Pyongyang weather in January
In January, Pyongyang sees average daytime highs of -0°C and overnight lows near -9°C, with 13 mm of precipitation across 3.3 wet days and about 9.6 hours of daylight. It is the 12th-warmest and 12th-wettest month of the year here.
Day-to-day highs hold fairly steady near -0°C through the month. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 53% of the time in January, and the air most often feels dry.
Daylight stretches from about 9 h 18 min at the start of January to 10 hours by month's end. Set against the rest of the year, January is Pyongyang's 1st-clearest and 7th-windiest month. For the whole year in context, see Pyongyang's year-round climate.
- Daytime high
- -0°
- 12th warmest
- Overnight low
- -9°
- 1st coldest
- Precipitation
- 13 mm
- 3.3 wet days
- Daylight
- 9 h 30 min
- 8:00 AM – 5:33 PM
- Cloud cover
- 41%
- 1st clearest
- Wind
- 10 km/h
- 7th windiest
- Solar energy
- 2.69 kWh/m²
- Travel score
- 0.0
- out of 10
Temperature in January
Day-to-day highs hold fairly steady near -0°C through the month.
A typical January day in Pyongyang reaches about -0°C in the afternoon and slips back to -9°C overnight — a 8°C spread between the day's warmth and the night's chill. On most days the high lands between -6°C and 5°C. Set against its neighbours, January runs about 2°C cooler than December and about 3°C cooler than February.
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg high (°C) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Avg low (°C) | -8 | -8 | -8 | -8 | -8 | -8 | -8 | -9 | -9 | -9 | -9 | -9 | -9 | -9 | -9 | -9 | -9 | -9 | -9 | -9 | -9 | -9 | -9 | -9 | -9 | -9 | -9 | -8 | -8 | -8 | -8 |
| Avg high (°C) | Avg low (°C) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0 | -8 |
| 2 | 0 | -8 |
| 3 | 0 | -8 |
| 4 | 0 | -8 |
| 5 | 0 | -8 |
| 6 | 0 | -8 |
| 7 | 0 | -8 |
| 8 | 0 | -9 |
| 9 | 0 | -9 |
| 10 | 0 | -9 |
| 11 | 0 | -9 |
| 12 | 0 | -9 |
| 13 | 0 | -9 |
| 14 | 0 | -9 |
| 15 | 0 | -9 |
| 16 | 0 | -9 |
| 17 | 0 | -9 |
| 18 | 0 | -9 |
| 19 | 0 | -9 |
| 20 | 0 | -9 |
| 21 | 0 | -9 |
| 22 | 0 | -9 |
| 23 | 0 | -9 |
| 24 | 0 | -9 |
| 25 | 0 | -9 |
| 26 | 0 | -9 |
| 27 | 0 | -9 |
| 28 | 0 | -8 |
| 29 | 0 | -8 |
| 30 | 1 | -8 |
| 31 | 1 | -8 |
How January really feels in Pyongyang
Once humidity and wind are folded in, January averages 0 days that feel above 32°C and 31 that feel at or below 0°C — the comfort signal a plain temperature reading hides.
The story in January is cold — wind chill drags the overnight "feels like" below the raw low.
Pyongyang weather by month
How January compares with the rest of the year at a glance. January is the 12th-warmest and 12th-wettest month here — the current month is highlighted below.
| Month | High / Low (°C) | Rainfall (mm) | Wet days | Snow days | Daylight (hours) | Travel score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | -0° / -9° | 13 | 3.3 | 2.8 | 9.6 | 0.0 |
| Feb | 3° / -6° | 19 | 3.8 | 2.2 | 10.5 | 0.1 |
| Mar | 10° / -1° | 27 | 4.4 | 1.1 | 11.7 | 2.4 |
| Apr | 17° / 6° | 53 | 6.6 | 0.2 | 13 | 6.0 |
| May | 23° / 12° | 94 | 7.9 | 0 | 14.1 | 7.2 |
| Jun | 27° / 18° | 107 | 9.9 | 0 | 14.7 | 6.4 |
| Jul | 29° / 22° | 263 | 15.7 | 0 | 14.5 | 4.8 |
| Aug | 29° / 22° | 219 | 13.8 | 0 | 13.5 | 5.0 |
| Sep | 25° / 16° | 91 | 6.7 | 0 | 12.3 | 7.3 |
| Oct | 19° / 8° | 43 | 5.8 | 0 | 11 | 6.8 |
| Nov | 10° / 1° | 45 | 7.1 | 0.6 | 9.9 | 2.4 |
| Dec | 2° / -6° | 23 | 5.5 | 2.8 | 9.3 | 0.0 |
Cloud cover in January
The sky is clear or mostly clear about 53% of the time in January, the clearest month of the year.
