Exposure to outdoor air pollution in China
China: Exposure to outdoor air pollution was 31.3 µg/m³ in 2024. ▬ Flat
Exposure to outdoor air pollution in China, 1998–2024
Source: SatPM, Atmospheric Composition Analysis Group, Washington University in St. Louis (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in µg/m³.
Analysis
In 2024, exposure to outdoor air pollution in China stood at 31.3 µg/m³.
That represents a change of down 2.8% on the previous year and down 40.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, exposure to outdoor air pollution in China peaked at 52.2 µg/m³ in 2014 and was at its lowest, 28.1 µg/m³, in 1999.
China ranks 39th of 241 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 28.75 µg/m³ | 28.1 µg/m³ | 29.4 µg/m³ | 2 |
| 2000s | 41.75 µg/m³ | 33.4 µg/m³ | 47.7 µg/m³ | 10 |
| 2010s | 45.25 µg/m³ | 37 µg/m³ | 52.2 µg/m³ | 10 |
| 2020s | 31.76 µg/m³ | 31 µg/m³ | 33.2 µg/m³ | 5 |
Countries ranked near China
More environment data for China
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF 15,536 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF per capita 11.03 t CO2e/capita (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Agriculture 498.98 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Building (Energy) 32.75 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Fugitive Emissions (Energy) 736.76 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Industrial Combustion (Energy) 3.9 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions (total) excluding LULUCF 1,485 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Power Industry (Energy) 4.13 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Transport (Energy) 5.54 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Waste 195.67 Mt CO2e (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is exposure to outdoor air pollution in China?
- Exposure to outdoor air pollution in China was 31.3 µg/m³ in 2024, according to SatPM, Atmospheric Composition Analysis Group, Washington University in St. Louis (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest exposure to outdoor air pollution recorded in China?
- The highest recorded value was 52.2 µg/m³ in 2014.
- What is the lowest exposure to outdoor air pollution recorded in China?
- The lowest recorded value was 28.1 µg/m³ in 1999.
- How does China rank for exposure to outdoor air pollution?
- China ranks 39th out of 241 countries with data for 2024.
- Is exposure to outdoor air pollution rising or falling in China?
- Over the last ten years it is down 40.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this China data come from?
- The figures come from SatPM, Atmospheric Composition Analysis Group, Washington University in St. Louis (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Exposure to outdoor air pollution. 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.