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.

#14 Faisalabad 55.6 µg/m³, more polluted than 99% 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 159
  2. 2Gujranwalalow-cost sensorsPunjab, Pakistan 132
  3. 3Dera MāndiDelhi, India 132
  4. 4Blantyrelow-cost sensorsSouthern Region, Malawi 121
  5. 5JīndHaryana, India 118
  6. 6Lilongwelow-cost sensorsCentral Region, Malawi 108
  7. 7Peshawarlow-cost sensorsKhyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan 104
  8. 8GurugramHaryana, India 104
  9. 9Lahorelow-cost sensorsPunjab, Pakistan 104
  10. 10Yamuna NagarHaryana, India 100
  11. 11Zombalow-cost sensorsSouthern Region, Malawi 98
  12. 12Kampalalow-cost sensorsCentral Region, Uganda 93
  13. 13Multanlow-cost sensorsPunjab, Pakistan 93
  14. 14Faisalabadlow-cost sensorsPunjab, Pakistan 93
  15. 15Jammulow-cost sensorsJammu and Kashmir, India 92
  16. 16NoidaUttar Pradesh, India 86
  17. 17KaithalHaryana, India 86
  18. 18Sialkotlow-cost sensorsPunjab, Pakistan 85
  19. 19BhiwadiRajasthan, India 85
  20. 20Dhakalow-cost sensorsDhaka Division, Bangladesh 85
  21. 21Singaporelow-cost sensorsSingapore 81
  22. 22DādriUttar Pradesh, India 81
  23. 23DhāruheraHaryana, India 80
  24. 24Rahim Yar Khanlow-cost sensorsPunjab, Pakistan 78
  25. 25Saint-Louislow-cost sensorsSaint-Louis, Senegal 76
  26. 26Dubailow-cost sensorsDubai, United Arab Emirates 76
  27. 27Queenstown Estatelow-cost sensorsSingapore 76
  28. 28JalandharPunjab, India 75
  29. 29BahadurgarhHaryana, India 71
  30. 30FaridabadHaryana, India 70
  31. 30ChittoorAndhra Pradesh, India 70
  32. 32Rawalpindilow-cost sensorsPunjab, Pakistan 70
  33. 33Bahawalpurlow-cost sensorsPunjab, Pakistan 70
  34. 34Karongalow-cost sensorsNorthern Region, Malawi 68
  35. 35HāpurUttar Pradesh, India 68
  36. 36Tabananlow-cost sensorsBali, Indonesia 66
  37. 36BaddiHimachal Pradesh, India 66
  38. 38DushanbeDushanbe, Tajikistan 66
  39. 39Alipurlow-cost sensorsIslamabad, Pakistan 66
  40. 40Hararelow-cost sensorsHarare, Zimbabwe 66
  41. 41AmbālaHaryana, India 66
  42. 42AnantapurAndhra Pradesh, India 65
  43. 43DelhiDelhi, India 63
  44. 44ThānesarHaryana, India 63
  45. 45Sri GanganagarRajasthan, India 63
  46. 46SonīpatHaryana, India 63
  47. 46MuzaffarnagarUttar Pradesh, India 63
  48. 48NarelaDelhi, India 63
  49. 49Islamabadlow-cost sensorsIslamabad, Pakistan 61
  50. 50Greater NoidaUttar Pradesh, India 61
All 2,311 cities
Good0–50
Satisfactory51–100
Moderate101–200
Poor201–300
Very poor301–400
Severe401+

India's National Air Quality Index (CPCB), PM2.5 sub-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

