The world's most polluted cities, ranked

227 of 2,311 measured cities in 84 countries breathed air above the WHO 24-hour guideline of 15 µg/m³ over the last 30 days. The worst was Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo, at 78.2.

#1,448 Limburg an der Lahn 5.7 µg/m³, more polluted than 36% of 2,311
← Kinshasa 78.2 WHO 24-hour guideline
Every ranked city, one column each, worst on the left and cleanest on the right. Point at it to read a city; tap to open it.
  1. 1Kinshasalow-cost sensorsKinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo 8
  2. 2Gujranwalalow-cost sensorsPunjab, Pakistan 8
  3. 3Dera MāndiDelhi, India 7
  4. 4Blantyrelow-cost sensorsSouthern Region, Malawi 7
  5. 5JīndHaryana, India 7
  6. 6Lilongwelow-cost sensorsCentral Region, Malawi 7
  7. 7Peshawarlow-cost sensorsKhyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan 7
  8. 8GurugramHaryana, India 7
  9. 9Lahorelow-cost sensorsPunjab, Pakistan 7
  10. 10Yamuna NagarHaryana, India 6
  11. 11Zombalow-cost sensorsSouthern Region, Malawi 6
  12. 12Kampalalow-cost sensorsCentral Region, Uganda 6
  13. 13Multanlow-cost sensorsPunjab, Pakistan 6
  14. 14Faisalabadlow-cost sensorsPunjab, Pakistan 6
  15. 15Jammulow-cost sensorsJammu and Kashmir, India 6
  16. 16NoidaUttar Pradesh, India 6
  17. 17KaithalHaryana, India 6
  18. 18Sialkotlow-cost sensorsPunjab, Pakistan 6
  19. 19BhiwadiRajasthan, India 6
  20. 20Dhakalow-cost sensorsDhaka Division, Bangladesh 6
  21. 21Singaporelow-cost sensorsSingapore 5
  22. 22DādriUttar Pradesh, India 5
  23. 23DhāruheraHaryana, India 5
  24. 24Rahim Yar Khanlow-cost sensorsPunjab, Pakistan 5
  25. 25Saint-Louislow-cost sensorsSaint-Louis, Senegal 5
  26. 26Dubailow-cost sensorsDubai, United Arab Emirates 5
  27. 27Queenstown Estatelow-cost sensorsSingapore 5
  28. 28JalandharPunjab, India 5
  29. 29BahadurgarhHaryana, India 5
  30. 30FaridabadHaryana, India 5
  31. 30ChittoorAndhra Pradesh, India 5
  32. 32Rawalpindilow-cost sensorsPunjab, Pakistan 5
  33. 33Bahawalpurlow-cost sensorsPunjab, Pakistan 5
  34. 34Karongalow-cost sensorsNorthern Region, Malawi 5
  35. 35HāpurUttar Pradesh, India 5
  36. 36Tabananlow-cost sensorsBali, Indonesia 5
  37. 36BaddiHimachal Pradesh, India 5
  38. 38DushanbeDushanbe, Tajikistan 5
  39. 39Alipurlow-cost sensorsIslamabad, Pakistan 4
  40. 40Hararelow-cost sensorsHarare, Zimbabwe 4
  41. 41AmbālaHaryana, India 4
  42. 42AnantapurAndhra Pradesh, India 4
  43. 43DelhiDelhi, India 4
  44. 44ThānesarHaryana, India 4
  45. 45Sri GanganagarRajasthan, India 4
  46. 46SonīpatHaryana, India 4
  47. 46MuzaffarnagarUttar Pradesh, India 4
  48. 48NarelaDelhi, India 4
  49. 49Islamabadlow-cost sensorsIslamabad, Pakistan 4
  50. 50Greater NoidaUttar Pradesh, India 4
All 2,311 cities
Low risk1–3
Moderate risk4–6
High risk7–10
Very high risk10+

