Breathing in Hebei is Injurious to Health.

Air pollution threatens the health of 76.0 million people across 11 districts in Hebei. The average PM2.5 level is 34.4 µg/m³—6.9× higher than the WHO guideline.

Brought to you by Amrit Sharma

Air Pollution in Hebei

Hebei faces significant air pollution challenges. 100% of districts exceed the WHO guideline for clean air. This is putting 76.0 million across 11 districts at risk.

The average PM2.5 over 2023 was 34.4µg/m³. That's 6.9 times the WHO guideline for clean air of 5µg/m³.

This is equivalent of everybody, including children, smoking about 571 cigarettes in a year.

Air Quality Trend

Annual PM2.5 levels from 2014 to 2023. The WHO guideline for safe air is 5 µg/m³.

Life Expectancy Impact

If Hebei met the WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³, the average person would live 2.87 years longer.

That's 218.0M years of life stolen from 76.0 million people. Years of watching children grow up. Years of building a career. Years of quiet mornings and celebrations.

Lives cut short. Breathing kills.

Districts with Highest Pollution

The top 10 most polluted districts in Hebei. These areas face the greatest health burden from air pollution.

  • 1.Shijiazhuang
    3.7 years lost
  • 2.Handan
    3.2 years lost
  • 3.Hengshui
    3.1 years lost
  • 4.Xingtai
    3.1 years lost
  • 5.Langfang
    3 years lost
  • 6.Tangshan
    2.9 years lost
  • 7.Cangzhou
    2.9 years lost
  • 8.Baoding
    2.7 years lost
  • 9.Qinhuangdao
    2.6 years lost
  • 10.Chengde
    1.5 years lost

Population Exposure by Pollution Level

Distribution of population across different PM2.5 pollution levels. The WHO guideline is 5 µg/m³—only populations below this threshold are breathing safe air.

< 5 µg/m³
0%
0
5-10 µg/m³
0%
0
10-15 µg/m³
0%
0
15-25 µg/m³
10.9%
8.3M
25-35 µg/m³
40%
30.4M
> 35 µg/m³
49.1%
37.3M

All 11 Districts in Hebei

Complete air quality data for every district in Hebei, sorted by population.

DistrictPopulationPM2.5 µg/m³Years Lost
Baoding11.8M
32.6
2.7 years
Shijiazhuang10.8M
42.6
3.7 years
Handan9.7M
38.0
3.2 years
Tangshan7.8M
34.9
2.9 years
Cangzhou7.6M
34.4
2.9 years
Xingtai7.6M
37.0
3.1 years
Hengshui4.6M
37.1
3.1 years
Langfang4.6M
35.6
3.0 years
Zhangjiakou4.6M
16.1
1.1 years
Chengde3.7M
20.7
1.5 years
Qinhuangdao3.1M
31.4
2.6 years

Showing 11 districts, sorted by population (largest first). PM2.5 values are for 2023. Years lost calculated against WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³.