The world's most polluted cities, ranked

478 of 2,623 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.

#110 Naesŏ 51.4 µg/m³, more polluted than 95% of 2,623
← Miryang 307.9 µg/m³ 300 µg/m³15 WHO 24-hour 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 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 2,623 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: 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: 132 of 2649 cities very high (5%)2026-09-02: 6 of 2649 cities high (0%)2026-09-02: 47 of 2649 cities moderate (2%)2026-09-02: 2464 of 2649 cities low (93%)Sep 22026-09-03: 29 of 2653 cities very high (1%)2026-09-03: 12 of 2653 cities high (0%)2026-09-03: 49 of 2653 cities moderate (2%)2026-09-03: 2563 of 2653 cities low (97%)2026-09-04: 21 of 2654 cities very high (1%)2026-09-04: 15 of 2654 cities high (1%)2026-09-04: 42 of 2654 cities moderate (2%)2026-09-04: 2576 of 2654 cities low (97%)2026-09-05: 20 of 2662 cities very high (1%)2026-09-05: 10 of 2662 cities high (0%)2026-09-05: 31 of 2662 cities moderate (1%)2026-09-05: 2601 of 2662 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 2600 cities very high (1%)2026-09-08: 21 of 2600 cities high (1%)2026-09-08: 61 of 2600 cities moderate (2%)2026-09-08: 2497 of 2600 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 2579 cities very high (1%)2026-09-10: 17 of 2579 cities high (1%)2026-09-10: 70 of 2579 cities moderate (3%)2026-09-10: 2459 of 2579 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 2468 cities very high (1%)2026-09-12: 12 of 2468 cities high (0%)2026-09-12: 53 of 2468 cities moderate (2%)2026-09-12: 2390 of 2468 cities low (97%)2026-09-13: 8 of 2303 cities very high (0%)2026-09-13: 17 of 2303 cities high (1%)2026-09-13: 56 of 2303 cities moderate (2%)2026-09-13: 2222 of 2303 cities low (96%)2026-09-14: 26 of 2455 cities very high (1%)2026-09-14: 7 of 2455 cities high (0%)2026-09-14: 50 of 2455 cities moderate (2%)2026-09-14: 2372 of 2455 cities low (97%)Sep 142026-09-15: 29 of 2545 cities very high (1%)2026-09-15: 11 of 2545 cities high (0%)2026-09-15: 65 of 2545 cities moderate (3%)2026-09-15: 2440 of 2545 cities low (96%)2026-09-16: 44 of 2624 cities very high (2%)2026-09-16: 20 of 2624 cities high (1%)2026-09-16: 64 of 2624 cities moderate (2%)2026-09-16: 2496 of 2624 cities low (95%)2026-09-17: 29 of 2607 cities very high (1%)2026-09-17: 15 of 2607 cities high (1%)2026-09-17: 63 of 2607 cities moderate (2%)2026-09-17: 2500 of 2607 cities low (96%)2026-09-18: 25 of 2683 cities very high (1%)2026-09-18: 13 of 2683 cities high (0%)2026-09-18: 43 of 2683 cities moderate (2%)2026-09-18: 2602 of 2683 cities low (97%)2026-09-19: 26 of 2685 cities very high (1%)2026-09-19: 15 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: 26 of 2425 cities very high (1%)2026-09-20: 23 of 2425 cities high (1%)2026-09-20: 49 of 2425 cities moderate (2%)2026-09-20: 2327 of 2425 cities low (96%)2026-09-21: 48 of 2554 cities very high (2%)2026-09-21: 24 of 2554 cities high (1%)2026-09-21: 64 of 2554 cities moderate (3%)2026-09-21: 2418 of 2554 cities low (95%)Sep 212026-09-22: 30 of 2628 cities very high (1%)2026-09-22: 26 of 2628 cities high (1%)2026-09-22: 76 of 2628 cities moderate (3%)2026-09-22: 2496 of 2628 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: 56 of 2685 cities moderate (2%)2026-09-23: 2571 of 2685 cities low (96%)2026-09-24: 21 of 2701 cities very high (1%)2026-09-24: 22 of 2701 cities high (1%)2026-09-24: 67 of 2701 cities moderate (2%)2026-09-24: 2591 of 2701 cities low (96%)2026-09-25: 12 of 2659 cities very high (0%)2026-09-25: 10 of 2659 cities high (0%)2026-09-25: 51 of 2659 cities moderate (2%)2026-09-25: 2586 of 2659 cities low (97%)2026-09-26: 5 of 2666 cities very high (0%)2026-09-26: 22 of 2666 cities high (1%)2026-09-26: 36 of 2666 cities moderate (1%)2026-09-26: 2603 of 2666 cities low (98%)2026-09-27: 9 of 2560 cities very high (0%)2026-09-27: 12 of 2560 cities high (0%)2026-09-27: 32 of 2560 cities moderate (1%)2026-09-27: 2507 of 2560 cities low (98%)2026-09-28: 8 of 2638 cities very high (0%)2026-09-28: 14 of 2638 cities high (1%)2026-09-28: 55 of 2638 cities moderate (2%)2026-09-28: 2561 of 2638 cities low (97%)Sep 282026-09-29: 5 of 2681 cities very high (0%)2026-09-29: 16 of 2681 cities high (1%)2026-09-29: 69 of 2681 cities moderate (3%)2026-09-29: 2591 of 2681 cities low (97%)2026-09-30: 5 of 2438 cities very high (0%)2026-09-30: 8 of 2438 cities high (0%)2026-09-30: 20 of 2438 cities moderate (1%)2026-09-30: 2405 of 2438 cities low (99%)2026-10-01: 4 of 1506 cities very high (0%)2026-10-01: 5 of 1506 cities high (0%)2026-10-01: 17 of 1506 cities moderate (1%)2026-10-01: 1480 of 1506 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, 06:00 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 06:07 UTC. Values are PM2.5 (fine particles), the median of each city's monitors, as the UK DAQI PM2.5 sub-index.