Long run air pollution in South Korea
South Korea: Long run air pollution was 1.63 million in 2022. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2022)
1.63 million
Change on year
up 0.7%
World rank
14th
of 220 countries
All-time high
2.58 million
in 2004
All-time low
1,058
in 1750
Years of data
273
1750–2022
Long run air pollution in South Korea, 1750–2022
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
In 2022, long run air pollution in South Korea stood at 1.63 million.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 0.7% on the previous year and down 7.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, long run air pollution in South Korea peaked at 2.58 million in 2004 and was at its lowest, 1,058, 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.
Long run air pollution in South Korea, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1750 | 1,058 | — |
| 1751 | 1,058 | +0.1% |
| 1752 | 1,059 | +0.1% |
| 1753 | 1,060 | +0.1% |
| 1754 | 1,061 | +0.1% |
| 1755 | 1,061 | +0.1% |
| 1756 | 1,062 | +0.1% |
| 1757 | 1,063 | +0.1% |
| 1758 | 1,064 | +0.1% |
| 1759 | 1,064 | +0.1% |
| 1760 | 1,065 | +0.1% |
| 1761 | 1,066 | +0.1% |
| 1762 | 1,066 | +0.1% |
| 1763 | 1,067 | +0.1% |
| 1764 | 1,068 | +0.1% |
| 1765 | 1,069 | +0.1% |
| 1766 | 1,069 | +0.1% |
| 1767 | 1,070 | +0.1% |
| 1768 | 1,071 | +0.1% |
| 1769 | 1,071 | +0.1% |
| 1770 | 1,072 | +0.1% |
| 1771 | 1,073 | +0.1% |
| 1772 | 1,073 | +0.1% |
| 1773 | 1,074 | +0.1% |
| 1774 | 1,075 | +0.1% |
| 1775 | 1,075 | +0.1% |
| 1776 | 1,076 | +0.1% |
| 1777 | 1,077 | +0.1% |
| 1778 | 1,077 | +0.1% |
| 1779 | 1,078 | +0.1% |
| 1780 | 1,079 | +0.1% |
| 1781 | 1,079 | +0.1% |
| 1782 | 1,080 | +0.1% |
| 1783 | 1,081 | +0.1% |
| 1784 | 1,081 | +0.1% |
| 1785 | 1,082 | +0.1% |
| 1786 | 1,083 | +0.1% |
| 1787 | 1,083 | +0.1% |
| 1788 | 1,084 | +0.1% |
| 1789 | 1,084 | +0.1% |
| 1790 | 1,085 | +0.1% |
| 1791 | 1,086 | +0.1% |
| 1792 | 1,086 | +0.1% |
| 1793 | 1,087 | +0.1% |
| 1794 | 1,087 | +0.1% |
| 1795 | 1,088 | +0.1% |
| 1796 | 1,089 | +0.1% |
| 1797 | 1,089 | +0.1% |
| 1798 | 1,090 | +0.1% |
| 1799 | 1,090 | +0.1% |
| 1800 | 1,091 | +0.1% |
| 1801 | 1,092 | +0.1% |
| 1802 | 1,092 | +0.1% |
| 1803 | 1,093 | +0.1% |
| 1804 | 1,094 | +0.1% |
| 1805 | 1,095 | +0.1% |
| 1806 | 1,096 | +0.1% |
| 1807 | 1,096 | +0.1% |
| 1808 | 1,097 | +0.1% |
| 1809 | 1,098 | +0.1% |
| 1810 | 1,099 | +0.1% |
| 1811 | 1,099 | +0.1% |
| 1812 | 1,100 | +0.1% |
| 1813 | 1,101 | +0.1% |
| 1814 | 1,102 | +0.1% |
| 1815 | 1,102 | +0.1% |
| 1816 | 1,103 | +0.1% |
| 1817 | 1,104 | +0.1% |
| 1818 | 1,105 | +0.1% |
| 1819 | 1,105 | +0.1% |
| 1820 | 1,106 | +0.1% |
| 1821 | 1,102 | -0.3% |
| 1822 | 1,099 | -0.3% |
| 1823 | 1,095 | -0.3% |
