PM2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure in North Korea
North Korea: PM2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure was 21.78 micrograms per cubic meter in 2023. ▼ Falling
PM2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure in North Korea, 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 North Korea stood at 21.78 micrograms per cubic meter.
That represents a change of up 4.5% on the previous year and down 11.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, pm2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure in North Korea peaked at 31.42 micrograms per cubic meter in 2014 and was at its lowest, 20.84 micrograms per cubic meter, in 2022.
That places North Korea 75th out of 200 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 34 years of available data.
PM2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure in North Korea, year by year
| Year | micrograms per cubic meter | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 25.77 micrograms per cubic meter | — |
| 1991 | 25.4 micrograms per cubic meter | -1.5% |
| 1992 | 25.4 micrograms per cubic meter | +0.0% |
| 1993 | 25.4 micrograms per cubic meter | +0.0% |
| 1994 | 25.4 micrograms per cubic meter | +0.0% |
| 1995 | 24.65 micrograms per cubic meter | -3.0% |
| 1996 | 25.4 micrograms per cubic meter | +3.1% |
| 1997 | 25.4 micrograms per cubic meter | +0.0% |
| 1998 | 25.41 micrograms per cubic meter | +0.0% |
| 1999 | 25.41 micrograms per cubic meter | +0.0% |
| 2000 | 25.78 micrograms per cubic meter | +1.5% |
| 2001 | 26.68 micrograms per cubic meter | +3.5% |
| 2002 | 25.72 micrograms per cubic meter | -3.6% |
| 2003 | 26.32 micrograms per cubic meter | +2.3% |
| 2004 | 25.97 micrograms per cubic meter | -1.3% |
| 2005 | 25.6 micrograms per cubic meter | -1.4% |
| 2006 | 27.65 micrograms per cubic meter | +8.0% |
| 2007 | 28.49 micrograms per cubic meter | +3.1% |
| 2008 | 27.7 micrograms per cubic meter | -2.8% |
| 2009 | 28.12 micrograms per cubic meter | +1.5% |
| 2010 | 22.08 micrograms per cubic meter | -21.5% |
| 2011 | 25.37 micrograms per cubic meter | +14.9% |
| 2012 | 25.16 micrograms per cubic meter | -0.8% |
| 2013 | 24.57 micrograms per cubic meter | -2.4% |
| 2014 | 31.42 micrograms per cubic meter | +27.9% |
| 2015 | 30.29 micrograms per cubic meter | -3.6% |
| 2016 | 26.63 micrograms per cubic meter | -12.1% |
| 2017 | 25.07 micrograms per cubic meter | -5.8% |
| 2018 | 21.23 micrograms per cubic meter | -15.3% |
| 2019 | 21.84 micrograms per cubic meter | +2.9% |
| 2020 | 22.42 micrograms per cubic meter | +2.7% |
| 2021 | 22.06 micrograms per cubic meter | -1.6% |
| 2022 | 20.84 micrograms per cubic meter | -5.5% |
| 2023 | 21.78 micrograms per cubic meter | +4.5% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 25.36 micrograms per cubic meter | 24.65 micrograms per cubic meter | 25.77 micrograms per cubic meter | 10 |
| 2000s | 26.8 micrograms per cubic meter | 25.6 micrograms per cubic meter | 28.49 micrograms per cubic meter | 10 |
| 2010s | 25.37 micrograms per cubic meter | 21.23 micrograms per cubic meter | 31.42 micrograms per cubic meter | 10 |
| 2020s | 21.77 micrograms per cubic meter | 20.84 micrograms per cubic meter | 22.42 micrograms per cubic meter | 4 |
Countries ranked near North Korea
- 72 Israel 21.9 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 73 South Korea 21.89 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 74 North Macedonia 21.81 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 76 Jamaica 21.65 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 77 Indonesia 20.84 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 78 Nicaragua 20.42 micrograms per cubic meter compare
More urban development data for North Korea
- Population in the largest city 18.8% (2025)
- Population density 219.4 people per sq. km of land area (2023)
- Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million, per capita 0.1208 units per person (2025)
- Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million 3.21 million (2025)
- Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million, annual 0.8218 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million, per square 26.22 units per square kilometre (2023)
- Population in largest city 3.21 million (2025)
- Crude steelmaking capacity 11.15 Tonnes (2025)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 23 - Ecological 88.45 Hectares (2020)
- PM2.5 air pollution, population exposed to levels exceeding WHO 100.0% (2017)
Frequently asked questions
- What is pm2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure in North Korea?
- Pm2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure in North Korea was 21.78 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 North Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 31.42 micrograms per cubic meter in 2014.
- What is the lowest pm2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure recorded in North Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 20.84 micrograms per cubic meter in 2022.
- How does North Korea rank for pm2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure?
- North Korea ranks 75th out of 200 countries with data for 2023.
- Is pm2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure rising or falling in North Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is down 11.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this North Korea 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.