PM2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure in Japan
Japan: PM2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure was 11.45 micrograms per cubic meter in 2023. ▬ Flat
PM2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure in Japan, 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 Japan stood at 11.45 micrograms per cubic meter.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 7.9% on the previous year and down 11.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, pm2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure in Japan peaked at 14.9 micrograms per cubic meter in 2007 and was at its lowest, 11.24 micrograms per cubic meter, in 2020.
That places Japan 144th out of 200 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the middle of the range.
PM2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure in Japan, year by year
| Year | micrograms per cubic meter | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 12.59 micrograms per cubic meter | — |
| 1991 | 12.57 micrograms per cubic meter | -0.1% |
| 1992 | 12.58 micrograms per cubic meter | +0.1% |
| 1993 | 12.59 micrograms per cubic meter | +0.1% |
| 1994 | 12.6 micrograms per cubic meter | +0.1% |
| 1995 | 12.56 micrograms per cubic meter | -0.3% |
| 1996 | 12.61 micrograms per cubic meter | +0.4% |
| 1997 | 12.62 micrograms per cubic meter | +0.1% |
| 1998 | 12.63 micrograms per cubic meter | +0.1% |
| 1999 | 12.63 micrograms per cubic meter | +0.1% |
| 2000 | 12.66 micrograms per cubic meter | +0.2% |
| 2001 | 12.39 micrograms per cubic meter | -2.1% |
| 2002 | 12.13 micrograms per cubic meter | -2.1% |
| 2003 | 11.81 micrograms per cubic meter | -2.6% |
| 2004 | 11.63 micrograms per cubic meter | -1.5% |
| 2005 | 11.93 micrograms per cubic meter | +2.6% |
| 2006 | 13.78 micrograms per cubic meter | +15.5% |
| 2007 | 14.9 micrograms per cubic meter | +8.1% |
| 2008 | 14.54 micrograms per cubic meter | -2.4% |
| 2009 | 14.05 micrograms per cubic meter | -3.4% |
| 2010 | 12.78 micrograms per cubic meter | -9.1% |
| 2011 | 12.9 micrograms per cubic meter | +1.0% |
| 2012 | 13.38 micrograms per cubic meter | +3.7% |
| 2013 | 12.97 micrograms per cubic meter | -3.1% |
| 2014 | 13.71 micrograms per cubic meter | +5.7% |
| 2015 | 13.46 micrograms per cubic meter | -1.8% |
| 2016 | 12.31 micrograms per cubic meter | -8.5% |
| 2017 | 12.19 micrograms per cubic meter | -1.0% |
| 2018 | 12.41 micrograms per cubic meter | +1.7% |
| 2019 | 12 micrograms per cubic meter | -3.3% |
| 2020 | 11.24 micrograms per cubic meter | -6.3% |
| 2021 | 11.54 micrograms per cubic meter | +2.7% |
| 2022 | 12.44 micrograms per cubic meter | +7.8% |
| 2023 | 11.45 micrograms per cubic meter | -7.9% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 12.6 micrograms per cubic meter | 12.56 micrograms per cubic meter | 12.63 micrograms per cubic meter | 10 |
| 2000s | 12.98 micrograms per cubic meter | 11.63 micrograms per cubic meter | 14.9 micrograms per cubic meter | 10 |
| 2010s | 12.81 micrograms per cubic meter | 12 micrograms per cubic meter | 13.71 micrograms per cubic meter | 10 |
| 2020s | 11.67 micrograms per cubic meter | 11.24 micrograms per cubic meter | 12.44 micrograms per cubic meter | 4 |
Countries ranked near Japan
- 141 Belarus 11.98 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 142 Russian Federation 11.57 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 143 Dominica 11.52 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 145 Monaco 11.38 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 146 Maldives 11.16 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 147 Grenada 11.03 micrograms per cubic meter compare
More urban development data for Japan
- Population in the largest city 32.5% (2025)
- Population density 341.55 people per sq. km of land area (2023)
- Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million, per capita 0.6561 units per person (2025)
- Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million 80.94 million (2025)
- Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million, annual -0.222 % 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 222.95 units per square kilometre (2023)
- Population in largest city 37.04 million (2025)
- Crude steelmaking capacity 113.6 Tonnes (2025)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 23 - Ecological 1,808 Hectares (2020)
Frequently asked questions
- What is pm2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure in Japan?
- Pm2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure in Japan was 11.45 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 Japan?
- The highest recorded value was 14.9 micrograms per cubic meter in 2007.
- What is the lowest pm2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure recorded in Japan?
- The lowest recorded value was 11.24 micrograms per cubic meter in 2020.
- How does Japan rank for pm2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure?
- Japan ranks 144th out of 200 countries with data for 2023.
- Is pm2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure rising or falling in Japan?
- Over the last ten years it is down 11.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this Japan 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.