Beyond those clear spells, partly cloudy skies cover about 15% of January, with mostly cloudy or overcast conditions the remaining 32%.
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clearer (%) | 65 | 66 | 66 | 66 | 66 | 66 | 67 | 67 | 67 | 67 | 66 | 66 | 66 | 66 | 66 | 66 | 66 | 68 | 68 | 68 | 68 | 68 | 69 | 70 | 70 | 70 | 70 | 71 | 71 | 71 | 71 |
| Cloudier (%) | 35 | 34 | 34 | 34 | 34 | 34 | 33 | 33 | 33 | 33 | 34 | 34 | 34 | 34 | 34 | 34 | 34 | 32 | 32 | 32 | 32 | 32 | 31 | 30 | 30 | 30 | 30 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 29 |
| Clearer (%) | Cloudier (%) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 65 | 35 |
| 2 | 66 | 34 |
| 3 | 66 | 34 |
| 4 | 66 | 34 |
| 5 | 66 | 34 |
| 6 | 66 | 34 |
| 7 | 67 | 33 |
| 8 | 67 | 33 |
| 9 | 67 | 33 |
| 10 | 67 | 33 |
| 11 | 66 | 34 |
| 12 | 66 | 34 |
| 13 | 66 | 34 |
| 14 | 66 | 34 |
| 15 | 66 | 34 |
| 16 | 66 | 34 |
| 17 | 66 | 34 |
| 18 | 68 | 32 |
| 19 | 68 | 32 |
| 20 | 68 | 32 |
| 21 | 68 | 32 |
| 22 | 68 | 32 |
| 23 | 69 | 31 |
| 24 | 70 | 30 |
| 25 | 70 | 30 |
| 26 | 70 | 30 |
| 27 | 70 | 30 |
| 28 | 71 | 29 |
| 29 | 71 | 29 |
| 30 | 71 | 29 |
| 31 | 71 | 29 |
Chance of precipitation in January
Pyongyang gets around 13 mm of rain and snow over 3.3 wet days in January, the driest month. The line is the day-by-day chance of measurable precipitation.
Day to day, the chance of measurable precipitation averages around 11% and peaks near 14% on the wettest days, and about 3 days bring snow.
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rain chance (%) | 14 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 9 |
| Snow chance (%) | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 |
| Rain chance (%) | Snow chance (%) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 14 | 10 |
| 2 | 14 | 10 |
| 3 | 14 | 10 |
| 4 | 13 | 10 |
| 5 | 13 | 10 |
| 6 | 13 | 10 |
| 7 | 13 | 10 |
| 8 | 12 | 10 |
| 9 | 12 | 10 |
| 10 | 12 | 10 |
| 11 | 12 | 10 |
| 12 | 11 | 9 |
| 13 | 11 | 9 |
| 14 | 11 | 9 |
| 15 | 10 | 9 |
| 16 | 10 | 9 |
| 17 | 10 | 9 |
| 18 | 10 | 9 |
| 19 | 9 | 8 |
| 20 | 9 | 8 |
| 21 | 9 | 8 |
| 22 | 9 | 8 |
| 23 | 9 | 8 |
| 24 | 9 | 8 |
| 25 | 8 | 8 |
| 26 | 8 | 8 |
| 27 | 8 | 7 |
| 28 | 8 | 7 |
| 29 | 8 | 7 |
| 30 | 8 | 7 |
| 31 | 9 | 7 |
Humidity in January
Most of January feels dry — the stacked bands show each day's mix of comfort levels, read off the dew point.
By dew point, January lands in the dry band about 100% of days. It rarely turns muggy — the humid and sticky bands barely register.
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dry (%) | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 |
| Dry (%) | |
|---|---|
| 1 | 100 |
| 2 | 100 |
| 3 | 100 |
| 4 | 100 |
| 5 | 100 |
| 6 | 100 |
| 7 | 100 |
| 8 | 100 |
| 9 | 100 |
| 10 | 100 |
| 11 | 100 |
| 12 | 100 |
| 13 | 100 |
| 14 | 100 |
| 15 | 100 |
| 16 | 100 |
| 17 | 100 |
| 18 | 100 |
| 19 | 100 |
| 20 | 100 |
| 21 | 100 |
| 22 | 100 |
| 23 | 100 |
| 24 | 100 |
| 25 | 100 |
| 26 | 100 |
| 27 | 100 |
| 28 | 100 |
| 29 | 100 |
| 30 | 100 |
| 31 | 100 |
Wind in January
Winds average 10 km/h in January.
