The world's most polluted cities, ranked

2,346 of 2,447 measured cities in 72 countries breathed air above the WHO annual guideline of 5 µg/m³ so far this year. The worst was Miryang, South Korea, at 256.9.

#14 Beolgyo 100.0 µg/m³, more polluted than 99% of 2,447
← Miryang 256.9 µg/m³ 200 µg/m³5 WHO annual guideline
Every ranked city, one column each, worst on the left and cleanest on the right; height is PM2.5 in µg/m³. Point at it to read a city; tap to open it.
  1. 1MiryangGyeongsangnam-do, South Korea 30751.4×
  2. 2HwasunJeollanam-do, South Korea 26643.2×
  3. 3SinhyeonGyeongsangnam-do, South Korea 19329.0×
  4. 4SejongSejong-si, South Korea 18527.8×
  5. 5HadongGyeongsangnam-do, South Korea 18227.4×
  6. 6SeogwipoJeju-do, South Korea 18027.2×
  7. 7SeosanChungcheongnam-do, South Korea 17226.0×
  8. 8GaigeturiJeju-do, South Korea 16424.9×
  9. 9HongseongChungcheongnam-do, South Korea 16224.7×
  10. 10PubalGyeonggi-do, South Korea 14121.4×
  11. 11KinzanChungcheongnam-do, South Korea 14021.3×
  12. 12TangjinChungcheongnam-do, South Korea 13821.0×
  13. 13GurugramHaryana, India 13620.6×▼12
  14. 14BeolgyoJeollanam-do, South Korea no daily values yet13220.0×
  15. 15AnseongGyeonggi-do, South Korea 13019.7×
  16. 16Taesal-liChungcheongnam-do, South Korea 13019.7×
  17. 17GapyeongGyeonggi-do, South Korea 12318.7×
  18. 18YangjuGyeonggi-do, South Korea 12218.4×
  19. 19Hwaseong-siGyeonggi-do, South Korea 12118.3×
  20. 20Yangp'yŏngGyeonggi-do, South Korea 11918.0×
  21. 21GangneungGangwon-do, South Korea 11918.0×
  22. 22YeongdongNorth Chungcheong, South Korea 11617.6×
  23. 23Faisalabadlow-cost sensorsPunjab, Pakistan 11517.3×▼21
  24. 23GeojeGyeongsangnam-do, South Korea 11517.3×
  25. 25HwawŏnDaegu, South Korea 11317.0×
  26. 26TongyeongGyeongsangnam-do, South Korea 11216.9×
  27. 27BoryeongChungcheongnam-do, South Korea 11216.8×
  28. 28GongjuChungcheongnam-do, South Korea 11216.8×
  29. 29NonsanChungcheongnam-do, South Korea 11116.8×
  30. 30SinanJeollanam-do, South Korea 11016.6×
  31. 31SeonghwanChungcheongnam-do, South Korea 11016.6×
  32. 32BawānaDelhi, India 10816.2×
  33. 33KosongGangwon-do, South Korea 10716.1×
  34. 34Ganghwa-gunIncheon, South Korea 10716.1×
  35. 35Charkhi DādriHaryana, India 10616.0×
  36. 36NangenJeollabuk-do, South Korea 10515.7×
  37. 36KunwiGyeongsangbuk-do, South Korea 10515.7×
  38. 38ChuncheonGangwon-do, South Korea 10415.6×
  39. 39WabuGyeonggi-do, South Korea 10415.5×
  40. 40ChinjuGyeongsangnam-do, South Korea 10415.5×
  41. 41Gujranwalalow-cost sensorsPunjab, Pakistan 10315.4×▼38
  42. 42KimjeJeollabuk-do, South Korea 10315.4×
  43. 43GoseongGyeongsangnam-do, South Korea 10215.3×
  44. 44Lahorelow-cost sensorsPunjab, Pakistan 10215.3×▼40
  45. 45Jeju CityJeju-do, South Korea 10015.0×
  46. 46NamsaJeollabuk-do, South Korea 10015.0×
