PM2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure (micrograms per cubic meter) in South Korea
South Korea: PM2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure was 21.89 micrograms per cubic meter in 2023. ▲ Rising
PM2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure in South 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
South Korea recorded 21.89 micrograms per cubic meter for pm2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure in 2023.
That represents a change of down 6.6% on the previous year and down 12.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, pm2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure in South Korea peaked at 26.22 micrograms per cubic meter in 2014 and was at its lowest, 20.11 micrograms per cubic meter, in 2004.
That places South Korea 73rd out of 200 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 34 years of available data.
PM2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure in South Korea, year by year
| Year | micrograms per cubic meter | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 21.36 micrograms per cubic meter | — |
| 1991 | 21.32 micrograms per cubic meter | -0.2% |
| 1992 | 21.32 micrograms per cubic meter | +0.0% |
| 1993 | 21.32 micrograms per cubic meter | +0.0% |
| 1994 | 21.32 micrograms per cubic meter | +0.0% |
| 1995 | 21.26 micrograms per cubic meter | -0.3% |
| 1996 | 21.32 micrograms per cubic meter | +0.3% |
| 1997 | 21.33 micrograms per cubic meter | +0.0% |
| 1998 | 21.33 micrograms per cubic meter | +0.0% |
| 1999 | 21.33 micrograms per cubic meter | +0.0% |
| 2000 | 21.36 micrograms per cubic meter | +0.2% |
| 2001 | 21.23 micrograms per cubic meter | -0.6% |
| 2002 | 20.97 micrograms per cubic meter | -1.2% |
| 2003 | 20.75 micrograms per cubic meter | -1.1% |
| 2004 | 20.11 micrograms per cubic meter | -3.1% |
| 2005 | 20.72 micrograms per cubic meter | +3.0% |
| 2006 | 23.55 micrograms per cubic meter | +13.7% |
| 2007 | 24.76 micrograms per cubic meter | +5.2% |
| 2008 | 24.56 micrograms per cubic meter | -0.8% |
| 2009 | 24.49 micrograms per cubic meter | -0.3% |
| 2010 | 22.74 micrograms per cubic meter | -7.2% |
| 2011 | 21.82 micrograms per cubic meter | -4.0% |
| 2012 | 22.6 micrograms per cubic meter | +3.6% |
| 2013 | 25.06 micrograms per cubic meter | +10.9% |
| 2014 | 26.22 micrograms per cubic meter | +4.6% |
| 2015 | 24.5 micrograms per cubic meter | -6.6% |
| 2016 | 24.15 micrograms per cubic meter | -1.4% |
| 2017 | 22.09 micrograms per cubic meter | -8.5% |
| 2018 | 21.49 micrograms per cubic meter | -2.7% |
| 2019 | 21.98 micrograms per cubic meter | +2.3% |
| 2020 | 21 micrograms per cubic meter | -4.5% |
| 2021 | 21.55 micrograms per cubic meter | +2.6% |
| 2022 | 23.44 micrograms per cubic meter | +8.8% |
| 2023 | 21.89 micrograms per cubic meter | -6.6% |
South Korea compared with similar countries
- South Korea's 21.89 micrograms per cubic meter is above the median for high income countries, which is 10.06 micrograms per cubic meter, 2.2× the median. (70 countries reporting)
- South Korea's 21.89 micrograms per cubic meter is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 9.77 micrograms per cubic meter, 2.2× the median. (33 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 21.32 micrograms per cubic meter | 21.26 micrograms per cubic meter | 21.36 micrograms per cubic meter | 10 |
| 2000s | 22.25 micrograms per cubic meter | 20.11 micrograms per cubic meter | 24.76 micrograms per cubic meter | 10 |
| 2010s | 23.26 micrograms per cubic meter | 21.49 micrograms per cubic meter | 26.22 micrograms per cubic meter | 10 |
| 2020s | 21.97 micrograms per cubic meter | 21 micrograms per cubic meter | 23.44 micrograms per cubic meter | 4 |
Countries ranked near South Korea
- 70 Palestine 22.39 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 71 Philippines 22.21 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 72 Israel 21.9 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 74 North Macedonia 21.81 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 75 North Korea 21.78 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 76 Jamaica 21.65 micrograms per cubic meter compare
More urban development data for South Korea
- Population in the largest city 23.9% (2025)
- Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million, per capita 0.511 units per person (2025)
- Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million 26.41 million (2025)
- Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million, annual 0.2996 % 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 269.03 units per square kilometre (2023)
- Population in largest city 10.03 million (2025)
- Population density 529.84 people per sq. km of land area (2023)
- PM2.5 air pollution, population exposed to levels exceeding WHO 100.0% (2017)
- Adjusted rural to urban parity index for achieving a minimum 0.9113 (2012)
Frequently asked questions
- What is pm2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure in South Korea?
- Pm2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure in South Korea was 21.89 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 South Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 26.22 micrograms per cubic meter in 2014.
- What is the lowest pm2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure recorded in South Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 20.11 micrograms per cubic meter in 2004.
- How does South Korea rank for pm2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure?
- South Korea ranks 73rd out of 200 countries with data for 2023.
- Is pm2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure rising or falling in South Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is down 12.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this South 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.