| 1824 | 1,091 | -0.3% |
| 1825 | 1,088 | -0.3% |
| 1826 | 1,084 | -0.3% |
| 1827 | 1,080 | -0.3% |
| 1828 | 1,077 | -0.3% |
| 1829 | 1,073 | -0.3% |
| 1830 | 1,069 | -0.3% |
| 1831 | 1,071 | +0.1% |
| 1832 | 1,072 | +0.1% |
| 1833 | 1,073 | +0.1% |
| 1834 | 1,075 | +0.1% |
| 1835 | 1,076 | +0.1% |
| 1836 | 1,077 | +0.1% |
| 1837 | 1,079 | +0.1% |
| 1838 | 1,080 | +0.1% |
| 1839 | 1,081 | +0.1% |
| 1840 | 1,083 | +0.1% |
| 1841 | 1,084 | +0.1% |
| 1842 | 1,085 | +0.1% |
| 1843 | 1,086 | +0.1% |
| 1844 | 1,088 | +0.1% |
| 1845 | 1,089 | +0.1% |
| 1846 | 1,090 | +0.1% |
| 1847 | 1,092 | +0.1% |
| 1848 | 1,093 | +0.1% |
| 1849 | 1,094 | +0.1% |
| 1850 | 1,095 | +0.1% |
| 1851 | 1,097 | +0.1% |
| 1852 | 1,098 | +0.1% |
| 1853 | 1,100 | +0.1% |
| 1854 | 1,101 | +0.1% |
| 1855 | 1,102 | +0.1% |
| 1856 | 1,104 | +0.1% |
| 1857 | 1,105 | +0.1% |
| 1858 | 1,107 | +0.1% |
| 1859 | 1,108 | +0.1% |
| 1860 | 1,110 | +0.1% |
| 1861 | 1,111 | +0.2% |
| 1862 | 1,113 | +0.2% |
| 1863 | 1,115 | +0.2% |
| 1864 | 1,117 | +0.2% |
| 1865 | 1,119 | +0.2% |
| 1866 | 1,120 | +0.2% |
| 1867 | 1,122 | +0.2% |
| 1868 | 1,124 | +0.2% |
| 1869 | 1,126 | +0.2% |
| 1870 | 1,128 | +0.2% |
| 1871 | 1,129 | +0.1% |
| 1872 | 1,130 | +0.1% |
| 1873 | 1,131 | +0.1% |
| 1874 | 1,132 | +0.1% |
| 1875 | 1,133 | +0.1% |
| 1876 | 1,134 | +0.1% |
| 1877 | 1,135 | +0.1% |
| 1878 | 1,135 | +0.1% |
| 1879 | 1,136 | +0.1% |
| 1880 | 1,137 | +0.1% |
| 1881 | 1,139 | +0.1% |
| 1882 | 1,140 | +0.1% |
| 1883 | 1,142 | +0.1% |
| 1884 | 1,143 | +0.1% |
| 1885 | 1,145 | +0.1% |
| 1886 | 1,146 | +0.1% |
| 1887 | 1,148 | +0.1% |
| 1888 | 1,150 | +0.2% |
| 1889 | 1,153 | +0.2% |
| 1890 | 1,156 | +0.2% |
| 1891 | 1,159 | +0.2% |
| 1892 | 1,162 | +0.2% |
| 1893 | 1,165 | +0.2% |
| 1894 | 1,168 | +0.2% |
| 1895 | 1,170 | +0.2% |
| 1896 | 1,173 | +0.2% |
| 1897 | 1,176 | +0.2% |
| 1898 | 1,179 | +0.2% |
| 1899 | 1,182 | +0.2% |
| 1900 | 1,185 | +0.2% |
| 1901 | 1,246 | +5.1% |
| 1902 | 1,307 | +4.9% |
| 1903 | 1,368 | +4.7% |
| 1904 | 1,430 | +4.5% |
| 1905 | 1,501 | +5.0% |
| 1906 | 1,555 | +3.6% |
| 1907 | 1,619 | +4.1% |
| 1908 | 1,684 | +4.0% |
| 1909 | 1,852 | +10.0% |
| 1910 | 1,944 | +5.0% |
| 1911 | 2,059 | +5.9% |
| 1912 | 2,191 | +6.4% |
| 1913 | 2,320 | +5.8% |
| 1914 | 2,532 | +9.2% |
| 1915 | 2,728 | +7.8% |
| 1916 | 2,770 | +1.5% |
| 1917 | 2,514 | -9.2% |
| 1918 | 3,004 | +19.5% |
| 1919 | 3,198 | +6.5% |
| 1920 | 3,461 | +8.2% |
| 1921 | 3,683 | +6.4% |
| 1922 | 3,883 | +5.5% |
| 1923 | 4,214 | +8.5% |
| 1924 | 4,450 | +5.6% |
| 1925 | 5,163 | +16.0% |
| 1926 | 5,439 | +5.3% |
| 1927 | 5,670 | +4.2% |
| 1928 | 6,081 | +7.2% |
| 1929 | 6,538 | +7.5% |
| 1930 | 6,598 | +0.9% |
| 1931 | 6,912 | +4.8% |
| 1932 | 7,474 | +8.1% |