  47. 47ChangsuJeollabuk-do, South Korea 10014.9×
  48. 48OkcheonNorth Chungcheong, South Korea 10014.9×
  49. 49T’aebaekGangwon-do, South Korea 9914.7×
  50. 49MānesarHaryana, India 9914.7×
All 2,447 cities
Excellent0–50
Good51–100
Lightly polluted101–150
Moderately polluted151–200
Heavily polluted201–300
Severely polluted301+

China's Air Quality Index (HJ 633-2012), PM2.5 individual index. 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

Hwasun2 days #12026-09-02: 424.0 µg/m³2026-09-03: 13.4 µg/m³2026-09-04: 8.0 µg/m³2026-09-05: 422.0 µg/m³, #52026-09-06: 1,260.0 µg/m³, #12026-09-07: 12.2 µg/m³2026-09-08: 11.8 µg/m³2026-09-09: 9.9 µg/m³2026-09-10: 839.0 µg/m³, #42026-09-11: 426.0 µg/m³2026-09-12: 843.0 µg/m³, #22026-09-13: 844.0 µg/m³, #12026-09-14: 845.0 µg/m³, #82026-09-15: 433.0 µg/m³2026-09-16: 15.4 µg/m³2026-09-17: 423.0 µg/m³2026-09-18: 424.0 µg/m³2026-09-19: 425.0 µg/m³, #32026-09-20: 425.0 µg/m³, #32026-09-21: 428.0 µg/m³2026-09-22: 12.6 µg/m³2026-09-23: 12.1 µg/m³2026-09-24: 10.4 µg/m³2026-09-25: 17.3 µg/m³2026-09-26: 5.8 µg/m³2026-09-27: 8.1 µg/m³2026-09-28: 10.8 µg/m³2026-09-29: 10.9 µg/m³2026-09-30: 10.0 µg/m³2026-10-01: 8.3 µg/m³Miryang2 days #12026-09-02: 1,260.0 µg/m³, #32026-09-03: 15.8 µg/m³2026-09-04: 7.3 µg/m³2026-09-05: 5.4 µg/m³2026-09-06: 10.3 µg/m³2026-09-07: 12.5 µg/m³2026-09-08: 7.1 µg/m³2026-09-09: 840.0 µg/m³, #72026-09-10: 423.0 µg/m³2026-09-11: 839.0 µg/m³2026-09-12: 425.0 µg/m³, #52026-09-15: 14.4 µg/m³2026-09-16: 842.0 µg/m³2026-09-17: 5.8 µg/m³2026-09-18: 1,260.0 µg/m³, #12026-09-19: 842.0 µg/m³, #22026-09-20: 842.0 µg/m³, #12026-09-21: 844.0 µg/m³, #72026-09-22: 10.6 µg/m³2026-09-23: 8.0 µg/m³2026-09-24: 15.3 µg/m³2026-09-25: 19.6 µg/m³2026-09-26: 10.2 µg/m³2026-09-27: 11.0 µg/m³2026-09-28: 15.9 µg/m³2026-09-29: 14.0 µg/m³2026-09-30: 9.8 µg/m³2026-10-01: 11.4 µg/m³Gurugram2 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: 52.3 µg/m³2026-09-10: 82.9 µg/m³2026-09-11: 66.4 µg/m³2026-09-12: 33.5 µg/m³2026-09-13: 24.3 µg/m³2026-09-14: 38.2 µg/m³2026-09-15: 44.2 µg/m³2026-09-16: 31.0 µg/m³2026-09-17: 33.4 µg/m³2026-09-18: 34.3 µg/m³2026-09-19: 111.0 µg/m³, #102026-09-20: 122.9 µg/m³, #92026-09-21: 160.5 µg/m³2026-09-22: 165.1 µg/m³, #42026-09-23: 170.0 µg/m³, #12026-09-24: 112.2 µg/m³, #22026-09-25: 47.2 µg/m³2026-09-26: 57.0 µg/m³2026-09-27: 60.9 µg/m³2026-09-28: 104.0 µg/m³, #12026-09-29: 20.5 µg/m³Kinshasa2 days #12026-09-02: 70.1 µg/m³2026-09-03: 43.2 µg/m³2026-09-04: 73.1 µg/m³2026-09-05: 51.9 µg/m³2026-09-06: 78.5 µg/m³2026-09-07: 111.2 µg/m³2026-09-08: 138.0 µg/m³2026-09-09: 58.3 µg/m³2026-09-10: 70.7 µg/m³2026-09-11: 83.0 µg/m³2026-09-12: 70.9 µg/m³2026-09-14: 86.5 µg/m³2026-09-15: 102.1 µg/m³2026-09-16: 51.1 µg/m³2026-09-17: 56.0 µg/m³2026-09-18: 72.4 µg/m³2026-09-19: 71.9 µg/m³2026-09-20: 73.4 µg/m³2026-09-21: 71.2 µg/m³2026-09-23: 113.0 