PM2.5 stands for particulate matter 2.5 microns or smaller. These particles are 30 times thinner than a human hair and come from car exhaust, power plants, wildfires, and burning fuel. They are small enough to bypass your body's natural defenses and enter your bloodstream.

How does air pollution affect the body?

Air pollution affects virtually every organ in the body. PM2.5 particles enter your lungs, pass into your bloodstream, and travel to your heart, brain, kidneys, liver, and other organs. This causes chronic inflammation, increasing risks of heart disease, stroke, lung cancer, dementia, and many other conditions.

How many people are affected by air pollution?

99% of the global population breathes air that exceeds WHO safety guidelines. Air pollution kills approximately 8 million people every year—more than AIDS, malaria, and tuberculosis combined.

South Korea's Gyeonggi-do Air Pollution Report

Overview

Air Pollution in Gyeonggi-do

Gyeonggi-do faces significant air pollution challenges. 100% of districts exceed the WHO guideline for clean air. This is putting 13.5 million across 31 districts at risk.

The average PM2.5 over 2023 was 23.9µg/m³. That's 4.8 times the WHO guideline for clean air of 5µg/m³.

This is equivalent of everybody, including children, smoking about 397 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 Gyeonggi-do met the WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³, the average person would live 1.86 years longer.

That's 25.2M years of life stolen from 13.5 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 Gyeonggi-do. These areas face the greatest health burden from air pollution.

1.Osan
2.2 years lost
2.Siheung
2.1 years lost
3.Bucheon
2.1 years lost
4.Hwaseong
2.1 years lost
5.Pyeongtaek
2.1 years lost
6.Gwangmyeong
2.1 years lost
7.Ansan
2.1 years lost
8.Suwon
2 years lost
9.Yeoju
2 years lost
10.Gimpo
2 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

5-10 µg/m³

10-15 µg/m³

15-25 µg/m³

57.7%

7.8M

25-35 µg/m³

42.3%

5.7M

> 35 µg/m³

Districts

All 31 Districts in Gyeonggi-do

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

District	Population	PM2.5 µg/m³	Years Lost
Suwon	1.2M	25.5	2.0 years
Yongin	1.1M	23.0	1.8 years
Goyang	1.1M	24.4	1.9 years
Seongnam	923K	22.1	1.7 years
Hwaseong	879K	26.4	2.1 years
Bucheon	811K	26.6	2.1 years
Namyangju	730K	20.1	1.5 years
Ansan	656K	26.0	2.1 years
Pyeongtaek	555K	26.3	2.1 years
Anyang	548K	24.5	1.9 years
Siheung	504K	26.9	2.1 years
Gimpo	480K	25.1	2.0 years
Paju	476K	22.7	1.7 years
Uijeongbu	465K	19.9	1.5 years
Gwangju	386K	20.1	1.5 years
Hanam	314K	21.8	1.6 years
Gwangmyeong	294K	26.3	2.1 years
Gunpo	270K	24.2	1.9 years
Yangju	239K	20.3	1.5 years
Osan	235K	26.9	2.2 years
Icheon	227K	24.6	1.9 years
Guri	193K	22.7	1.7 years
Anseong	193K	23.5	1.8 years
Uiwang	164K	24.1	1.9 years
Pocheon	146K	19.3	1.4 years
Yangpyeong	118K	20.4	1.5 years
Yeoju	113K	25.3	2.0 years
Dongducheon	94K	19.8	1.5 years
Gwacheon	68K	23.6	1.8 years
Gapyeong	60K	18.4	1.3 years
Yeoncheon	42K	19.0	1.4 years

Showing 31 districts, sorted by population (largest first). PM2.5 values are for 2023. Years lost calculated against WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³.

Breathing in Gyeonggi-do is Injurious to Health.