Breathing in P'yŏngan-bukto is Injurious to Health.

Air pollution threatens the health of 2.7 million people across 24 districts in P'yŏngan-bukto. The average PM2.5 level is 20.2 µg/m³—4.0× higher than the WHO guideline.

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Overview

Air Pollution in P'yŏngan-bukto

P'yŏngan-bukto faces significant air pollution challenges. 100% of districts exceed the WHO guideline for clean air. This is putting 2.7 million across 24 districts at risk.

The average PM2.5 over 2023 was 20.2µg/m³. That's 4.0 times the WHO guideline for clean air of 5µg/m³.

This is equivalent of everybody, including children, smoking about 335 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 P'yŏngan-bukto met the WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³, the average person would live 1.48 years longer.

That's 4.1M years of life stolen from 2.7 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 P'yŏngan-bukto. These areas face the greatest health burden from air pollution.

  • 1.Sindo
    2.5 years lost
  • 2.Ryongch'ŏn
    2.5 years lost
  • 3.Yŏmju
    2 years lost
  • 4.P'ihyŏn
    2 years lost
  • 5.Pakch'ŏn
    1.7 years lost
  • 6.Ŭiju
    1.6 years lost
  • 7.Nyŏngbyŏn
    1.6 years lost
  • 8.Ch'ŏlsan
    1.5 years lost
  • 9.Unjŏn
    1.5 years lost
  • 10.T'aech'ŏn
    1.4 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
0%
0
15-25 µg/m³
92.3%
2.5M
25-35 µg/m³
7.7%
210K
> 35 µg/m³
0%
0
Districts

All 24 Districts in P'yŏngan-bukto

Complete air quality data for every district in P'yŏngan-bukto, sorted by population.

DistrictPopulationPM2.5 µg/m³Years Lost
Chŏngju-si206K
19.2
1.4 years
Pakch'ŏn189K
22.8
1.7 years
Kusŏng176K
17.8
1.3 years
T'aech'ŏn163K
19.7
1.4 years
P'ihyŏn158K
24.9
2.0 years
Kujang158K
19.3
1.4 years
Sakju154K
17.5
1.2 years
Nyŏngbyŏn150K
21.1
1.6 years
Unsan142K
18.4
1.3 years
Yŏmju138K
25.2
2.0 years
Sŏnch'ŏn137K
18.4
1.3 years
Unjŏn135K
20.7
1.5 years
Dongrim125K
18.7
1.3 years
Kwaksan121K
19.4
1.4 years
Ch'ŏlsan113K
20.8
1.5 years
Ŭiju107K
21.4
1.6 years
Daengwan80K
15.8
1.1 years
Ch'ŏnma63K
16.6
1.1 years
Ryongch'ŏn60K
30.2
2.5 years
Tongch'ang43K
15.6
1.0 years
Hyangsan41K
19.0
1.4 years
Byokdong37K
17.0
1.2 years
Ch'angsŏng32K
16.0
1.1 years
Sindo12K
30.6
2.5 years

Showing 24 districts, sorted by population (largest first). PM2.5 values are for 2023. Years lost calculated against WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³.