Canada's AQHI+ for PM2.5 (1 point per 10 µg/m³), which is defined on hourly values. Show values as: µg/m³ · US AQI · India AQI · China AQI · European AQI · UK DAQI · Canada AQHI+. About the scales

Who led, day by day

Kinshasa5 days #12026-09-02: 70.1 µg/m³, #62026-09-03: 43.2 µg/m³2026-09-04: 73.1 µg/m³, #42026-09-05: 51.9 µg/m³2026-09-06: 78.5 µg/m³, #52026-09-07: 111.2 µg/m³, #12026-09-08: 138.0 µg/m³, #12026-09-09: 58.3 µg/m³2026-09-10: 70.7 µg/m³, #52026-09-11: 83.0 µg/m³, #12026-09-12: 70.9 µg/m³, #32026-09-14: 86.5 µg/m³, #32026-09-15: 102.1 µg/m³, #32026-09-16: 51.1 µg/m³2026-09-17: 56.0 µg/m³, #92026-09-18: 72.4 µg/m³, #12026-09-19: 71.9 µg/m³2026-09-20: 73.4 µg/m³2026-09-21: 71.2 µg/m³2026-09-23: 113.0 µg/m³, #22026-09-24: 151.0 µg/m³, #12026-09-25: 114.0 µg/m³, #22026-09-26: 65.6 µg/m³, #102026-09-27: 50.1 µg/m³2026-09-28: 58.2 µg/m³2026-09-30: 75.5 µg/m³, #42026-10-01: 49.9 µg/m³, #9Gurugram4 days #12026-09-02: 48.7 µg/m³2026-09-03: 46.3 µg/m³2026-09-04: 30.4 µg/m³2026-09-05: 28.9 µg/m³2026-09-06: 33.2 µg/m³2026-09-07: 45.1 µg/m³2026-09-08: 28.8 µg/m³2026-09-09: 49.7 µg/m³2026-09-10: 57.7 µg/m³2026-09-11: 39.0 µg/m³2026-09-12: 19.6 µg/m³2026-09-13: 24.3 µg/m³2026-09-14: 23.9 µg/m³2026-09-15: 32.6 µg/m³2026-09-16: 21.8 µg/m³2026-09-17: 31.4 µg/m³2026-09-18: 34.4 µg/m³2026-09-19: 181.0 µg/m³, #12026-09-20: 212.0 µg/m³, #12026-09-21: 144.0 µg/m³, #22026-09-22: 51.2 µg/m³2026-09-24: 67.3 µg/m³2026-09-25: 61.5 µg/m³2026-09-26: 86.4 µg/m³, #42026-09-27: 109.0 µg/m³, #12026-09-28: 104.0 µg/m³, #1Saint-Louis3 days #12026-09-02: 7.0 µg/m³2026-09-03: 5.7 µg/m³2026-09-04: 7.2 µg/m³2026-09-05: 24.9 µg/m³2026-09-06: 17.2 µg/m³2026-09-07: 7.4 µg/m³2026-09-08: 8.7 µg/m³2026-09-09: 145.0 µg/m³, #12026-09-12: 12.7 µg/m³2026-09-13: 38.3 µg/m³2026-09-14: 25.0 µg/m³2026-09-17: 231.9 µg/m³, #12026-09-18: 53.9 µg/m³, #92026-09-19: 26.6 µg/m³2026-09-20: 12.3 µg/m³2026-09-21: 309.7 µg/m³, #12026-09-22: 43.8 µg/m³2026-09-23: 51.0 µg/m³2026-09-24: 5.1 µg/m³2026-09-25: 6.4 µg/m³2026-09-26: 24.7 µg/m³2026-09-27: 7.3 µg/m³2026-09-28: 42.3 µg/m³2026-09-29: 8.2 µg/m³2026-09-30: 30.3 µg/m³Dera Māndi2 days #12026-09-02: 69.2 µg/m³, #72026-09-03: 88.8 