µg/m³, #32026-09-24: 151.0 µg/m³, #12026-09-25: 114.0 µg/m³, #12026-09-26: 65.6 µg/m³2026-09-27: 50.1 µg/m³2026-09-28: 58.2 µg/m³2026-09-30: 75.5 µg/m³, #42026-10-01: 48.5 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/m³2026-09-06: 51.0 µg/m³2026-09-07: 69.1 µg/m³2026-09-08: 80.0 µg/m³2026-09-09: 65.9 µg/m³2026-09-10: 49.4 µg/m³2026-09-11: 58.0 µg/m³2026-09-12: 59.6 µg/m³2026-09-13: 77.4 µg/m³, #72026-09-14: 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/m³2026-09-20: 87.6 µg/m³2026-09-21: 130.0 µg/m³2026-09-22: 108.5 µg/m³, #62026-09-23: 104.0 µg/m³, #42026-09-24: 96.4 µg/m³, #52026-09-25: 83.0 µg/m³, #62026-09-26: 67.8 µg/m³, #102026-09-27: 105.5 µg/m³, #12026-09-28: 53.9 µg/m³2026-09-29: 52.5 µg/m³2026-09-30: 81.0 µg/m³, #32026-10-01: 104.0 µg/m³, #1Yesan1 day #12026-09-02: 1,270.0 µg/m³, #12026-09-03: 21.0 µg/m³2026-09-04: 7.9 µg/m³2026-09-05: 7.7 µg/m³2026-09-06: 6.2 µg/m³2026-09-07: 8.9 µg/m³2026-09-08: 16.4 µg/m³2026-09-09: 840.0 µg/m³, #62026-09-10: 7.9 µg/m³2026-09-11: 11.0 µg/m³2026-09-12: 22.2 µg/m³2026-09-13: 26.0 µg/m³2026-09-14: 21.9 µg/m³2026-09-15: 11.3 µg/m³2026-09-16: 13.3 µg/m³2026-09-17: 7.6 µg/m³2026-09-18: 840.0 µg/m³, #62026-09-19: 9.9 µg/m³2026-09-20: 14.0 µg/m³2026-09-21: 17.9 µg/m³2026-09-22: 17.3 µg/m³2026-09-23: 19.3 µg/m³2026-09-24: 19.6 µg/m³2026-09-25: 20.5 µg/m³2026-09-26: 10.7 µg/m³2026-09-27: 13.3 µg/m³2026-09-28: 17.0 µg/m³2026-09-29: 18.6 µg/m³2026-09-30: 17.2 µg/m³2026-10-01: 5.8 µg/m³Gaigeturi1 day #12026-09-02: 1,260.0 µg/m³, #52026-09-03: 1,260.0 µg/m³, #12026-09-04: 632.0 µg/m³, #62026-09-05: 5.5 µg/m³2026-09-06: 8.5 µg/m³2026-09-07: 12.3 µg/m³2026-09-08: 9.8 µg/m³2026-09-09: 425.3 µg/m³2026-09-10: 5.7 µg/m³2026-09-11: 215.0 µg/m³2026-09-12: 7.8 µg/m³2026-09-13: 6.6 µg/m³2026-09-14: 1,260.0 µg/m³, #22026-09-15: 8.6 µg/m³2026-09-16: 9.5 µg/m³2026-09-17: 628.3 µg/m³2026-09-18: 5.7 µg/m³2026-09-19: 8.2 µg/m³2026-09-20: 6.8 µg/m³2026-09-21: 11.7 µg/m³2026-09-22: 8.4 µg/m³2026-09-23: 6.3 µg/m³2026-09-24: 9.3 µg/m³2026-09-25: 9.7 µg/m³2026-09-26: 5.5 µg/m³2026-09-27: 3.7 µg/m³2026-09-28: 6.7 µg/m³2026-09-29: 5.6 µg/m³2026-09-30: 7.3 µg/m³2026-10-01: 6.4 µg/m³Yecheon1 day #12026-09-02: 421.0 µg/m³2026-09-03: 6.3 µg/m³2026-09-04: 1,260.0 µg/m³, #12026-09-05: 5.0 µg/m³2026-09-06: 7.6 µg/m³2026-09-07: 10.0 µg/m³2026-09-08: 10.3 µg/m³2026-09-09: 5.7 µg/m³2026-09-10: 5.8 µg/m³2026-09-11: 7.4 µg/m³2026-09-12: 9.0 µg/m³2026-09-13: 11.3 µg/m³2026-09-15: 14.5 µg/m³2026-09-16: 843.0 µg/m³2026-09-17: 5.9 µg/m³2026-09-18: 8.4 µg/m³2026-09-19: 8.1 µg/m³2026-09-20: 7.9 µg/m³2026-09-21: 12.0 µg/m³2026-09-22: 9.8 µg/m³2026-09-23: 8.3 µg/m³2026-09-24: 15.3 µg/m³2026-09-25: 17.8 µg/m³2026-09-26: 9.2 µg/m³2026-09-27: 8.5 µg/m³2026-09-28: 12.2 µg/m³2026-09-29: 10.0 µg/m³2026-09-30: 10.9 µg/m³2026-10-01: 8.4 µg/m³Cheorwon1 day #12026-09-02: 427.0 µg/m³2026-09-03: 