Annual mean levels of fine particulate matter (population-weighted) in South Korea
South Korea: Annual mean levels of fine particulate matter (population-weighted) was 19.18 µg/m³ in 2023. ▼ Falling
Annual mean levels of fine particulate matter (population-weighted) in South Korea, 2010–2023
Source: United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database. Measured in µg/m³.
Analysis
South Korea recorded 19.18 µg/m³ for annual mean levels of fine particulate matter (population-weighted) in 2023.
The figure is up 4.7% on the previous year and down 31.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, annual mean levels of fine particulate matter (population-weighted) in South Korea peaked at 29.26 µg/m³ in 2010 and was at its lowest, 18.32 µg/m³, in 2022.
South Korea ranks 86th of 256 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 14 years of available data.
Annual mean levels of fine particulate matter (population-weighted) in South Korea, year by year
| Year | µg/m³ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 29.26 µg/m³ | — |
| 2011 | 28.92 µg/m³ | -1.2% |
| 2012 | 26.15 µg/m³ | -9.6% |
| 2013 | 28.11 µg/m³ | +7.5% |
| 2014 | 28.82 µg/m³ | +2.5% |
| 2015 | 27.58 µg/m³ | -4.3% |
| 2016 | 26.92 µg/m³ | -2.4% |
| 2017 | 25.55 µg/m³ | -5.1% |
| 2018 | 23.47 µg/m³ | -8.1% |
| 2019 | 23.63 µg/m³ | +0.7% |
| 2020 | 19.51 µg/m³ | -17.5% |
| 2021 | 18.92 µg/m³ | -3.0% |
| 2022 | 18.32 µg/m³ | -3.2% |
| 2023 | 19.18 µg/m³ | +4.7% |
South Korea compared with similar countries
- South Korea's 19.18 µg/m³ is above the median for high income countries, which is 8.71 µg/m³, 2.2× the median. (82 countries reporting)
- South Korea's 19.18 µg/m³ is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 6.37 µg/m³, 3.0× the median. (33 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 26.84 µg/m³ | 23.47 µg/m³ | 29.26 µg/m³ | 10 |
| 2020s | 18.98 µg/m³ | 18.32 µg/m³ | 19.51 µg/m³ | 4 |
Countries ranked near South Korea
- 83 Kyrgyzstan 20.56 µg/m³ compare
- 84 Brazil 20.44 µg/m³ compare
- 85 State of Palestine 20.39 µg/m³ compare
- 86 Republic of Korea 19.18 µg/m³ compare
- 88 Algeria 18.58 µg/m³ compare
- 89 South Africa 18.25 µg/m³ compare
More development goals data for South Korea
- Red List Index 0.7105 index (2025)
- Number of refugees per 100,000 population, by country of origin 0.2284 per 100,000 people (2025)
- Manufacturing value added per capita 10,025 constant US$ (2025)
- Number of transboundary breeds 49 (2025)
- Number of transboundary breeds (not extinct) 49 (2025)
- Number of transboundary breeds with unknown risk status 15 (2025)
- Number of local breeds with unknown risk status 18 (2025)
- Number of local breeds (not extinct) 86 (2025)
- Number of local breeds kept in the country 86 (2025)
- Infant deaths 556 (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is annual mean levels of fine particulate matter (population-weighted) in South Korea?
- Annual mean levels of fine particulate matter (population-weighted) in South Korea was 19.18 µg/m³ in 2023, according to United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
- What is the highest annual mean levels of fine particulate matter (population-weighted) recorded in South Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 29.26 µg/m³ in 2010.
- What is the lowest annual mean levels of fine particulate matter (population-weighted) recorded in South Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 18.32 µg/m³ in 2022.
- How does South Korea rank for annual mean levels of fine particulate matter (population-weighted)?
- South Korea ranks 86th out of 256 countries with data for 2023.
- Is annual mean levels of fine particulate matter (population-weighted) rising or falling in South Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is down 31.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this South Korea data come from?
- The figures come from United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database, published as part of Annual mean levels of fine particulate matter (population-weighted), by location (micrograms per cubic meter). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 14 observations, free to reuse under UN SDG Global Database (open, attribution requested).