µg/m³, #32026-09-04: 76.4 µg/m³, #12026-09-05: 68.1 µg/m³, #82026-09-06: 42.4 µg/m³2026-09-07: 35.9 µg/m³2026-09-08: 40.2 µg/m³2026-09-09: 55.9 µg/m³2026-09-10: 45.4 µg/m³2026-09-11: 42.8 µg/m³2026-09-12: 45.1 µg/m³2026-09-13: 47.5 µg/m³2026-09-14: 53.9 µg/m³2026-09-15: 70.8 µg/m³, #72026-09-16: 57.7 µg/m³, #102026-09-17: 74.3 µg/m³, #32026-09-18: 54.5 µg/m³, #82026-09-19: 85.1 µg/m³, #42026-09-20: 147.0 µg/m³, #22026-09-21: 102.0 µg/m³, #62026-09-22: 94.9 µg/m³, #52026-09-23: 90.5 µg/m³, #82026-09-24: 122.0 µg/m³, #22026-09-25: 158.0 µg/m³, #12026-09-26: 40.0 µg/m³2026-09-27: 44.0 µg/m³2026-09-28: 47.8 µg/m³2026-09-29: 53.4 µg/m³Blantyre2 days #12026-09-02: 105.0 µg/m³, #22026-09-03: 80.8 µg/m³, #52026-09-04: 64.4 µg/m³, #82026-09-05: 91.5 µg/m³, #22026-09-06: 119.0 µg/m³, #22026-09-07: 69.0 µg/m³, #52026-09-08: 27.9 µg/m³2026-09-09: 19.6 µg/m³2026-09-10: 34.0 µg/m³2026-09-11: 54.1 µg/m³2026-09-12: 91.4 µg/m³, #22026-09-13: 121.0 µg/m³, #12026-09-14: 116.0 µg/m³, #12026-09-15: 116.0 µg/m³, #22026-09-16: 75.3 µg/m³, #42026-09-17: 38.7 µg/m³2026-09-18: 53.8 µg/m³, #102026-09-19: 90.0 µg/m³, #22026-09-20: 61.0 µg/m³2026-09-21: 58.7 µg/m³2026-09-22: 75.0 µg/m³2026-09-23: 47.2 µg/m³2026-09-24: 70.1 µg/m³2026-09-25: 43.2 µg/m³2026-09-26: 64.2 µg/m³2026-09-27: 49.1 µg/m³2026-09-28: 60.5 µg/m³, #82026-09-29: 63.9 µg/m³, #72026-09-30: 29.6 µg/m³2026-10-01: 12.3 µg/m³Gujranwala2 days #12026-09-02: 48.3 µg/m³2026-09-03: 50.9 µg/m³2026-09-04: 45.9 µg/m³2026-09-05: 63.5 µg/m³, #102026-09-06: 51.0 µg/m³2026-09-07: 69.1 µg/m³, #42026-09-08: 80.0 µg/m³, #22026-09-09: 65.9 µg/m³, #82026-09-10: 49.4 µg/m³2026-09-11: 58.0 µg/m³, #62026-09-12: 59.6 µg/m³, #62026-09-13: 77.4 µg/m³, #22026-09-14: 46.7 µg/m³2026-09-15: 45.1 µg/m³2026-09-16: 55.2 µg/m³2026-09-17: 34.1 µg/m³2026-09-18: 46.2 µg/m³2026-09-19: 89.2 µg/m³, #32026-09-20: 87.6 µg/m³, #52026-09-21: 130.0 µg/m³, #32026-09-22: 108.5 µg/m³, #12026-09-23: 104.0 µg/m³, #32026-09-24: 96.4 µg/m³, #52026-09-25: 83.0 µg/m³, #62026-09-26: 67.8 µg/m³, #92026-09-27: 105.5 µg/m³, #22026-09-28: 53.9 µg/m³2026-09-29: 52.5 µg/m³2026-09-30: 81.0 µg/m³, #32026-10-01: 104.0 µg/m³, #1Lilongwe1 day #12026-09-02: 116.0 