13.0 µg/m³2026-09-04: 10.4 µg/m³2026-09-05: 1,260.0 µg/m³, #12026-09-06: 5.6 µg/m³2026-09-07: 1,050.5 µg/m³, #32026-09-08: 12.5 µg/m³2026-09-09: 217.2 µg/m³2026-09-10: 8.4 µg/m³2026-09-11: 11.2 µg/m³2026-09-12: 16.8 µg/m³2026-09-13: 17.5 µg/m³2026-09-14: 19.3 µg/m³2026-09-15: 13.5 µg/m³2026-09-16: 12.4 µg/m³2026-09-17: 11.4 µg/m³2026-09-18: 218.6 µg/m³2026-09-19: 12.4 µg/m³2026-09-20: 13.7 µg/m³2026-09-21: 224.2 µg/m³2026-09-22: 20.0 µg/m³2026-09-23: 18.5 µg/m³2026-09-24: 19.9 µg/m³2026-09-25: 12.5 µg/m³2026-09-26: 7.7 µg/m³2026-09-27: 15.8 µg/m³2026-09-28: 16.9 µg/m³2026-09-29: 12.5 µg/m³2026-09-30: 15.5 µg/m³2026-10-01: 9.5 µg/m³T’aebaek1 day #12026-09-02: 419.0 µg/m³2026-09-03: 3.7 µg/m³2026-09-04: 3.3 µg/m³2026-09-05: 2.3 µg/m³2026-09-06: 4.1 µg/m³2026-09-07: 1,260.0 µg/m³, #12026-09-08: 4.4 µg/m³2026-09-09: 3.1 µg/m³2026-09-10: 2.7 µg/m³2026-09-11: 3.0 µg/m³2026-09-12: 3.5 µg/m³2026-09-13: 8.5 µg/m³2026-09-14: 11.1 µg/m³2026-09-15: 9.0 µg/m³2026-09-16: 7.3 µg/m³2026-09-17: 3.1 µg/m³2026-09-18: 3.5 µg/m³2026-09-19: 5.0 µg/m³2026-09-20: 6.3 µg/m³2026-09-21: 6.9 µg/m³2026-09-22: 5.4 µg/m³2026-09-23: 4.6 µg/m³2026-09-24: 10.0 µg/m³2026-09-25: 9.3 µg/m³2026-09-26: 4.4 µg/m³2026-09-27: 4.4 µg/m³2026-09-28: 8.6 µg/m³2026-09-29: 4.8 µg/m³2026-09-30: 7.6 µg/m³2026-10-01: 9.0 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: 126 of 2638 cities severely polluted (5%)2026-09-02: 1 of 2638 cities moderately polluted (0%)2026-09-02: 4 of 2638 cities lightly polluted (0%)2026-09-02: 54 of 2638 cities good (2%)2026-09-02: 2453 of 2638 cities excellent (93%)Sep 22026-09-03: 17 of 2661 cities severely polluted (1%)2026-09-03: 6 of 2661 cities heavily polluted (0%)2026-09-03: 1 of 2661 cities moderately polluted (0%)2026-09-03: 4 of 2661 cities lightly polluted (0%)2026-09-03: 65 of 2661 cities good (2%)2026-09-03: 2568 of 2661 cities excellent (97%)2026-09-04: 14 of 2654 cities severely polluted (1%)2026-09-04: 3 of 2654 cities heavily polluted (0%)2026-09-04: 2 of 2654 cities lightly polluted (0%)2026-09-04: 60 of 2654 cities good (2%)2026-09-04: 2575 of 2654 cities excellent (97%)2026-09-05: 9 of 2665 cities severely polluted (0%)2026-09-05: 5 of 2665 cities heavily polluted (0%)2026-09-05: 4 of 2665 cities lightly polluted (0%)2026-09-05: 44 of 2665 cities good (2%)2026-09-05: 2603 of 2665 cities excellent (98%)2026-09-06: 6 of 2454 cities severely polluted (0%)2026-09-06: 5 of 2454 cities heavily polluted (0%)2026-09-06: 1 of 2454 cities moderately polluted (0%)2026-09-06: 8 of 2454 cities lightly polluted (0%)2026-09-06: 55 of 2454 cities good (2%)2026-09-06: 2379 of 2454 cities excellent (97%)2026-09-07: 19 of 2634 cities severely polluted (1%)2026-09-07: 4 of 2634 cities heavily polluted (0%)2026-09-07: 1 of 2634 cities moderately polluted (0%)2026-09-07: 3 of 2634 cities