Breathing in Chagang-do is Injurious to Health.

Air pollution threatens the health of 1.2 million people across 18 districts in Chagang-do. The average PM2.5 level is 18.3 µg/m³—3.7× higher than the WHO guideline.

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Overview

Air Pollution in Chagang-do

Chagang-do faces significant air pollution challenges. 100% of districts exceed the WHO guideline for clean air. This is putting 1.2 million across 18 districts at risk.

The average PM2.5 over 2023 was 18.3µg/m³. That's 3.7 times the WHO guideline for clean air of 5µg/m³.

This is equivalent of everybody, including children, smoking about 304 cigarettes in a year.

Trends

Air Quality Trend

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

Health Impact

Life Expectancy Impact

If Chagang-do met the WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³, the average person would live 1.3 years longer.

That's 1.6M years of life stolen from 1.2 million people. Years of watching children grow up. Years of building a career. Years of quiet mornings and celebrations.

Lives cut short. Breathing kills.

Most Polluted

Districts with Highest Pollution

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

  • 1.Chunggang
    1.6 years lost
  • 2.Manp'o
    1.5 years lost
  • 3.Chasŏng
    1.4 years lost
  • 4.Kanggye
    1.4 years lost
  • 5.Sijung
    1.4 years lost
  • 6.Changgang
    1.3 years lost
  • 7.Hŭich'ŏn
    1.3 years lost
  • 8.Ch'osan
    1.3 years lost
  • 9.Hwap'yŏng
    1.3 years lost
  • 10.Usi
    1.3 years lost
Exposure

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
2.1%
25K
15-25 µg/m³
97.9%
1.2M
25-35 µg/m³
0%
0
> 35 µg/m³
0%
0
Districts

All 18 Districts in Chagang-do

Complete air quality data for every district in Chagang-do, sorted by population.

DistrictPopulationPM2.5 µg/m³Years Lost
Kanggye227K
19.4
1.4 years
Tongsin109K
17.8
1.3 years
Hŭich'ŏn102K
18.7
1.3 years
Chŏnch'ŏn87K
16.1
1.1 years
Sŏnggan84K
17.6
1.2 years
Manp'o83K
20.2
1.5 years
Chunggang57K
21.6
1.6 years
Wiwŏn56K
17.5
1.2 years
Hwap'yŏng50K
18.1
1.3 years
Sijung50K
19.3
1.4 years
Ryongrim44K
16.0
1.1 years
Changgang44K
18.7
1.3 years
Chasŏng43K
19.7
1.4 years
Rangrim39K
16.5
1.1 years
Ch'osan38K
18.5
1.3 years
Kop'ung32K
15.0
1.0 years
Usi32K
17.9
1.3 years
Songwŏn25K
14.6
0.9 years

Showing 18 districts, sorted by population (largest first). PM2.5 values are for 2023. Years lost calculated against WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³.