Contact Contacts
PM2.5 air pollution — all countries

PM2.5 air pollution — North Korea

PM2.5 air pollution in North Korea in 2023 — 21.8 µg/m³. Ranked 126 in the world out of 200. Since 1990, the indicator has fallen by 15.5%.

2023 21.8 µg/m³ +4.5% vs 2022
World rank 126of 200
Period maximum 31.4 µg/m³2014
Period minimum 20.8 µg/m³2022

Trend over time

1990–2023 · µg/m³

PM2.5 air pollution — North Korea, 1990–2023202530351990199419982002200620102014201820221990: 25.8 µg/m³1991: 25.4 µg/m³1992: 25.4 µg/m³1993: 25.4 µg/m³1994: 25.4 µg/m³1995: 24.7 µg/m³1996: 25.4 µg/m³1997: 25.4 µg/m³1998: 25.4 µg/m³1999: 25.4 µg/m³2000: 25.8 µg/m³2001: 26.7 µg/m³2002: 25.7 µg/m³2003: 26.3 µg/m³2004: 26 µg/m³2005: 25.6 µg/m³2006: 27.6 µg/m³2007: 28.5 µg/m³2008: 27.7 µg/m³2009: 28.1 µg/m³2010: 22.1 µg/m³2011: 25.4 µg/m³2012: 25.2 µg/m³2013: 24.6 µg/m³2014: 31.4 µg/m³2015: 30.3 µg/m³2016: 26.6 µg/m³2017: 25.1 µg/m³2018: 21.2 µg/m³2019: 21.8 µg/m³2020: 22.4 µg/m³2021: 22.1 µg/m³2022: 20.8 µg/m³2023: 21.8 µg/m³
Change over the period: −4 (−15.51%) Average annual rate: -0.51 %

Comparison, 2023

How the value compares with the world and the groups this territory belongs to: North Korea

North Korea 21.8 µg/m³
World 32.9 µg/m³
East Asia & Pacific 27.3 µg/m³
Eastern Asia computed 29.9 µg/m³
Low-income countries computed 31.1 µg/m³
PM2.5 air pollution — North Korea, by year North Korea All countries CSV XLSX
Year µg/m³ Change Change, %
2023 21.8 +0.9 +4.5%
2022 20.8 −1.2 −5.54%
2021 22.1 −0.4 −1.62%
2020 22.4 +0.6 +2.67%
2019 21.8 +0.6 +2.89%
2018 21.2 −3.8 −15.35%
2017 25.1 −1.6 −5.83%
2016 26.6 −3.7 −12.1%
2015 30.3 −1.1 −3.61%
2014 31.4 +6.9 +27.92%
2013 24.6 −0.6 −2.36%
2012 25.2 −0.2 −0.83%
2011 25.4 +3.3 +14.93%
2010 22.1 −6 −21.49%
2009 28.1 +0.4 +1.53%
2008 27.7 −0.8 −2.8%
2007 28.5 +0.8 +3.07%
2006 27.6 +2 +7.99%
2005 25.6 −0.4 −1.43%
2004 26 −0.3 −1.3%
2003 26.3 +0.6 +2.33%
2002 25.7 −1 −3.63%
2001 26.7 +0.9 +3.49%
2000 25.8 +0.4 +1.48%
1999 25.4 +0 +0%
1998 25.4 +0 +0%
1997 25.4 +0 +0%
1996 25.4 +0.8 +3.05%
1995 24.7 −0.8 −2.95%
1994 25.4 +0 +0%
1993 25.4 +0 +0%
1992 25.4 +0 +0%
1991 25.4 −0.4 −1.45%
1990 25.8 — —

Eastern Asia, 2023

The same indicator for neighboring countries — with links to their pages

JP Japan 11.5 KP North Korea 21.8 KR South Korea 21.9 CN China 32 MN Mongolia 42.7
Full table for all countries

About the indicator

The mean annual concentration of suspended particles smaller than 2.5 micrometers, weighted by population — that is, the concentration residents are actually exposed to rather than the average across the territory. The WHO guideline of 2021 is no more than 5 µg/m³; in the most polluted countries values exceed it more than tenfold.

Source: Global Health Observatory (WHO), license CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 IGO.

Other indicators for North Korea

Mortality Air pollution death rate

How many deaths per 100,000 people are attributed to dirty air — outdoors and in the home.

North Korea by year Emissions CO2 emissions

Annual carbon dioxide emissions from burning fuel and producing cement.

North Korea by year Demography Urban population share

What part of a country's residents lives in cities — the level of urbanization.

North Korea by year Environment Forest cover

What share of a country's territory is covered by forest.

North Korea by year Environment Forest area

The absolute area of forest in square kilometers.

North Korea by year Environment Protected areas

The share of land and sea under protection — nature reserves, national parks, sanctuaries.

North Korea by year
All indicators for North Korea