µg/m³, #12026-09-03: 100.0 µg/m³, #22026-09-04: 74.8 µg/m³, #32026-09-05: 68.6 µg/m³, #72026-09-06: 65.6 µg/m³, #82026-09-07: 73.3 µg/m³, #32026-09-08: 46.4 µg/m³2026-09-09: 25.8 µg/m³2026-09-10: 37.6 µg/m³2026-09-11: 47.4 µg/m³2026-09-12: 59.8 µg/m³, #52026-09-13: 58.5 µg/m³, #102026-09-14: 72.1 µg/m³, #62026-09-15: 95.2 µg/m³, #42026-09-16: 78.7 µg/m³, #22026-09-17: 61.8 µg/m³, #52026-09-18: 49.6 µg/m³2026-09-19: 61.9 µg/m³2026-09-20: 64.1 µg/m³2026-09-21: 64.1 µg/m³2026-09-22: 95.1 µg/m³, #42026-09-23: 94.7 µg/m³, #62026-09-24: 62.0 µg/m³2026-09-25: 62.1 µg/m³2026-09-26: 54.8 µg/m³2026-09-27: 41.7 µg/m³2026-09-28: 43.2 µg/m³2026-09-29: 49.5 µg/m³2026-09-30: 48.9 µg/m³2026-10-01: 26.9 µg/m³Smederevo1 day #12026-09-02: 45.2 µg/m³2026-09-03: 128.0 µg/m³, #12026-09-04: 12.2 µg/m³2026-09-05: 10.0 µg/m³2026-09-07: 13.5 µg/m³2026-09-09: 16.3 µg/m³2026-09-10: 16.7 µg/m³2026-09-11: 15.2 µg/m³2026-09-12: 13.2 µg/m³2026-09-14: 15.6 µg/m³2026-09-15: 12.6 µg/m³2026-09-16: 20.6 µg/m³2026-09-17: 20.6 µg/m³2026-09-18: 12.3 µg/m³2026-09-19: 13.3 µg/m³2026-09-21: 13.6 µg/m³2026-09-22: 7.9 µg/m³2026-09-23: 7.2 µg/m³2026-09-24: 10.1 µg/m³2026-09-25: 16.0 µg/m³2026-09-26: 25.2 µg/m³2026-09-27: 22.0 µg/m³2026-09-28: 17.3 µg/m³2026-09-29: 21.0 µg/m³2026-09-30: 17.3 µg/m³Neelankarai1 day #12026-09-02: 44.2 µg/m³2026-09-03: 18.3 µg/m³2026-09-04: 16.4 µg/m³2026-09-05: 162.0 µg/m³, #12026-09-06: 101.0 µg/m³, #32026-09-07: 48.1 µg/m³2026-09-10: 70.4 µg/m³, #62026-09-24: 20.2 µg/m³2026-09-25: 16.7 µg/m³2026-09-26: 20.6 µg/m³2026-09-27: 32.1 µg/m³2026-09-28: 30.0 µg/m³Bhāgalpur1 day #12026-09-02: 78.3 µg/m³, #52026-09-03: 63.9 µg/m³, #62026-09-04: 69.3 µg/m³, #52026-09-05: 62.4 µg/m³2026-09-06: 128.0 µg/m³, #12026-09-08: 40.7 µg/m³2026-09-09: 41.3 µg/m³2026-09-10: 70.2 µg/m³, #72026-09-13: 12.7 µg/m³2026-09-16: 10.1 µg/m³2026-09-18: 40.1 µg/m³2026-09-19: 60.4 µg/m³2026-09-20: 69.7 µg/m³2026-09-21: 19.7 µg/m³2026-09-22: 34.4 µg/m³2026-09-23: 32.3 µg/m³2026-09-26: 16.2 µg/m³Sep 2Oct 1
Every city that was the world's most polluted on at least one of the last 30 days. Filled square: #1 that day; ring: in the top 10; dot: measured but lower. Each city's own local day.

