The world's most polluted cities, ranked

478 of 2,624 measured cities in 86 countries breathed air above the WHO 24-hour guideline of 15 µg/m³ over the last 30 days. The worst was Miryang, South Korea, at 307.9.

#30 Hwawŏn 106.3 µg/m³, more polluted than 98% of 2,624
← Miryang 307.9 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. 1MiryangGyeongsangnam-do, South Korea 10
  2. 2HwasunJeollanam-do, South Korea 10
  3. 3NangenJeollabuk-do, South Korea 10
  4. 4SeosanChungcheongnam-do, South Korea 10
  5. 5GaigeturiJeju-do, South Korea 10
  6. 6Hwaseong-siGyeonggi-do, South Korea 10
  7. 7Taesal-liChungcheongnam-do, South Korea 10
  8. 8KosongGangwon-do, South Korea 10
  9. 9SeogwipoJeju-do, South Korea 10
  10. 10AnseongGyeonggi-do, South Korea 10
  11. 11SinhyeonGyeongsangnam-do, South Korea 10
  12. 12NonsanChungcheongnam-do, South Korea 10
  13. 13ChangsuJeollabuk-do, South Korea 10
  14. 14MokpoJeollanam-do, South Korea 10
  15. 15KimjeJeollabuk-do, South Korea 10
  16. 16JeongeupJeollabuk-do, South Korea 10
  17. 17HadongGyeongsangnam-do, South Korea 10
  18. 18Yangp'yŏngGyeonggi-do, South Korea 10
  19. 19CheorwonGangwon-do, South Korea 10
  20. 20KunwiGyeongsangbuk-do, South Korea 10
  21. 21GeojeGyeongsangnam-do, South Korea 10
  22. 22ChinjuGyeongsangnam-do, South Korea 10
  23. 23YesanChungcheongnam-do, South Korea 10
  24. 24PubalGyeonggi-do, South Korea 10
  25. 25BuanJeollabuk-do, South Korea 10
  26. 26YeojuGyeonggi-do, South Korea 10
  27. 27YŏnmuChungcheongnam-do, South Korea 10
  28. 28NamsaJeollabuk-do, South Korea 10
  29. 29YangsanGyeongsangnam-do, South Korea 10
  30. 30BuyeoChungcheongnam-do, South Korea 10
  31. 30HwawŏnDaegu, South Korea 10
  32. 32GunsanJeollabuk-do, South Korea 10
  33. 33TangjinChungcheongnam-do, South Korea 10
  34. 34GangneungGangwon-do, South Korea 10
  35. 35Cheongju-siNorth Chungcheong, South Korea 10
  36. 36YeonggwangJeollanam-do, South Korea 10
  37. 37YecheonGyeongsangbuk-do, South Korea 10
  38. 38JungpyongNorth Chungcheong, South Korea 10
  39. 39Ganghwa-gunIncheon, South Korea 10
  40. 40KoesanNorth Chungcheong, South Korea 10
  41. 41GoseongGyeongsangnam-do, South Korea 10
  42. 42YeongdongNorth Chungcheong, South Korea 10
  43. 42YangjuGyeonggi-do, South Korea 10
  44. 42BoryeongChungcheongnam-do, South Korea 10
  45. 45JangheungJeollanam-do, South Korea 10
  46. 46Jeju CityJeju-do, South Korea 10
  47. 47Koch'angJeollabuk-do, South Korea 10
  48. 48Icheon-siGyeonggi-do, South Korea 10
  49. 49MuanJeollanam-do, South Korea 10
  50. 50HongseongChungcheongnam-do, South Korea 10
All 2,624 cities
Low1–3
Moderate4–6
High7–9
Very high10

