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 Seoul Air Pollution Report

Overview

Air Pollution in Seoul

Seoul faces significant air pollution challenges. 100% of districts exceed the WHO guideline for clean air. This is putting 9.5 million across 25 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 Seoul met the WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³, the average person would live 1.86 years longer.

That's 17.6M years of life stolen from 9.5 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 Seoul. These areas face the greatest health burden from air pollution.

1.Guro
2.1 years lost
2.Geumcheon
2 years lost
3.Yangcheon
2 years lost
4.Gangseo
2 years lost
5.Yeongdeungpo
2 years lost
6.Dongjak
2 years lost
7.Gwanak
2 years lost
8.Mapo
2 years lost
9.Yongsan
1.9 years lost
10.Seocho
1.9 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

74.6%

7.1M

25-35 µg/m³

25.4%

2.4M

> 35 µg/m³

Districts

All 25 Districts in Seoul

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

District	Population	PM2.5 µg/m³	Years Lost
Songpa	649K	23.1	1.8 years
Gangseo	570K	25.6	2.0 years
Nowon	517K	21.9	1.7 years
Gangnam	512K	23.8	1.8 years
Gwanak	491K	25.0	2.0 years
Eunpyeong	469K	23.0	1.8 years
Gangdong	462K	23.1	1.8 years
Yangcheon	451K	25.7	2.0 years
Seongbuk	413K	22.7	1.7 years
Seocho	399K	24.2	1.9 years
Guro	398K	26.0	2.1 years
Dongjak	388K	25.0	2.0 years
Jungnang	388K	22.7	1.7 years
Mapo	382K	24.9	2.0 years
Yeongdeungpo	369K	25.5	2.0 years
Dongdaemun	342K	23.1	1.8 years
Gwangjin	341K	23.4	1.8 years
Dobong	318K	21.6	1.6 years
Seodaemun	311K	23.9	1.8 years
Gangbuk	298K	21.8	1.6 years
Seongdong	287K	23.9	1.9 years
Geumcheon	231K	25.8	2.0 years
Yongsan	213K	24.5	1.9 years
Jongno	168K	23.3	1.8 years
Jung	110K	24.0	1.9 years

Showing 25 districts, sorted by population (largest first). PM2.5 values are for 2023. Years lost calculated against WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³.

Breathing in Seoul is Injurious to Health.