Air pollution threatens the health of 4.8 million people across 6 districts in P'yŏngyang. The average PM2.5 level is 25.4 µg/m³—5.1× higher than the WHO guideline.
Brought to you by Amrit Sharma
P'yŏngyang faces significant air pollution challenges. 100% of districts exceed the WHO guideline for clean air. This is putting 4.8 million across 6 districts at risk.
The average PM2.5 over 2023 was 25.4µg/m³. That's 5.1 times the WHO guideline for clean air of 5µg/m³.
This is equivalent of everybody, including children, smoking about 421 cigarettes in a year.
If P'yŏngyang met the WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³, the average person would live 1.96 years longer.
That's 9.4M years of life stolen from 4.8 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 6 most polluted districts in P'yŏngyang. 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 P'yŏngyang, sorted by population.
| District | Population | PM2.5 µg/m³ | Years Lost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pyongyang | 4.1M | 25.9 | 2.0 years |
| Kangdong | 193K | 20.7 | 1.5 years |
| Sangwŏn | 185K | 20.2 | 1.5 years |
| Jong | 148K | 26.6 | 2.1 years |
| Chunghwa | 102K | 22.8 | 1.7 years |
| Kangnam | 61K | 25.1 | 2.0 years |
Showing 6 districts, sorted by population (largest first). PM2.5 values are for 2023. Years lost calculated against WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³.