PM2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure in China
China: PM2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure was 31.99 micrograms per cubic meter in 2023. ▼ Falling
PM2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure in China, 1990–2023
Source: Global Burden of Disease Study 2023 (GBD 2023) Air Pollution Exposure Estimates and Risk Curves 1990-2023, GBD Collaborator Network. Measured in micrograms per cubic meter.
Analysis
In 2023, pm2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure in China stood at 31.99 micrograms per cubic meter.
That represents a change of up 0.3% on the previous year and down 38.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, pm2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure in China peaked at 52.73 micrograms per cubic meter in 2011 and was at its lowest, 31.9 micrograms per cubic meter, in 2022.
That places China 43rd out of 200 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 34 years of available data.
PM2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure in China, year by year
| Year | micrograms per cubic meter | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 43.06 micrograms per cubic meter | — |
| 1991 | 42.84 micrograms per cubic meter | -0.5% |
| 1992 | 43.07 micrograms per cubic meter | +0.5% |
| 1993 | 43.29 micrograms per cubic meter | +0.5% |
| 1994 | 43.52 micrograms per cubic meter | +0.5% |
| 1995 | 42.86 micrograms per cubic meter | -1.5% |
| 1996 | 43.97 micrograms per cubic meter | +2.6% |
| 1997 | 44.19 micrograms per cubic meter | +0.5% |
| 1998 | 44.41 micrograms per cubic meter | +0.5% |
| 1999 | 44.64 micrograms per cubic meter | +0.5% |
| 2000 | 45.3 micrograms per cubic meter | +1.5% |
| 2001 | 45.7 micrograms per cubic meter | +0.9% |
| 2002 | 46.13 micrograms per cubic meter | +0.9% |
| 2003 | 45.74 micrograms per cubic meter | -0.8% |
| 2004 | 45.26 micrograms per cubic meter | -1.1% |
| 2005 | 46.13 micrograms per cubic meter | +1.9% |
| 2006 | 49.95 micrograms per cubic meter | +8.3% |
| 2007 | 51.67 micrograms per cubic meter | +3.5% |
| 2008 | 51.09 micrograms per cubic meter | -1.1% |
| 2009 | 49.94 micrograms per cubic meter | -2.2% |
| 2010 | 48.95 micrograms per cubic meter | -2.0% |
| 2011 | 52.73 micrograms per cubic meter | +7.7% |
| 2012 | 48.66 micrograms per cubic meter | -7.7% |
| 2013 | 51.75 micrograms per cubic meter | +6.4% |
| 2014 | 52.51 micrograms per cubic meter | +1.5% |
| 2015 | 49.47 micrograms per cubic meter | -5.8% |
| 2016 | 45.28 micrograms per cubic meter | -8.5% |
| 2017 | 43.09 micrograms per cubic meter | -4.8% |
| 2018 | 38.51 micrograms per cubic meter | -10.6% |
| 2019 | 37.2 micrograms per cubic meter | -3.4% |
| 2020 | 33.69 micrograms per cubic meter | -9.4% |
| 2021 | 31.92 micrograms per cubic meter | -5.3% |
| 2022 | 31.9 micrograms per cubic meter | -0.1% |
| 2023 | 31.99 micrograms per cubic meter | +0.3% |
China compared with similar countries
- China's 31.99 micrograms per cubic meter is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 18.51 micrograms per cubic meter, 1.7× the median. (58 countries reporting)
- China's 31.99 micrograms per cubic meter is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 9.77 micrograms per cubic meter, 3.3× the median. (33 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 43.58 micrograms per cubic meter | 42.84 micrograms per cubic meter | 44.64 micrograms per cubic meter | 10 |
| 2000s | 47.69 micrograms per cubic meter | 45.26 micrograms per cubic meter | 51.67 micrograms per cubic meter | 10 |
| 2010s | 46.81 micrograms per cubic meter | 37.2 micrograms per cubic meter | 52.73 micrograms per cubic meter | 10 |
| 2020s | 32.37 micrograms per cubic meter | 31.9 micrograms per cubic meter | 33.69 micrograms per cubic meter | 4 |
Countries ranked near China
- 40 Jordan 32.63 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 41 Guinea-Bissau 32.29 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 42 Syria 32.06 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 44 Gabon 31.32 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 45 Turkmenistan 31.25 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 46 Uganda 31.21 micrograms per cubic meter compare
More urban development data for China
- Population in the largest city 3.3% (2025)
- Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million, per capita 0.3272 units per person (2025)
- Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million 460.16 million (2025)
- Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million, annual 2.03 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million, per unit 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million, per square 47 units per square kilometre (2023)
- Population in largest city 30.48 million (2025)
- Crude steelmaking capacity 1,136 Tonnes (2025)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 23 - Ecological 11,049 Hectares (2020)
- Population density 150.26 people per sq. km of land area (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is pm2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure in China?
- Pm2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure in China was 31.99 micrograms per cubic meter in 2023, according to Global Burden of Disease Study 2023 (GBD 2023) Air Pollution Exposure Estimates and Risk Curves 1990-2023, GBD Collaborator Network.
- What is the highest pm2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure recorded in China?
- The highest recorded value was 52.73 micrograms per cubic meter in 2011.
- What is the lowest pm2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure recorded in China?
- The lowest recorded value was 31.9 micrograms per cubic meter in 2022.
- How does China rank for pm2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure?
- China ranks 43rd out of 200 countries with data for 2023.
- Is pm2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure rising or falling in China?
- Over the last ten years it is down 38.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this China data come from?
- The figures come from Global Burden of Disease Study 2023 (GBD 2023) Air Pollution Exposure Estimates and Risk Curves 1990-2023, GBD Collaborator Network, published as part of PM2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure (micrograms per cubic meter). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Population-weighted exposure to ambient PM2.5 pollution is defined as the average level of exposure of a nation's population to concentrations of suspended particles measuring less than 2.5 microns in aerodynamic diameter, which are capable of penetrating deep into the respiratory tract and causing severe health damage. Exposure is calculated by weighting mean annual concentrations of PM2.5 by population in both urban and rural areas.