The UK's Daily Air Quality Index (1 to 10), PM2.5 bands. 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: 49.9 µg/m³, #10Gujranwala2 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: 132 of 2651 cities very high (5%)2026-09-02: 6 of 2651 cities high (0%)2026-09-02: 48 of 2651 cities moderate (2%)2026-09-02: 2465 of 2651 cities low (93%)Sep 22026-09-03: 29 of 2651 cities very high (1%)2026-09-03: 12 of 2651 cities high (0%)2026-09-03: 49 of 2651 cities moderate (2%)2026-09-03: 2561 of 2651 cities low (97%)2026-09-04: 21 of 2653 cities very high (1%)2026-09-04: 15 of 2653 cities high (1%)2026-09-04: 42 of 2653 cities moderate (2%)2026-09-04: 2575 of 2653 cities low (97%)2026-09-05: 20 of 2663 cities very high (1%)2026-09-05: 10 of 2663 cities high (0%)2026-09-05: 31 of 2663 cities moderate (1%)2026-09-05: 2602 of 2663 cities low (98%)2026-09-06: 22 of 2455 cities very high (1%)2026-09-06: 5 of 2455 cities high (0%)2026-09-06: 47 of 2455 cities moderate (2%)2026-09-06: 2381 of 2455 cities low (97%)2026-09-07: 30 of 2637 cities very high (1%)2026-09-07: 18 of 2637 cities high (1%)2026-09-07: 57 of 2637 cities moderate (2%)2026-09-07: 2532 of 2637 cities low (96%)Sep 72026-09-08: 21 of 2604 cities very high (1%)2026-09-08: 21 of 2604 cities high (1%)2026-09-08: 61 of 2604 cities moderate (2%)2026-09-08: 2501 of 2604 cities low (96%)2026-09-09: 39 of 2631 cities very high (1%)2026-09-09: 24 of 2631 cities high (1%)2026-09-09: 63 of 2631 cities moderate (2%)2026-09-09: 2505 of 2631 cities low (95%)2026-09-10: 33 of 2585 cities very high (1%)2026-09-10: 17 of 2585 cities high (1%)2026-09-10: 70 of 2585 cities moderate (3%)2026-09-10: 2465 of 2585 cities low (95%)2026-09-11: 36 of 2411 cities very high (1%)2026-09-11: 14 of 2411 cities high (1%)2026-09-11: 62 of 2411 cities moderate (3%)2026-09-11: 2299 of 2411 cities low (95%)2026-09-12: 13 of 2461 cities very high (1%)2026-09-12: 12 of 2461 cities high (0%)2026-09-12: 52 of 2461 cities moderate (2%)2026-09-12: 2384 of 2461 cities low (97%)2026-09-13: 8 of 2301 cities very high (0%)2026-09-13: 17 of 2301 cities high (1%)2026-09-13: 57 of 2301 cities moderate (2%)2026-09-13: 2219 of 2301 cities low (96%)2026-09-14: 26 of 2459 cities very high (1%)2026-09-14: 7 of 2459 cities high (0%)2026-09-14: 50 of 2459 cities moderate (2%)2026-09-14: 2376 of 2459 cities low (97%)Sep 142026-09-15: 29 of 2547 cities very high (1%)2026-09-15: 11 of 2547 cities high (0%)2026-09-15: 65 of 2547 cities moderate (3%)2026-09-15: 2442 of 2547 cities low (96%)2026-09-16: 44 of 2618 cities very high (2%)2026-09-16: 20 of 2618 cities high (1%)2026-09-16: 63 of 2618 cities moderate (2%)2026-09-16: 2491 of 2618 cities low (95%)2026-09-17: 29 of 2610 cities very high (1%)2026-09-17: 15 of 2610 cities high (1%)2026-09-17: 64 of 2610 cities moderate (2%)2026-09-17: 2502 of 2610 cities low (96%)2026-09-18: 25 of 2681 cities very high (1%)2026-09-18: 12 of 2681 cities high (0%)2026-09-18: 43 of 2681 cities moderate (2%)2026-09-18: 2601 of 2681 cities low (97%)2026-09-19: 25 of 2685 cities very high (1%)2026-09-19: 16 of 2685 cities high (1%)2026-09-19: 65 of 2685 cities moderate (2%)2026-09-19: 2579 of 2685 cities low (96%)2026-09-20: 27 of 2432 cities very high (1%)2026-09-20: 23 of 2432 cities high (1%)2026-09-20: 49 of 2432 cities moderate (2%)2026-09-20: 2333 of 2432 cities low (96%)2026-09-21: 48 of 2553 cities very high (2%)2026-09-21: 24 of 2553 cities high (1%)2026-09-21: 63 of 2553 cities moderate (2%)2026-09-21: 2418 of 2553 cities low (95%)Sep 212026-09-22: 30 of 2619 cities very high (1%)2026-09-22: 26 of 2619 cities high (1%)2026-09-22: 76 of 2619 cities moderate (3%)2026-09-22: 2487 of 2619 cities low (95%)2026-09-23: 26 of 2685 cities very high (1%)2026-09-23: 32 of 2685 cities high (1%)2026-09-23: 57 of 2685 cities moderate (2%)2026-09-23: 2570 of 2685 cities low (96%)2026-09-24: 21 of 2700 cities very high (1%)2026-09-24: 22 of 2700 cities high (1%)2026-09-24: 67 of 2700 cities moderate (2%)2026-09-24: 2590 of 2700 cities low (96%)2026-09-25: 12 of 2658 cities very high (0%)2026-09-25: 10 of 2658 cities high (0%)2026-09-25: 51 of 2658 cities moderate (2%)2026-09-25: 2585 of 2658 cities low (97%)2026-09-26: 5 of 2665 cities very high (0%)2026-09-26: 22 of 2665 cities high (1%)2026-09-26: 36 of 2665 cities moderate (1%)2026-09-26: 2602 of 2665 cities low (98%)2026-09-27: 9 of 2564 cities very high (0%)2026-09-27: 12 of 2564 cities high (0%)2026-09-27: 32 of 2564 cities moderate (1%)2026-09-27: 2511 of 2564 cities low (98%)2026-09-28: 8 of 2634 cities very high (0%)2026-09-28: 14 of 2634 cities high (1%)2026-09-28: 55 of 2634 cities moderate (2%)2026-09-28: 2557 of 2634 cities low (97%)Sep 282026-09-29: 5 of 2679 cities very high (0%)2026-09-29: 16 of 2679 cities high (1%)2026-09-29: 69 of 2679 cities moderate (3%)2026-09-29: 2589 of 2679 cities low (97%)2026-09-30: 5 of 2442 cities very high (0%)2026-09-30: 8 of 2442 cities high (0%)2026-09-30: 20 of 2442 cities moderate (1%)2026-09-30: 2409 of 2442 cities low (99%)2026-10-01: 4 of 1541 cities very high (0%)2026-10-01: 5 of 1541 cities high (0%)2026-10-01: 17 of 1541 cities moderate (1%)2026-10-01: 1515 of 1541 cities low (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, 05:00 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 05:07 UTC. Values are PM2.5 (fine particles), the median of each city's monitors, as the UK DAQI PM2.5 sub-index.