lightly polluted (0%)2026-09-07: 81 of 2634 cities good (3%)2026-09-07: 2526 of 2634 cities excellent (96%)Sep 72026-09-08: 10 of 2595 cities severely polluted (0%)2026-09-08: 2 of 2595 cities heavily polluted (0%)2026-09-08: 3 of 2595 cities moderately polluted (0%)2026-09-08: 6 of 2595 cities lightly polluted (0%)2026-09-08: 84 of 2595 cities good (3%)2026-09-08: 2490 of 2595 cities excellent (96%)2026-09-09: 23 of 2629 cities severely polluted (1%)2026-09-09: 8 of 2629 cities heavily polluted (0%)2026-09-09: 1 of 2629 cities moderately polluted (0%)2026-09-09: 6 of 2629 cities lightly polluted (0%)2026-09-09: 89 of 2629 cities good (3%)2026-09-09: 2502 of 2629 cities excellent (95%)2026-09-10: 17 of 2575 cities severely polluted (1%)2026-09-10: 5 of 2575 cities heavily polluted (0%)2026-09-10: 7 of 2575 cities lightly polluted (0%)2026-09-10: 92 of 2575 cities good (4%)2026-09-10: 2454 of 2575 cities excellent (95%)2026-09-11: 25 of 2408 cities severely polluted (1%)2026-09-11: 6 of 2408 cities heavily polluted (0%)2026-09-11: 4 of 2408 cities lightly polluted (0%)2026-09-11: 78 of 2408 cities good (3%)2026-09-11: 2295 of 2408 cities excellent (95%)2026-09-12: 5 of 2483 cities severely polluted (0%)2026-09-12: 1 of 2483 cities heavily polluted (0%)2026-09-12: 5 of 2483 cities lightly polluted (0%)2026-09-12: 68 of 2483 cities good (3%)2026-09-12: 2404 of 2483 cities excellent (97%)2026-09-13: 4 of 2299 cities severely polluted (0%)2026-09-13: 1 of 2299 cities heavily polluted (0%)2026-09-13: 1 of 2299 cities moderately polluted (0%)2026-09-13: 1 of 2299 cities lightly polluted (0%)2026-09-13: 76 of 2299 cities good (3%)2026-09-13: 2216 of 2299 cities excellent (96%)2026-09-14: 14 of 2453 cities severely polluted (1%)2026-09-14: 3 of 2453 cities heavily polluted (0%)2026-09-14: 1 of 2453 cities moderately polluted (0%)2026-09-14: 5 of 2453 cities lightly polluted (0%)2026-09-14: 64 of 2453 cities good (3%)2026-09-14: 2366 of 2453 cities excellent (96%)Sep 142026-09-15: 16 of 2548 cities severely polluted (1%)2026-09-15: 6 of 2548 cities heavily polluted (0%)2026-09-15: 2 of 2548 cities moderately polluted (0%)2026-09-15: 3 of 2548 cities lightly polluted (0%)2026-09-15: 79 of 2548 cities good (3%)2026-09-15: 2442 of 2548 cities excellent (96%)2026-09-16: 32 of 2623 cities severely polluted (1%)2026-09-16: 3 of 2623 cities heavily polluted (0%)2026-09-16: 1 of 2623 cities moderately polluted (0%)2026-09-16: 6 of 2623 cities lightly polluted (0%)2026-09-16: 91 of 2623 cities good (3%)2026-09-16: 2490 of 2623 cities excellent (95%)2026-09-17: 21 of 2605 cities severely polluted (1%)2026-09-17: 2 of 2605 cities heavily polluted (0%)2026-09-17: 4 of 2605 cities lightly polluted (0%)2026-09-17: 83 of 2605 cities good (3%)2026-09-17: 2495 of 2605 cities excellent (96%)2026-09-18: 18 of 2687 