Across January, daily wind ranges from about 10 km/h on the calmest days to 11 km/h at its breeziest. It stays fairly steady from day to day.
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wind speed (km/h) | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 |
| Feels | calm | calm | calm | calm | calm | calm | calm | calm | calm | calm | calm | calm | calm | calm | calm | calm | calm | calm | calm | calm | calm | calm | calm | calm | calm | calm | calm | calm | calm | calm | calm |
| Wind speed (km/h) | Feels | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 10 | calm |
| 2 | 10 | calm |
| 3 | 10 | calm |
| 4 | 10 | calm |
| 5 | 10 | calm |
| 6 | 10 | calm |
| 7 | 10 | calm |
| 8 | 10 | calm |
| 9 | 10 | calm |
| 10 | 10 | calm |
| 11 | 10 | calm |
| 12 | 10 | calm |
| 13 | 10 | calm |
| 14 | 10 | calm |
| 15 | 10 | calm |
| 16 | 10 | calm |
| 17 | 10 | calm |
| 18 | 10 | calm |
| 19 | 10 | calm |
| 20 | 10 | calm |
| 21 | 10 | calm |
| 22 | 10 | calm |
| 23 | 10 | calm |
| 24 | 10 | calm |
| 25 | 10 | calm |
| 26 | 11 | calm |
| 27 | 11 | calm |
| 28 | 11 | calm |
| 29 | 11 | calm |
| 30 | 11 | calm |
| 31 | 11 | calm |
Sunrise & sunset in January
Daylight runs from about 9 h 18 min at the start of January to 10 hours by month's end. The lit band spans sunrise to sunset each day.
Days grow by about 42 minutes over January. Sunrise moves from 8:01 AM to 7:52 AM, and sunset from 5:19 PM to 5:49 PM.
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Daylight (h) | 9.3 | 9.3 | 9.3 | 9.3 | 9.3 | 9.4 | 9.4 | 9.4 | 9.4 | 9.4 | 9.4 | 9.5 | 9.5 | 9.5 | 9.5 | 9.5 | 9.6 | 9.6 | 9.6 | 9.6 | 9.7 | 9.7 | 9.7 | 9.7 | 9.8 | 9.8 | 9.8 | 9.9 | 9.9 | 9.9 | 10.0 |
| Sunrise (AM) | 8:01 | 8:01 | 8:01 | 8:01 | 8:01 | 8:01 | 8:01 | 8:01 | 8:01 | 8:01 | 8:01 | 8:01 | 8:01 | 8:01 | 8:00 | 8:00 | 8:00 | 7:59 | 7:59 | 7:58 | 7:58 | 7:58 | 7:57 | 7:56 | 7:56 | 7:55 | 7:55 | 7:54 | 7:53 | 7:53 | 7:52 |
| Sunset (PM) | 5:19 | 5:20 | 5:21 | 5:22 | 5:22 | 5:23 | 5:24 | 5:25 | 5:26 | 5:27 | 5:28 | 5:29 | 5:30 | 5:31 | 5:32 | 5:33 | 5:34 | 5:35 | 5:36 | 5:37 | 5:38 | 5:39 | 5:40 | 5:41 | 5:42 | 5:43 | 5:44 | 5:45 | 5:47 | 5:48 | 5:49 |
| Daylight (h) | Sunrise (AM) | Sunset (PM) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 9.3 | 8:01 | 5:19 |
| 2 | 9.3 | 8:01 | 5:20 |
| 3 | 9.3 | 8:01 | 5:21 |
| 4 | 9.3 | 8:01 | 5:22 |
| 5 | 9.3 | 8:01 | 5:22 |
| 6 | 9.4 | 8:01 | 5:23 |
| 7 | 9.4 | 8:01 | 5:24 |
| 8 | 9.4 | 8:01 | 5:25 |
| 9 | 9.4 | 8:01 | 5:26 |
| 10 | 9.4 | 8:01 | 5:27 |
| 11 | 9.4 | 8:01 | 5:28 |
| 12 | 9.5 | 8:01 | 5:29 |
| 13 | 9.5 | 8:01 | 5:30 |
| 14 | 9.5 | 8:01 | 5:31 |
| 15 | 9.5 | 8:00 | 5:32 |
| 16 | 9.5 | 8:00 | 5:33 |
| 17 | 9.6 | 8:00 | 5:34 |
| 18 | 9.6 | 7:59 | 5:35 |
| 19 | 9.6 | 7:59 | 5:36 |
| 20 | 9.6 | 7:58 | 5:37 |
| 21 | 9.7 | 7:58 | 5:38 |
| 22 | 9.7 | 7:58 | 5:39 |
| 23 | 9.7 | 7:57 | 5:40 |
| 24 | 9.7 | 7:56 | 5:41 |
| 25 | 9.8 | 7:56 | 5:42 |
| 26 | 9.8 | 7:55 | 5:43 |
| 27 | 9.8 | 7:55 | 5:44 |
| 28 | 9.9 | 7:54 | 5:45 |
| 29 | 9.9 | 7:53 | 5:47 |
| 30 | 9.9 | 7:53 | 5:48 |
| 31 | 10.0 | 7:52 | 5:49 |
Solar energy in January
Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day in January, about 2.69 kWh/m².
