Exposure to PM2.5 air pollution vs. GDP per capita in South Korea
South Korea: Exposure to PM2.5 air pollution vs. GDP per capita was 21.89 micrograms per cubic meter in 2023. ▲ Rising
Latest (2023)
21.89 micrograms per cubic meter
Change on year
down 6.6%
World rank
73rd
of 200 countries
All-time high
26.22 micrograms per cubic meter
in 2014
All-time low
20.11 micrograms per cubic meter
in 2004
Years of data
34
1990–2023
Exposure to PM2.5 air pollution vs. GDP per capita in South Korea, 1990–2023
Source: Global Burden of Disease Study 2023, Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME), via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in micrograms per cubic meter.
Analysis
The most recent figure for exposure to pm2.5 air pollution vs. gdp per capita in South Korea is 21.89 micrograms per cubic meter, measured in 2023.
The figure is down 6.6% on the previous year and down 12.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, exposure to pm2.5 air pollution vs. gdp per capita 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.
South Korea ranks 73rd of 200 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 34 years of available data.
Exposure to PM2.5 air pollution vs. GDP per capita 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 economy & growth data for South Korea
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), gaps 41.23 billion BoP, current US$ (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0.022 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 797.74 BoP, current US$ per person (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), gaps filled 15.80 billion BoP, current US$ (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), annual 22.87 % change on previous year (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0.0084 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 305.78 BoP, current US$ per person (2025)
- Total reserves (includes gold, current US$), annual growth rate 4.39 % change on previous year (2025)
- Total reserves (includes gold, current US$), per unit of GDP 0.2332 includes gold, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Total reserves (includes gold, current US$), per capita 8,447 includes gold, current US$ per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is exposure to pm2.5 air pollution vs. gdp per capita in South Korea?
- Exposure to pm2.5 air pollution vs. gdp per capita in South Korea was 21.89 micrograms per cubic meter in 2023, according to Global Burden of Disease Study 2023, Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME), via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest exposure to pm2.5 air pollution vs. gdp per capita recorded in South Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 26.22 micrograms per cubic meter in 2014.
- What is the lowest exposure to pm2.5 air pollution vs. gdp per capita recorded in South Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 20.11 micrograms per cubic meter in 2004.
- How does South Korea rank for exposure to pm2.5 air pollution vs. gdp per capita?
- South Korea ranks 73rd out of 200 countries with data for 2023.
- Is exposure to pm2.5 air pollution vs. gdp per capita 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, Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME), via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Exposure to PM2.5 air pollution vs. GDP per capita. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
GDP per capita is adjusted for inflation and differences in living costs between countries.