Breathing in Incheon is Injurious to Health.

Air pollution threatens the health of 3.0 million people across 10 districts in Incheon. The average PM2.5 level is 26.1 µg/m³—5.2Ɨ higher than the WHO guideline.

Brought to you by Amrit Sharma

Air Pollution in Incheon

Incheon faces significant air pollution challenges. 100% of districts exceed the WHO guideline for clean air. This is putting 3.0 million across 10 districts at risk.

The average PM2.5 over 2023 was 26.1µg/m³. That's 5.2 times the WHO guideline for clean air of 5µg/m³.

This is equivalent of everybody, including children, smoking about 433 cigarettes in a year.

Air Quality Trend

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

Life Expectancy Impact

If Incheon met the WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³, the average person would live 2.07 years longer.

That's 6.1M years of life stolen from 3.0 million people. Years of watching children grow up. Years of building a career. Years of quiet mornings and celebrations.

Lives cut short. Breathing kills.

Districts with Highest Pollution

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

  • 1.Namdong
    2.2 years lost
  • 2.Michuhol
    2.2 years lost
  • 3.Dong
    2.1 years lost
  • 4.Bupyeong
    2.1 years lost
  • 5.Seo
    2.1 years lost
  • 6.Gyeyang
    2 years lost
  • 7.Jung
    2 years lost
  • 8.Yeonsu
    1.9 years lost
  • 9.Ganghwa
    1.6 years lost
  • 10.Ongjin
    1.2 years lost

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
16.1%
474K
25-35 µg/m³
83.9%
2.5M
> 35 µg/m³
0%
0

All 10 Districts in Incheon

Complete air quality data for every district in Incheon, sorted by population.

DistrictPopulationPM2.5 µg/m³Years Lost
Seo555K
26.2
2.1 years
Namdong542K
27.3
2.2 years
Bupyeong490K
26.7
2.1 years
Michuhol397K
27.1
2.2 years
Yeonsu391K
23.9
1.9 years
Gyeyang297K
25.9
2.0 years
Jung134K
25.9
2.0 years
Ganghwa66K
21.2
1.6 years
Dong61K
26.9
2.1 years
Ongjin16K
17.6
1.2 years

Showing 10 districts, sorted by population (largest first). PM2.5 values are for 2023. Years lost calculated against WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³.