cities severely polluted (1%)2026-09-18: 5 of 2687 cities heavily polluted (0%)2026-09-18: 60 of 2687 cities good (2%)2026-09-18: 2604 of 2687 cities excellent (97%)2026-09-19: 5 of 2687 cities severely polluted (0%)2026-09-19: 4 of 2687 cities heavily polluted (0%)2026-09-19: 7 of 2687 cities lightly polluted (0%)2026-09-19: 91 of 2687 cities good (3%)2026-09-19: 2580 of 2687 cities excellent (96%)2026-09-20: 3 of 2423 cities severely polluted (0%)2026-09-20: 4 of 2423 cities heavily polluted (0%)2026-09-20: 2 of 2423 cities moderately polluted (0%)2026-09-20: 10 of 2423 cities lightly polluted (0%)2026-09-20: 81 of 2423 cities good (3%)2026-09-20: 2323 of 2423 cities excellent (96%)2026-09-21: 23 of 2553 cities severely polluted (1%)2026-09-21: 4 of 2553 cities heavily polluted (0%)2026-09-21: 1 of 2553 cities moderately polluted (0%)2026-09-21: 16 of 2553 cities lightly polluted (1%)2026-09-21: 92 of 2553 cities good (4%)2026-09-21: 2417 of 2553 cities excellent (95%)Sep 212026-09-22: 2 of 2629 cities severely polluted (0%)2026-09-22: 2 of 2629 cities heavily polluted (0%)2026-09-22: 1 of 2629 cities moderately polluted (0%)2026-09-22: 21 of 2629 cities lightly polluted (1%)2026-09-22: 108 of 2629 cities good (4%)2026-09-22: 2495 of 2629 cities excellent (95%)2026-09-23: 1 of 2686 cities heavily polluted (0%)2026-09-23: 25 of 2686 cities lightly polluted (1%)2026-09-23: 90 of 2686 cities good (3%)2026-09-23: 2570 of 2686 cities excellent (96%)2026-09-24: 1 of 2702 cities heavily polluted (0%)2026-09-24: 15 of 2702 cities lightly polluted (1%)2026-09-24: 98 of 2702 cities good (4%)2026-09-24: 2588 of 2702 cities excellent (96%)2026-09-25: 9 of 2660 cities lightly polluted (0%)2026-09-25: 64 of 2660 cities good (2%)2026-09-25: 2587 of 2660 cities excellent (97%)2026-09-26: 5 of 2667 cities lightly polluted (0%)2026-09-26: 60 of 2667 cities good (2%)2026-09-26: 2602 of 2667 cities excellent (98%)2026-09-27: 7 of 2558 cities lightly polluted (0%)2026-09-27: 49 of 2558 cities good (2%)2026-09-27: 2502 of 2558 cities excellent (98%)2026-09-28: 6 of 2637 cities lightly polluted (0%)2026-09-28: 72 of 2637 cities good (3%)2026-09-28: 2559 of 2637 cities excellent (97%)Sep 282026-09-29: 5 of 2672 cities lightly polluted (0%)2026-09-29: 88 of 2672 cities good (3%)2026-09-29: 2579 of 2672 cities excellent (97%)2026-09-30: 4 of 2422 cities lightly polluted (0%)2026-09-30: 29 of 2422 cities good (1%)2026-09-30: 2389 of 2422 cities excellent (99%)2026-10-01: 3 of 1464 cities lightly polluted (0%)2026-10-01: 23 of 1464 cities good (2%)2026-10-01: 1438 of 1464 cities excellent (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, this year to 2 Oct 2026, 07:00 UTC, smogrank.com/?w=year.

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

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