China

For almost two decades, China remained one of the top five most polluted countries in the world. But after launching a successful “war against pollution” in 2014, China was able to reduce its particulate pollution by 28 percent—dropping the country from its top five ranking in recent years. If the reductions are sustained, China’s people can expect to live 1.4 years longer. The Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei area, one of China’s most polluted areas in 2013, saw a 33 percent reduction in particulate pollution, translating into a gain of 2.6 years of life expectancy for its about 109 million residents, if sustained.

KEY TAKE-AWAYS

• Despite significant progress over a short time, China’s particulate pollution is still almost four times the WHO guideline, making it the tenth most polluted country in the world.
• Ninety-nine percent of China’s 1.4 billion people live in areas where the annual average particulate pollution level exceeds the WHO guideline. Fifty-five percent live in areas where particulate pollution exceeds the national standard.
• If pollution were reduced to meet the WHO guideline, Chinese people could gain an additional 2.7 years onto their lives
• In parts of Hebei and Henan provinces, home to much of the country’s coal and steel industries, residents could see their life
  expectancies rise by up to an additional 4.5 years if pollution levels met the WHO guideline.
• Beijing saw a 30 percent reduction in particulate pollution from 2013-2018, gaining 2 years in life expectancy if the
  reduction is sustained. Residents could further gain 1.4 years if the city’s pollution met China’s national standard, or 3.8 years if it met the WHO guideline.