The world's most polluted cities, ranked

478 of 2,626 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.

#71 Okcheon 69.5 µg/m³, more polluted than 97% of 2,626
← 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 2,626 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 2658 cities very high (1%)2026-09-04: 15 of 2658 cities high (1%)2026-09-04: 42 of 2658 cities moderate (2%)2026-09-04: 2580 of 2658 cities low (97%)2026-09-05: 20 of 2665 cities very high (1%)2026-09-05: 10 of 2665 cities high (0%)2026-09-05: 31 of 2665 cities moderate (1%)2026-09-05: 2604 of 2665 cities low (98%)2026-09-06: 22 of 2457 cities very high (1%)2026-09-06: 5 of 2457 cities high (0%)2026-09-06: 47 of 2457 cities moderate (2%)2026-09-06: 2383 of 2457 cities low (97%)2026-09-07: 30 of 2639 cities very high (1%)2026-09-07: 18 of 2639 cities high (1%)2026-09-07: 57 of 2639 cities moderate (2%)2026-09-07: 2534 of 2639 cities low (96%)Sep 72026-09-08: 21 of 2605 cities very high (1%)2026-09-08: 21 of 2605 cities high (1%)2026-09-08: 61 of 2605 cities moderate (2%)2026-09-08: 2502 of 2605 cities low (96%)2026-09-09: 39 of 2642 cities very high (1%)2026-09-09: 24 of 2642 cities high (1%)2026-09-09: 63 of 2642 cities moderate (2%)2026-09-09: 2516 of 2642 cities low (95%)2026-09-10: 33 of 2582 cities very high (1%)2026-09-10: 17 of 2582 cities high (1%)2026-09-10: 70 of 2582 cities moderate (3%)2026-09-10: 2462 of 2582 cities low (95%)2026-09-11: 36 of 2408 cities very high (1%)2026-09-11: 14 of 2408 cities high (1%)2026-09-11: 62 of 2408 cities moderate (3%)2026-09-11: 2296 of 2408 cities low (95%)2026-09-12: 13 of 2456 cities very high (1%)2026-09-12: 12 of 2456 cities high (0%)2026-09-12: 52 of 2456 cities moderate (2%)2026-09-12: 2379 of 2456 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: 57 of 2303 cities moderate (2%)2026-09-13: 2221 of 2303 cities low (96%)2026-09-14: 26 of 2454 cities very high (1%)2026-09-14: 7 of 2454 cities high (0%)2026-09-14: 50 of 2454 cities moderate (2%)2026-09-14: 2371 of 2454 cities low (97%)Sep 142026-09-15: 29 of 2550 cities very high (1%)2026-09-15: 11 of 2550 cities high (0%)2026-09-15: 65 of 2550 cities moderate (3%)2026-09-15: 2445 of 2550 cities low (96%)2026-09-16: 44 of 2626 cities very high (2%)2026-09-16: 20 of 2626 cities high (1%)2026-09-16: 63 of 2626 cities moderate (2%)2026-09-16: 2499 of 2626 cities low (95%)2026-09-17: 29 of 2615 cities very high (1%)2026-09-17: 15 of 2615 cities high (1%)2026-09-17: 64 of 2615 cities moderate (2%)2026-09-17: 2507 of 2615 cities low (96%)2026-09-18: 25 of 2675 cities very high (1%)2026-09-18: 12 of 2675 cities high (0%)2026-09-18: 43 of 2675 cities moderate (2%)2026-09-18: 2595 of 2675 cities low (97%)2026-09-19: 25 of 2680 cities very high (1%)2026-09-19: 16 of 2680 cities high (1%)2026-09-19: 65 of 2680 cities moderate (2%)2026-09-19: 2574 of 2680 cities low (96%)2026-09-20: 27 of 2439 cities very high (1%)2026-09-20: 23 of 2439 cities high (1%)2026-09-20: 49 of 2439 cities moderate (2%)2026-09-20: 2340 of 2439 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 2629 cities very high (1%)2026-09-22: 26 of 2629 cities high (1%)2026-09-22: 76 of 2629 cities moderate (3%)2026-09-22: 2497 of 2629 cities low (95%)2026-09-23: 26 of 2680 cities very high (1%)2026-09-23: 32 of 2680 cities high (1%)2026-09-23: 57 of 2680 cities moderate (2%)2026-09-23: 2565 of 2680 cities low (96%)2026-09-24: 21 of 2693 cities very high (1%)2026-09-24: 22 of 2693 cities high (1%)2026-09-24: 67 of 2693 cities moderate (2%)2026-09-24: 2583 of 2693 cities low (96%)2026-09-25: 12 of 2657 cities very high (0%)2026-09-25: 10 of 2657 cities high (0%)2026-09-25: 51 of 2657 cities moderate (2%)2026-09-25: 2584 of 2657 cities low (97%)2026-09-26: 5 of 2668 cities very high (0%)2026-09-26: 22 of 2668 cities high (1%)2026-09-26: 36 of 2668 cities moderate (1%)2026-09-26: 2605 of 2668 cities low (98%)2026-09-27: 9 of 2565 cities very high (0%)2026-09-27: 12 of 2565 cities high (0%)2026-09-27: 32 of 2565 cities moderate (1%)2026-09-27: 2512 of 2565 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 2670 cities very high (0%)2026-09-29: 16 of 2670 cities high (1%)2026-09-29: 69 of 2670 cities moderate (3%)2026-09-29: 2580 of 2670 cities low (97%)2026-09-30: 5 of 2477 cities very high (0%)2026-09-30: 8 of 2477 cities high (0%)2026-09-30: 20 of 2477 cities moderate (1%)2026-09-30: 2444 of 2477 cities low (99%)2026-10-01: 4 of 1586 cities very high (0%)2026-10-01: 5 of 1586 cities high (0%)2026-10-01: 17 of 1586 cities moderate (1%)2026-10-01: 1560 of 1586 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, 04:00 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 04:07 UTC. Values are PM2.5 (fine particles), the median of each city's monitors, as the UK DAQI PM2.5 sub-index.