| 1933 | 8,124 | +8.7% |
| 1934 | 9,232 | +13.6% |
| 1935 | 10,070 | +9.1% |
| 1936 | 11,098 | +10.2% |
| 1937 | 11,717 | +5.6% |
| 1938 | 14,232 | +21.5% |
| 1939 | 16,554 | +16.3% |
| 1940 | 20,319 | +22.7% |
| 1941 | 23,066 | +13.5% |
| 1942 | 26,617 | +15.4% |
| 1943 | 27,620 | +3.8% |
| 1944 | 30,798 | +11.5% |
| 1945 | 8,195 | -73.4% |
| 1946 | 10,165 | +24.0% |
| 1947 | 11,723 | +15.3% |
| 1948 | 14,261 | +21.6% |
| 1949 | 16,059 | +12.6% |
| 1950 | 15,100 | -6.0% |
| 1951 | 16,722 | +10.7% |
| 1952 | 18,628 | +11.4% |
| 1953 | 23,106 | +24.0% |
| 1954 | 24,136 | +4.5% |
| 1955 | 27,699 | +14.8% |
| 1956 | 31,481 | +13.7% |
| 1957 | 33,670 | +7.0% |
| 1958 | 35,719 | +6.1% |
| 1959 | 42,522 | +19.0% |
| 1960 | 45,705 | +7.5% |
| 1961 | 50,957 | +11.5% |
| 1962 | 57,126 | +12.1% |
| 1963 | 66,036 | +15.6% |
| 1964 | 64,116 | -2.9% |
| 1965 | 71,017 | +10.8% |
| 1966 | 80,638 | +13.5% |
| 1967 | 94,178 | +16.8% |
| 1968 | 106,847 | +13.5% |
| 1969 | 124,701 | +16.7% |
| 1970 | 159,299 | +27.7% |
| 1971 | 223,480 | +40.3% |
| 1972 | 242,532 | +8.5% |
| 1973 | 275,878 | +13.7% |
| 1974 | 259,868 | -5.8% |
| 1975 | 254,096 | -2.2% |
| 1976 | 274,097 | +7.9% |
| 1977 | 338,722 | +23.6% |
| 1978 | 368,787 | +8.9% |
| 1979 | 455,861 | +23.6% |
| 1980 | 444,034 | -2.6% |
| 1981 | 459,466 | +3.5% |
| 1982 | 460,544 | +0.2% |
| 1983 | 486,044 | +5.5% |
| 1984 | 548,033 | +12.8% |
| 1985 | 584,954 | +6.7% |
| 1986 | 671,317 | +14.8% |
| 1987 | 795,343 | +18.5% |
| 1988 | 912,520 | +14.7% |
| 1989 | 1.01 million | +10.9% |
| 1990 | 1.08 million | +7.0% |
| 1991 | 1.27 million | +16.9% |
| 1992 | 1.45 million | +14.4% |
| 1993 | 1.64 million | +13.2% |
| 1994 | 1.84 million | +12.3% |
| 1995 | 2.00 million | +8.8% |
| 1996 | 2.19 million | +9.1% |
| 1997 | 2.33 million | +6.8% |
| 1998 | 2.20 million | -5.7% |
| 1999 | 2.37 million | +7.6% |
| 2000 | 2.38 million | +0.5% |
| 2001 | 2.43 million | +2.3% |
| 2002 | 2.40 million | -1.3% |
| 2003 | 2.56 million | +6.6% |
| 2004 | 2.58 million | +0.8% |
| 2005 | 2.48 million | -4.1% |
| 2006 | 2.41 million | -2.6% |
| 2007 | 2.21 million | -8.6% |
| 2008 | 2.00 million | -9.4% |
| 2009 | 1.84 million | -7.9% |
| 2010 | 1.90 million | +3.1% |
| 2011 | 1.77 million | -6.8% |
| 2012 | 1.77 million | -0.3% |
| 2013 | 1.72 million | -2.3% |
| 2014 | 1.77 million | +2.5% |
| 2015 | 1.85 million | +4.7% |
| 2016 | 1.95 million | +5.5% |
| 2017 | 1.87 million | -4.3% |
| 2018 | 1.79 million | -4.5% |
| 2019 | 1.61 million | -9.7% |
| 2020 | 1.59 million | -1.5% |
| 2021 | 1.62 million | +2.1% |
| 2022 | 1.63 million | +0.7% |
South Korea compared with similar countries
- South Korea's 1.63 million is above the median for high income countries, which is 90,409, 18.1× the median. (78 countries reporting)