For context, solar energy here swings from a low near 2.22 kWh/m² to a high of 5.81 kWh/m² in May across the year — January's 2.69 kWh/m² sits near the bottom.
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Solar energy (kWh/m²) | 2.4 | 2.4 | 2.4 | 2.4 | 2.4 | 2.4 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2.6 | 2.6 | 2.6 | 2.6 | 2.7 | 2.7 | 2.7 | 2.8 | 2.8 | 2.8 | 2.8 | 2.9 | 2.9 | 2.9 | 3.0 | 3.0 | 3.0 | 3.1 | 3.1 | 3.1 |
| Level | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate |
| Solar energy (kWh/m²) | Level | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2.4 | Moderate |
| 2 | 2.4 | Moderate |
| 3 | 2.4 | Moderate |
| 4 | 2.4 | Moderate |
| 5 | 2.4 | Moderate |
| 6 | 2.4 | Moderate |
| 7 | 2.5 | Moderate |
| 8 | 2.5 | Moderate |
| 9 | 2.5 | Moderate |
| 10 | 2.5 | Moderate |
| 11 | 2.5 | Moderate |
| 12 | 2.6 | Moderate |
| 13 | 2.6 | Moderate |
| 14 | 2.6 | Moderate |
| 15 | 2.6 | Moderate |
| 16 | 2.7 | Moderate |
| 17 | 2.7 | Moderate |
| 18 | 2.7 | Moderate |
| 19 | 2.8 | Moderate |
| 20 | 2.8 | Moderate |
| 21 | 2.8 | Moderate |
| 22 | 2.8 | Moderate |
| 23 | 2.9 | Moderate |
| 24 | 2.9 | Moderate |
| 25 | 2.9 | Moderate |
| 26 | 3.0 | Moderate |
| 27 | 3.0 | Moderate |
| 28 | 3.0 | Moderate |
| 29 | 3.1 | Moderate |
| 30 | 3.1 | Moderate |
| 31 | 3.1 | Moderate |
Hazard calendar for Pyongyang
In January, Pyongyang sits inside its pacific typhoon season. The full year is below, with each hazard's peak months called out.
Pyongyang sits in the Pacific typhoon belt; the season peaks July–October.
Pyongyang's rainy season runs July–August, when most of the year's rain falls.
Is January a good time to visit Pyongyang?
Our two travel scores rate January for general sightseeing and for beach or pool weather — 0 (poor) to 10 (ideal).
January is a weaker month for outdoor sightseeing in Pyongyang.
What to pack for Pyongyang in January
From January's temperature range, rain chance, sun and wind — what's worth putting in the bag.
In January, Pyongyang sees daytime highs around -0°C and nights near -9°C. Pack a warm layer and a heavy coat. About 3 days see rain.
Sea temperature near Pyongyang in January
The nearest coast averages about 2°C in January — the other half of the beach question. The full-year curve and swim-comfort zones are below.
The sea at the nearest coast (about 50 km away) is warmest in August at about 25°C and coldest in February near -0°C.
It's comfortable for a long swim from Jul 3 to Oct 2 — about 3 months when the water holds above 20°C.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sea temperature (°C) | 2 | 0 | 2 | 7 | 13 | 18 | 22 | 25 | 23 | 18 | 12 | 6 |
| Comfort | Bracing | Bracing | Bracing | Bracing | Bracing | Cool | Refreshing | Warm | Refreshing | Cool | Bracing | Bracing |
| Sea temperature (°C) | Comfort | |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 2 | Bracing |
| Feb | 0 | Bracing |
| Mar | 2 | Bracing |
| Apr | 7 | Bracing |
| May | 13 | Bracing |
| Jun | 18 | Cool |
| Jul | 22 | Refreshing |
| Aug | 25 | Warm |
| Sep | 23 | Refreshing |
| Oct | 18 | Cool |
| Nov | 12 | Bracing |
| Dec | 6 | Bracing |
UV index in Pyongyang in January
Clear-sky midday UV in January peaks around 2. The full-year curve, shaded by WHO exposure level, is below.