The world's air, last 30 days

2026-09-02: 2 of 2352 cities very high risk (0%)2026-09-02: 6 of 2352 cities high risk (0%)2026-09-02: 60 of 2352 cities moderate risk (3%)2026-09-02: 2284 of 2352 cities low risk (97%)Sep 22026-09-03: 1 of 2356 cities very high risk (0%)2026-09-03: 7 of 2356 cities high risk (0%)2026-09-03: 67 of 2356 cities moderate risk (3%)2026-09-03: 2281 of 2356 cities low risk (97%)2026-09-04: 10 of 2347 cities high risk (0%)2026-09-04: 53 of 2347 cities moderate risk (2%)2026-09-04: 2284 of 2347 cities low risk (97%)2026-09-05: 1 of 2355 cities very high risk (0%)2026-09-05: 10 of 2355 cities high risk (0%)2026-09-05: 55 of 2355 cities moderate risk (2%)2026-09-05: 2289 of 2355 cities low risk (97%)2026-09-06: 3 of 2144 cities very high risk (0%)2026-09-06: 7 of 2144 cities high risk (0%)2026-09-06: 62 of 2144 cities moderate risk (3%)2026-09-06: 2072 of 2144 cities low risk (97%)2026-09-07: 1 of 2332 cities very high risk (0%)2026-09-07: 8 of 2332 cities high risk (0%)2026-09-07: 71 of 2332 cities moderate risk (3%)2026-09-07: 2252 of 2332 cities low risk (97%)Sep 72026-09-08: 1 of 2296 cities very high risk (0%)2026-09-08: 6 of 2296 cities high risk (0%)2026-09-08: 70 of 2296 cities moderate risk (3%)2026-09-08: 2219 of 2296 cities low risk (97%)2026-09-09: 1 of 2331 cities very high risk (0%)2026-09-09: 11 of 2331 cities high risk (0%)2026-09-09: 71 of 2331 cities moderate risk (3%)2026-09-09: 2248 of 2331 cities low risk (96%)2026-09-10: 11 of 2277 cities high risk (0%)2026-09-10: 73 of 2277 cities moderate risk (3%)2026-09-10: 2193 of 2277 cities low risk (96%)2026-09-11: 4 of 2087 cities high risk (0%)2026-09-11: 73 of 2087 cities moderate risk (3%)2026-09-11: 2010 of 2087 cities low risk (96%)2026-09-12: 4 of 2141 cities high risk (0%)2026-09-12: 65 of 2141 cities moderate risk (3%)2026-09-12: 2072 of 2141 cities low risk (97%)2026-09-13: 1 of 1995 cities very high risk (0%)2026-09-13: 5 of 1995 cities high risk (0%)2026-09-13: 62 of 1995 cities moderate risk (3%)2026-09-13: 1927 of 1995 cities low risk (97%)2026-09-14: 1 of 2148 cities very high risk (0%)2026-09-14: 8 of 2148 cities high risk (0%)2026-09-14: 67 of 2148 cities moderate risk (3%)2026-09-14: 2072 of 2148 cities low risk (96%)Sep 142026-09-15: 3 of 2236 cities very high risk (0%)2026-09-15: 7 of 2236 cities high risk (0%)2026-09-15: 74 of 2236 cities moderate risk (3%)2026-09-15: 2152 of 2236 cities low risk (96%)2026-09-16: 7 of 2312 cities high risk (0%)2026-09-16: 86 of 2312 cities moderate risk (4%)2026-09-16: 2219 of 2312 cities low risk (96%)2026-09-17: 1 of 2312 cities very high risk (0%)2026-09-17: 4 of 2312 cities high risk (0%)2026-09-17: 70 of 2312 cities moderate risk (3%)2026-09-17: 2237 of 2312 cities low risk (97%)2026-09-18: 5 of 2358 cities high risk (0%)2026-09-18: 60 of 2358 cities moderate risk (3%)2026-09-18: 2293 of 2358 cities low risk (97%)2026-09-19: 1 of 2377 cities very high risk (0%)2026-09-19: 20 of 2377 cities high risk (1%)2026-09-19: 76 of 2377 cities moderate risk (3%)2026-09-19: 2280 of 2377 cities low risk (96%)2026-09-20: 4 