Particulate matter exposure in 1990 vs. 2017 in China
China: Particulate matter exposure in 1990 vs. 2017 was 31.99 micrograms per cubic meter in 2023. ▼ Falling
Latest (2023)
31.99 micrograms per cubic meter
Change on year
up 0.3%
World rank
43rd
of 200 countries
All-time high
52.73 micrograms per cubic meter
in 2011
All-time low
31.9 micrograms per cubic meter
in 2022
Years of data
34
1990–2023
Particulate matter exposure in 1990 vs. 2017 in China, 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 particulate matter exposure in 1990 vs. 2017 in China is 31.99 micrograms per cubic meter, measured in 2023.
That represents a change of up 0.3% on the previous year and down 38.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, particulate matter exposure in 1990 vs. 2017 in China peaked at 52.73 micrograms per cubic meter in 2011 and was at its lowest, 31.9 micrograms per cubic meter, in 2022.
China ranks 43rd of 200 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 34 years of available data.
Particulate matter exposure in 1990 vs. 2017 in China, year by year
| Year | micrograms per cubic meter | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 43.06 micrograms per cubic meter | — |
| 1991 | 42.84 micrograms per cubic meter | -0.5% |
| 1992 | 43.07 micrograms per cubic meter | +0.5% |
| 1993 | 43.29 micrograms per cubic meter | +0.5% |
| 1994 | 43.52 micrograms per cubic meter | +0.5% |
| 1995 | 42.86 micrograms per cubic meter | -1.5% |
| 1996 | 43.97 micrograms per cubic meter | +2.6% |
| 1997 | 44.19 micrograms per cubic meter | +0.5% |
| 1998 | 44.41 micrograms per cubic meter | +0.5% |
| 1999 | 44.64 micrograms per cubic meter | +0.5% |
| 2000 | 45.3 micrograms per cubic meter | +1.5% |
| 2001 | 45.7 micrograms per cubic meter | +0.9% |
| 2002 | 46.13 micrograms per cubic meter | +0.9% |
| 2003 | 45.74 micrograms per cubic meter | -0.8% |
| 2004 | 45.26 micrograms per cubic meter | -1.1% |
| 2005 | 46.13 micrograms per cubic meter | +1.9% |
| 2006 | 49.95 micrograms per cubic meter | +8.3% |
| 2007 | 51.67 micrograms per cubic meter | +3.5% |
| 2008 | 51.09 micrograms per cubic meter | -1.1% |
| 2009 | 49.94 micrograms per cubic meter | -2.2% |
| 2010 | 48.95 micrograms per cubic meter | -2.0% |
| 2011 | 52.73 micrograms per cubic meter | +7.7% |
| 2012 | 48.66 micrograms per cubic meter | -7.7% |
| 2013 | 51.75 micrograms per cubic meter | +6.4% |
| 2014 | 52.51 micrograms per cubic meter | +1.5% |
| 2015 | 49.47 micrograms per cubic meter | -5.8% |
| 2016 | 45.28 micrograms per cubic meter | -8.5% |
| 2017 | 43.09 micrograms per cubic meter | -4.8% |
| 2018 | 38.51 micrograms per cubic meter | -10.6% |
| 2019 | 37.2 micrograms per cubic meter | -3.4% |
| 2020 | 33.69 micrograms per cubic meter | -9.4% |
| 2021 | 31.92 micrograms per cubic meter | -5.3% |
| 2022 | 31.9 micrograms per cubic meter | -0.1% |
| 2023 | 31.99 micrograms per cubic meter | +0.3% |
China compared with similar countries
- China's 31.99 micrograms per cubic meter is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 18.51 micrograms per cubic meter, 1.7× the median. (58 countries reporting)
- China's 31.99 micrograms per cubic meter is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 9.77 micrograms per cubic meter, 3.3× the median. (33 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 43.58 micrograms per cubic meter | 42.84 micrograms per cubic meter | 44.64 micrograms per cubic meter | 10 |
| 2000s | 47.69 micrograms per cubic meter | 45.26 micrograms per cubic meter | 51.67 micrograms per cubic meter | 10 |
| 2010s | 46.81 micrograms per cubic meter | 37.2 micrograms per cubic meter | 52.73 micrograms per cubic meter | 10 |
| 2020s | 32.37 micrograms per cubic meter | 31.9 micrograms per cubic meter | 33.69 micrograms per cubic meter | 4 |
Countries ranked near China
- 40 Jordan 32.63 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 41 Guinea-Bissau 32.29 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 42 Syria 32.06 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 44 Gabon 31.32 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 45 Turkmenistan 31.25 micrograms per cubic meter compare
- 46 Uganda 31.21 micrograms per cubic meter compare
More reference data data for China
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 49.4 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 75.5 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 303.29 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 18.8 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 303.29 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 165.62 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 206.2 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 350.74 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 1,480 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 102.37 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is particulate matter exposure in 1990 vs. 2017 in China?
- Particulate matter exposure in 1990 vs. 2017 in China was 31.99 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 particulate matter exposure in 1990 vs. 2017 recorded in China?
- The highest recorded value was 52.73 micrograms per cubic meter in 2011.
- What is the lowest particulate matter exposure in 1990 vs. 2017 recorded in China?
- The lowest recorded value was 31.9 micrograms per cubic meter in 2022.
- How does China rank for particulate matter exposure in 1990 vs. 2017?
- China ranks 43rd out of 200 countries with data for 2023.
- Is particulate matter exposure in 1990 vs. 2017 rising or falling in China?
- Over the last ten years it is down 38.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this China 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 Particulate matter exposure in 1990 vs. 2017. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 34 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Population-weighted average level of exposure to concentrations of suspended particles measuring less than 2.5 microns in diameter. Exposure is measured in micrograms per cubic meter (µg/m³).