Under clear skies, the midday UV index in Pyongyang peaks around August 16 at about 7 (very high) — sunscreen and a hat are worth it in the middle of the day. It bottoms out near December 20 at about 2 (low).
The index reaches 3 or more — the level where the WHO recommends sun protection — in 8 months of the year.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UV index (midday) | 2 | 2 | 3 | 6 | 7 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 7 | 4 | 2 | 2 |
| Level | Low | Moderate | Moderate | High | High | High | High | Very high | High | Moderate | Moderate | Low |
| UV index (midday) | Level | |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 2 | Low |
| Feb | 2 | Moderate |
| Mar | 3 | Moderate |
| Apr | 6 | High |
| May | 7 | High |
| Jun | 6 | High |
| Jul | 7 | High |
| Aug | 8 | Very high |
| Sep | 7 | High |
| Oct | 4 | Moderate |
| Nov | 2 | Moderate |
| Dec | 2 | Low |
Air quality in Pyongyang in January
Average fine-particle pollution (PM2.5) through the year — so you can see where January falls, not just the annual average.
Air quality in Pyongyang is worst in January — around 201 µg/m³ PM2.5 (very unhealthy), about 2.0× the cleanest month (July, 102 µg/m³).
Modeled monthly averages (CAMS reanalysis, 2015–2024).
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PM2.5 (µg/m³) | 201 | 171 | 180 | 150 | 132 | 124 | 102 | 107 | 152 | 182 | 195 | 181 |
| Level | Very unhealthy | Very unhealthy | Very unhealthy | Unhealthy | Unhealthy | Unhealthy | Unhealthy | Unhealthy | Very unhealthy | Very unhealthy | Very unhealthy | Very unhealthy |
| PM2.5 (µg/m³) | Level | |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 201 | Very unhealthy |
| Feb | 171 | Very unhealthy |
| Mar | 180 | Very unhealthy |
| Apr | 150 | Unhealthy |
| May | 132 | Unhealthy |
| Jun | 124 | Unhealthy |
| Jul | 102 | Unhealthy |
| Aug | 107 | Unhealthy |
| Sep | 152 | Very unhealthy |
| Oct | 182 | Very unhealthy |
| Nov | 195 | Very unhealthy |
| Dec | 181 | Very unhealthy |
Where is Pyongyang?
Pyongyang sits at 39.0°N, 125.8°E, 43 m above sea level, in North Korea. The nearest listed city is Man’gyŏngdae-ri, 9.0 km away.
Topography around Pyongyang
How much the land rises and falls, and what covers it, within 3, 16 and 80 km of Pyongyang.
Within 3 km, the terrain around Pyongyang has only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 81 m around an average of 17 m above sea level; within 16 km, significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 356 m; within 80 km, very significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 1,357 m.
The land around Pyongyang is covered by artificial surfaces (70%) within 3 km, cropland (53%) and trees (20%) within 16 km, and cropland (40%) and trees (33%) within 80 km.
North Korea travel facts
- Travel advisory
- Level 4
- Do Not Travel
- Power plugs
- Type C / F
- 220 V · 50 Hz
- Safe drinking water
- 67%
- of population, 2023
- Road deaths
- 24.2
- per 100k/yr, 2019
- Income group
- Low
- World Bank
Sources: World Bank, US State Department, World Happiness Report, WHO/UNICEF, EF EPI, CIA World Factbook.
Data sources
Temperature, precipitation, cloud, humidity, wind and solar figures are a 1991–2020 climatology for Pyongyang (39.0339°, 125.7543°, elevation 43 m), computed from hourly ERA5 reanalysis — contains modified Copernicus Climate Change Service information. Sun figures are astronomical calculations, not observations. City data © GeoNames, CC BY 4.0. Map outlines from Natural Earth (public domain); interactive map © Google. Tropical-cyclone seasons are the published climatological basin seasons (NOAA National Hurricane Center / regional warning centres). Sea temperatures are the NOAA OISST v2.1 1991–2020 monthly climatology (public domain), sampled at the nearest ocean point. UV index is derived from CAMS (Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service) clear-sky UV data — contains modified Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service information. Monthly air-quality (PM2.5) seasonality is from the CAMS EAC4 reanalysis (Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service), scaled to the WHO annual mean where available. Topography is sampled from the Copernicus DEM GLO-90 elevation model (© ESA/Airbus) and ESA WorldCover 2021 land cover (CC BY 4.0).