Outdoor air pollution exposure in South Korea
South Korea: Outdoor air pollution exposure was 21 in 2024. ▬ Flat
Latest (2024)
21
Change on year
up 13.5%
World rank
77th
of 241 countries
All-time high
25.5
in 2016
All-time low
17.1
in 1999
Years of data
27
1998–2024
Outdoor air pollution exposure in South Korea, 1998–2024
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
In 2024, outdoor air pollution exposure in South Korea stood at 21.
The figure is up 13.5% on the previous year and down 13.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, outdoor air pollution exposure in South Korea peaked at 25.5 in 2016 and was at its lowest, 17.1, in 1999.
South Korea ranks 77th of 241 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
Outdoor air pollution exposure in South Korea, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1998 | 17.6 | — |
| 1999 | 17.1 | -2.8% |
| 2000 | 21.1 | +23.4% |
| 2001 | 20.7 | -1.9% |
| 2002 | 18.9 | -8.7% |
| 2003 | 24.9 | +31.7% |
| 2004 | 20.7 | -16.9% |
| 2005 | 21.3 | +2.9% |
| 2006 | 23.5 | +10.3% |
| 2007 | 22.8 | -3.0% |
| 2008 | 22.9 | +0.4% |
| 2009 | 21.8 | -4.8% |
| 2010 | 19.9 | -8.7% |
| 2011 | 20.3 | +2.0% |
| 2012 | 20.8 | +2.5% |
| 2013 | 22.9 | +10.1% |
| 2014 | 24.2 | +5.7% |
| 2015 | 24.6 | +1.7% |
| 2016 | 25.5 | +3.7% |
| 2017 | 23.7 | -7.1% |
| 2018 | 21.9 | -7.6% |
| 2019 | 22.2 | +1.4% |
| 2020 | 18.8 | -15.3% |
| 2021 | 17.7 | -5.9% |
| 2022 | 17.5 | -1.1% |
| 2023 | 18.5 | +5.7% |
| 2024 | 21 | +13.5% |
South Korea compared with similar countries
- South Korea's 21 is above the median for high income countries, which is 10.3, 2.0× the median. (85 countries reporting)
- South Korea's 21 is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 8.9, 2.4× the median. (37 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 17.35 | 17.1 | 17.6 | 2 |
| 2000s | 21.86 | 18.9 | 24.9 | 10 |
| 2010s | 22.6 | 19.9 | 25.5 | 10 |
| 2020s | 18.7 | 17.5 | 21 | 5 |
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 outdoor air pollution exposure in South Korea?
- Outdoor air pollution exposure in South Korea was 21 in 2024, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest outdoor air pollution exposure recorded in South Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 25.5 in 2016.
- What is the lowest outdoor air pollution exposure recorded in South Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 17.1 in 1999.
- How does South Korea rank for outdoor air pollution exposure?
- South Korea ranks 77th out of 241 countries with data for 2024.
- Is outdoor air pollution exposure rising or falling in South Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is down 13.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this South Korea data come from?
- The figures come from Our World in Data, published as part of Outdoor air pollution exposure. 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).