +23.6% |
| 1980 | 444,034 tonnes | -2.6% |
| 1981 | 459,466 tonnes | +3.5% |
| 1982 | 460,544 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1983 | 486,044 tonnes | +5.5% |
| 1984 | 548,033 tonnes | +12.8% |
| 1985 | 584,954 tonnes | +6.7% |
| 1986 | 671,317 tonnes | +14.8% |
| 1987 | 795,343 tonnes | +18.5% |
| 1988 | 912,520 tonnes | +14.7% |
| 1989 | 1.01 million tonnes | +10.9% |
| 1990 | 1.08 million tonnes | +7.0% |
| 1991 | 1.27 million tonnes | +16.9% |
| 1992 | 1.45 million tonnes | +14.4% |
| 1993 | 1.64 million tonnes | +13.2% |
| 1994 | 1.84 million tonnes | +12.3% |
| 1995 | 2.00 million tonnes | +8.8% |
| 1996 | 2.19 million tonnes | +9.1% |
| 1997 | 2.33 million tonnes | +6.8% |
| 1998 | 2.20 million tonnes | -5.7% |
| 1999 | 2.37 million tonnes | +7.6% |
| 2000 | 2.38 million tonnes | +0.5% |
| 2001 | 2.43 million tonnes | +2.3% |
| 2002 | 2.40 million tonnes | -1.3% |
| 2003 | 2.56 million tonnes | +6.6% |
| 2004 | 2.58 million tonnes | +0.8% |
| 2005 | 2.48 million tonnes | -4.1% |
| 2006 | 2.41 million tonnes | -2.6% |
| 2007 | 2.21 million tonnes | -8.6% |
| 2008 | 2.00 million tonnes | -9.4% |
| 2009 | 1.84 million tonnes | -7.9% |
| 2010 | 1.90 million tonnes | +3.1% |
| 2011 | 1.77 million tonnes | -6.8% |
| 2012 | 1.77 million tonnes | -0.3% |
| 2013 | 1.72 million tonnes | -2.3% |
| 2014 | 1.77 million tonnes | +2.5% |
| 2015 | 1.85 million tonnes | +4.7% |
| 2016 | 1.95 million tonnes | +5.5% |
| 2017 | 1.87 million tonnes | -4.3% |
| 2018 | 1.79 million tonnes | -4.5% |
| 2019 | 1.61 million tonnes | -9.7% |
| 2020 | 1.59 million tonnes | -1.5% |
| 2021 | 1.62 million tonnes | +2.1% |
| 2022 | 1.63 million tonnes | +0.7% |
South Korea compared with similar countries
- South Korea's 1.63 million tonnes is above the median for high income countries, which is 90,409 tonnes, 18.1× the median. (78 countries reporting)
- South Korea's 1.63 million tonnes is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 102,909 tonnes, 15.9× the median. (34 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Emissions of air pollutants in South Korea 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1945 | -73.4% | 30,798 tonnes | 8,195 tonnes |
| 1971 | +40.3% | 159,299 tonnes | 223,480 tonnes |
| 1970 | +27.7% | 124,701 tonnes | 159,299 tonnes |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1750s | 1,061 tonnes | 1,058 tonnes | 1,064 tonnes | 10 |
| 1760s | 1,068 tonnes | 1,065 tonnes | 1,071 tonnes | 10 |
| 1770s | 1,075 tonnes | 1,072 tonnes | 1,078 tonnes | 10 |
| 1780s | 1,082 tonnes | 1,079 tonnes | 1,084 tonnes | 10 |
| 1790s | 1,088 tonnes | 1,085 tonnes | 1,090 tonnes | 10 |
| 1800s | 1,094 tonnes | 1,091 tonnes | 1,098 tonnes | 10 |
| 1810s | 1,102 tonnes | 1,099 tonnes | 1,105 tonnes | 10 |
| 1820s | 1,090 tonnes | 1,073 tonnes | 1,106 tonnes | 10 |
| 1830s | 1,075 tonnes | 1,069 tonnes | 1,081 tonnes | 10 |
| 1840s | 1,088 tonnes | 1,083 tonnes | 1,094 tonnes | 10 |
| 1850s | 1,102 tonnes | 1,095 tonnes | 1,108 tonnes | 10 |
| 1860s | 1,118 tonnes | 1,110 tonnes | 1,126 tonnes | 10 |
| 1870s | 1,132 tonnes | 1,128 tonnes | 1,136 tonnes | 10 |
| 1880s | 1,144 tonnes | 1,137 tonnes | 1,153 tonnes | 10 |
| 1890s | 1,169 tonnes | 1,156 tonnes | 1,182 tonnes | 10 |
| 1900s | 1,475 tonnes | 1,185 tonnes | 1,852 tonnes | 10 |
| 1910s | 2,526 tonnes | 1,944 tonnes | 3,198 tonnes | 10 |
| 1920s | 4,858 tonnes | 3,461 tonnes | 6,538 tonnes | 10 |
| 1930s | 10,201 tonnes | 6,598 tonnes | 16,554 tonnes | 10 |
| 1940s | 18,882 tonnes | 8,195 tonnes | 30,798 tonnes | 10 |
| 1950s | 26,878 tonnes | 15,100 tonnes | 42,522 tonnes | 10 |
| 1960s | 76,132 tonnes | 45,705 tonnes | 124,701 tonnes | 10 |
| 1970s | 285,262 tonnes | 159,299 tonnes | 455,861 tonnes | 10 |
| 1980s | 637,448 tonnes | 444,034 tonnes | 1.01 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1990s | 1.84 million tonnes | 1.08 million tonnes | 2.37 million tonnes | 10 |
| 2000s | 2.33 million tonnes | 1.84 million tonnes | 2.58 million tonnes | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.80 million tonnes | 1.61 million tonnes | 1.95 million tonnes | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.61 million tonnes | 1.59 million tonnes | 1.63 million tonnes | 3 |
Countries ranked near South Korea
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 emissions of air pollutants in South Korea?
- Emissions of air pollutants in South Korea was 1.63 million tonnes in 2022, according to Hoesly et al. (2024) – Community Emissions Data System (CEDS) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest emissions of air pollutants recorded in South Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 2.58 million tonnes in 2004.
- What is the lowest emissions of air pollutants recorded in South Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 1,058 tonnes in 1750.
- How does South Korea rank for emissions of air pollutants?
- South Korea ranks 14th out of 220 countries with data for 2022.
- Is emissions of air pollutants rising or falling in South Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is down 7.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South Korea data come from?
- The figures come from Hoesly et al. (2024) – Community Emissions Data System (CEDS) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Emissions of air pollutants. 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).
About this data
Nitrogen oxides (NOₓ) are gases that are mainly formed during the burning of fossil fuels. Exposure to NOₓ gases can have negative impacts on respiratory health. NOₓ gases can also lead to the formation of ozone – another air pollutant.