of 2128 cities very high risk (0%)2026-09-20: 24 of 2128 cities high risk (1%)2026-09-20: 73 of 2128 cities moderate risk (3%)2026-09-20: 2027 of 2128 cities low risk (95%)2026-09-21: 6 of 2254 cities very high risk (0%)2026-09-21: 23 of 2254 cities high risk (1%)2026-09-21: 84 of 2254 cities moderate risk (4%)2026-09-21: 2141 of 2254 cities low risk (95%)Sep 212026-09-22: 2 of 2311 cities very high risk (0%)2026-09-22: 23 of 2311 cities high risk (1%)2026-09-22: 90 of 2311 cities moderate risk (4%)2026-09-22: 2196 of 2311 cities low risk (95%)2026-09-23: 5 of 2367 cities very high risk (0%)2026-09-23: 29 of 2367 cities high risk (1%)2026-09-23: 75 of 2367 cities moderate risk (3%)2026-09-23: 2258 of 2367 cities low risk (95%)2026-09-24: 2 of 2370 cities very high risk (0%)2026-09-24: 25 of 2370 cities high risk (1%)2026-09-24: 77 of 2370 cities moderate risk (3%)2026-09-24: 2266 of 2370 cities low risk (96%)2026-09-25: 2 of 2338 cities very high risk (0%)2026-09-25: 16 of 2338 cities high risk (1%)2026-09-25: 63 of 2338 cities moderate risk (3%)2026-09-25: 2257 of 2338 cities low risk (97%)2026-09-26: 18 of 2359 cities high risk (1%)2026-09-26: 48 of 2359 cities moderate risk (2%)2026-09-26: 2293 of 2359 cities low risk (97%)2026-09-27: 3 of 2260 cities very high risk (0%)2026-09-27: 9 of 2260 cities high risk (0%)2026-09-27: 53 of 2260 cities moderate risk (2%)2026-09-27: 2195 of 2260 cities low risk (97%)2026-09-28: 1 of 2320 cities very high risk (0%)2026-09-28: 7 of 2320 cities high risk (0%)2026-09-28: 78 of 2320 cities moderate risk (3%)2026-09-28: 2234 of 2320 cities low risk (96%)Sep 282026-09-29: 1 of 2352 cities very high risk (0%)2026-09-29: 7 of 2352 cities high risk (0%)2026-09-29: 106 of 2352 cities moderate risk (5%)2026-09-29: 2238 of 2352 cities low risk (95%)2026-09-30: 11 of 2212 cities high risk (0%)2026-09-30: 27 of 2212 cities moderate risk (1%)2026-09-30: 2174 of 2212 cities low risk (98%)2026-10-01: 1 of 1397 cities very high risk (0%)2026-10-01: 3 of 1397 cities high risk (0%)2026-10-01: 21 of 1397 cities moderate risk (2%)2026-10-01: 1372 of 1397 cities low risk (98%)Oct 1
Each day's ranked cities split by band, worst at the top: a taller red and purple share means a worse day for more of the world, not just one city.

Climbing fastest

Movement shows once the board is a day old.

Cleanest air

Cities with reference monitors only.

What's missing

We rank only cities whose monitor data we're allowed to reuse. The government monitoring networks of China and Turkey publish no terms that allow this, so we leave them out: most cities there are missing here, not clean. The few of their cities that appear are measured by community low-cost sensors, tagged as such. Why.

Use this board

SmogRank, most polluted cities, PM2.5, last 30 days to 2 Oct 2026, 02:00 UTC, smogrank.com/?w=30d.

Download top 10 (PNG)

You're welcome to reuse a single chart, image or figure with this citation and a link. Terms.

Updated 2026-10-02 02:07 UTC. Values are PM2.5 (fine particles), the median of each city's monitors, as the Canada AQHI+ PM2.5 sub-index.