Air pollution threatens the health of 2.1 million people across 16 districts in Hamgyŏng-bukto. The average PM2.5 level is 15.4 µg/m³—3.1× higher than the WHO guideline.
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Hamgyŏng-bukto faces significant air pollution challenges. 100% of districts exceed the WHO guideline for clean air. This is putting 2.1 million across 16 districts at risk.
The average PM2.5 over 2023 was 15.4µg/m³. That's 3.1 times the WHO guideline for clean air of 5µg/m³.
This is equivalent of everybody, including children, smoking about 256 cigarettes in a year.
If Hamgyŏng-bukto met the WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³, the average person would live 1.04 years longer.
That's 2.2M years of life stolen from 2.1 million people. Years of watching children grow up. Years of building a career. Years of quiet mornings and celebrations.
Lives cut short. Breathing kills.
The top 10 most polluted districts in Hamgyŏng-bukto. These areas face the greatest health burden from air pollution.
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.
Complete air quality data for every district in Hamgyŏng-bukto, sorted by population.
| District | Population | PM2.5 µg/m³ | Years Lost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ch'ŏngjin | 652K | 15.8 | 1.1 years |
| Kimch'aek | 184K | 14.0 | 0.9 years |
| Ŏrang | 175K | 14.7 | 0.9 years |
| Hoeryŏng | 173K | 15.7 | 1.1 years |
| Kyŏngsŏng | 149K | 15.7 | 1.1 years |
| Kilchu | 122K | 14.5 | 0.9 years |
| Hwasŏng | 118K | 13.7 | 0.9 years |
| Ŭndŏk | 94K | 14.8 | 1.0 years |
| Saebyŏl | 90K | 18.2 | 1.3 years |
| Musan | 87K | 15.8 | 1.1 years |
| Onsŏng | 81K | 20.2 | 1.5 years |
| Hwadae | 71K | 13.2 | 0.8 years |
| Puryŏng | 41K | 14.2 | 0.9 years |
| Yŏnsa | 35K | 15.6 | 1.0 years |
| Myŏngch'ŏn | 31K | 12.8 | 0.8 years |
| Puyun | 15K | 13.8 | 0.9 years |
Showing 16 districts, sorted by population (largest first). PM2.5 values are for 2023. Years lost calculated against WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³.