- South Korea's 1.63 million is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 102,909, 15.9× the median. (34 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Long run air pollution 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 | 8,195 |
| 1971 | +40.3% | 159,299 | 223,480 |
| 1970 | +27.7% | 124,701 | 159,299 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1750s | 1,061 | 1,058 | 1,064 | 10 |
| 1760s | 1,068 | 1,065 | 1,071 | 10 |
| 1770s | 1,075 | 1,072 | 1,078 | 10 |
| 1780s | 1,082 | 1,079 | 1,084 | 10 |
| 1790s | 1,088 | 1,085 | 1,090 | 10 |
| 1800s | 1,094 | 1,091 | 1,098 | 10 |
| 1810s | 1,102 | 1,099 | 1,105 | 10 |
| 1820s | 1,090 | 1,073 | 1,106 | 10 |
| 1830s | 1,075 | 1,069 | 1,081 | 10 |
| 1840s | 1,088 | 1,083 | 1,094 | 10 |
| 1850s | 1,102 | 1,095 | 1,108 | 10 |
| 1860s | 1,118 | 1,110 | 1,126 | 10 |
| 1870s | 1,132 | 1,128 | 1,136 | 10 |
| 1880s | 1,144 | 1,137 | 1,153 | 10 |
| 1890s | 1,169 | 1,156 | 1,182 | 10 |
| 1900s | 1,475 | 1,185 | 1,852 | 10 |
| 1910s | 2,526 | 1,944 | 3,198 | 10 |
| 1920s | 4,858 | 3,461 | 6,538 | 10 |
| 1930s | 10,201 | 6,598 | 16,554 | 10 |
| 1940s | 18,882 | 8,195 | 30,798 | 10 |
| 1950s | 26,878 | 15,100 | 42,522 | 10 |
| 1960s | 76,132 | 45,705 | 124,701 | 10 |
| 1970s | 285,262 | 159,299 | 455,861 | 10 |
| 1980s | 637,448 | 444,034 | 1.01 million | 10 |
| 1990s | 1.84 million | 1.08 million | 2.37 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 2.33 million | 1.84 million | 2.58 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.80 million | 1.61 million | 1.95 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.61 million | 1.59 million | 1.63 million | 3 |
Countries ranked near South Korea
More environment data for South Korea
- 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 0.0011 hectares per person (2025)
- Grazing land use over the long-term, per square kilometre 0.5738 hectares per square kilometre (2024)
- 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)
Frequently asked questions
- What is long run air pollution in South Korea?
- Long run air pollution in South Korea was 1.63 million in 2022, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest long run air pollution recorded in South Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 2.58 million in 2004.
- What is the lowest long run air pollution recorded in South Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 1,058 in 1750.
- How does South Korea rank for long run air pollution?
- South Korea ranks 14th out of 220 countries with data for 2022.
- Is long run air pollution 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 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).