Particulate matter exposure in 1990 vs. 2017 in South Korea
South Korea: Particulate matter exposure in 1990 vs. 2017 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
Particulate matter exposure in 1990 vs. 2017 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
South Korea recorded 21.89 micrograms per cubic meter for particulate matter exposure in 1990 vs. 2017 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, particulate matter exposure in 1990 vs. 2017 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.
Particulate matter exposure in 1990 vs. 2017 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 reference data data for South Korea
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.9638 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 0.9281 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 3.55 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.2074 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 3.55 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 3.23 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 4.37 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 5.17 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 19.85 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 1.13 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is particulate matter exposure in 1990 vs. 2017 in South Korea?
- Particulate matter exposure in 1990 vs. 2017 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 particulate matter exposure in 1990 vs. 2017 recorded in South Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 26.22 micrograms per cubic meter in 2014.
- What is the lowest particulate matter exposure in 1990 vs. 2017 recorded in South Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 20.11 micrograms per cubic meter in 2004.
- How does South Korea rank for particulate matter exposure in 1990 vs. 2017?
- South Korea ranks 73rd out of 200 countries with data for 2023.
- Is particulate matter exposure in 1990 vs. 2017 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 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).