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: 3 of 2352 cities poor (0%)2026-09-02: 5 of 2352 cities moderate (0%)2026-09-02: 59 of 2352 cities satisfactory (3%)2026-09-02: 2285 of 2352 cities good (97%)Sep 22026-09-03: 1 of 2356 cities very poor (0%)2026-09-03: 1 of 2356 cities poor (0%)2026-09-03: 6 of 2356 cities moderate (0%)2026-09-03: 65 of 2356 cities satisfactory (3%)2026-09-03: 2283 of 2356 cities good (97%)2026-09-04: 10 of 2347 cities moderate (0%)2026-09-04: 50 of 2347 cities satisfactory (2%)2026-09-04: 2287 of 2347 cities good (97%)2026-09-05: 1 of 2355 cities very poor (0%)2026-09-05: 1 of 2355 cities poor (0%)2026-09-05: 9 of 2355 cities moderate (0%)2026-09-05: 53 of 2355 cities satisfactory (2%)2026-09-05: 2291 of 2355 cities good (97%)2026-09-06: 1 of 2144 cities very poor (0%)2026-09-06: 3 of 2144 cities poor (0%)2026-09-06: 5 of 2144 cities moderate (0%)2026-09-06: 61 of 2144 cities satisfactory (3%)2026-09-06: 2074 of 2144 cities good (97%)2026-09-07: 1 of 2332 cities poor (0%)2026-09-07: 7 of 2332 cities moderate (0%)2026-09-07: 72 of 2332 cities satisfactory (3%)2026-09-07: 2252 of 2332 cities good (97%)Sep 72026-09-08: 1 of 2296 cities very poor (0%)2026-09-08: 6 of 2296 cities moderate (0%)2026-09-08: 68 of 2296 cities satisfactory (3%)2026-09-08: 2221 of 2296 cities good (97%)2026-09-09: 1 of 2331 cities very poor (0%)2026-09-09: 1 of 2331 cities poor (0%)2026-09-09: 10 of 2331 cities moderate (0%)2026-09-09: 69 of 2331 cities satisfactory (3%)2026-09-09: 2250 of 2331 cities good (97%)2026-09-10: 2 of 2277 cities poor (0%)2026-09-10: 8 of 2277 cities moderate (0%)2026-09-10: 70 of 2277 cities satisfactory (3%)2026-09-10: 2197 of 2277 cities good (96%)2026-09-11: 4 of 2087 cities moderate (0%)2026-09-11: 72 of 2087 cities satisfactory (3%)2026-09-11: 2011 of 2087 cities good (96%)2026-09-12: 2 of 2141 cities poor (0%)2026-09-12: 2 of 2141 cities moderate (0%)2026-09-12: 63 of 2141 cities satisfactory (3%)2026-09-12: 2074 of 2141 cities good (97%)2026-09-13: 1 of 1995 cities very poor (0%)2026-09-13: 5 of 1995 cities moderate (0%)2026-09-13: 61 of 1995 cities satisfactory (3%)2026-09-13: 1928 of 1995 cities good (97%)2026-09-14: 2 of 2148 cities poor (0%)2026-09-14: 7 of 2148 cities moderate (0%)2026-09-14: 63 of 2148 cities satisfactory (3%)2026-09-14: 2076 of 2148 cities good (97%)Sep 142026-09-15: 1 of 2236 cities very poor (0%)2026-09-15: 3 of 2236 cities poor (0%)2026-09-15: 5 of 2236 cities moderate (0%)2026-09-15: 74 of 2236 cities satisfactory (3%)2026-09-15: 2153 of 2236 cities good (96%)2026-09-16: 6 of 2312 cities moderate (0%)2026-09-16: 83 of 2312 cities satisfactory (4%)2026-09-16: 2223 of 2312 cities good (96%)2026-09-17: 1 of 2312 cities very poor (0%)2026-09-17: 1 of 2312 cities poor (0%)2026-09-17: 3 of 2312 cities moderate (0%)2026-09-17: 68 of 2312 cities satisfactory (3%)2026-09-17: 2239 of 2312 cities good (97%)2026-09-18: 5 of 2358 cities moderate (0%)2026-09-18: 57 of 2358 cities satisfactory (2%)2026-09-18: 2296 of 2358 cities good (97%)2026-09-19: 1 of 2377 cities very poor (0%)2026-09-19: 19 of 2377 cities moderate (1%)2026-09-19: 75 of 2377 cities satisfactory (3%)2026-09-19: 2282 of 2377 cities good (96%)2026-09-20: 2 of 2128 cities very poor (0%)2026-09-20: 2 of 2128 cities poor (0%)2026-09-20: 23 of 2128 cities moderate (1%)2026-09-20: 72 of 2128 cities satisfactory (3%)2026-09-20: 2029 of 2128 cities good (95%)2026-09-21: 1 of 2254 cities severe (0%)2026-09-21: 2 of 2254 cities very poor (0%)2026-09-21: 5 of 2254 cities poor (0%)2026-09-21: 21 of 2254 cities moderate (1%)2026-09-21: 81 of 2254 cities satisfactory (4%)2026-09-21: 2144 of 2254 cities good (95%)Sep 212026-09-22: 5 of 2311 cities poor (0%)2026-09-22: 20 of 2311 cities moderate (1%)2026-09-22: 89 of 2311 cities satisfactory (4%)2026-09-22: 2197 of 2311 cities good (95%)2026-09-23: 8 of 2367 cities poor (0%)2026-09-23: 25 of 2367 cities moderate (1%)2026-09-23: 76 of 2367 cities satisfactory (3%)2026-09-23: 2258 of 2367 cities good (95%)2026-09-24: 2 of 2370 cities very poor (0%)2026-09-24: 5 of 2370 cities poor (0%)2026-09-24: 20 of 2370 cities moderate (1%)2026-09-24: 77 of 2370 cities satisfactory (3%)2026-09-24: 2266 of 2370 cities good (96%)2026-09-25: 1 of 2338 cities very poor (0%)2026-09-25: 3 of 2338 cities poor (0%)2026-09-25: 14 of 2338 cities moderate (1%)2026-09-25: 58 of 2338 cities satisfactory (2%)2026-09-25: 2262 of 2338 cities good (97%)2026-09-26: 2 of 2359 cities poor (0%)2026-09-26: 16 of 2359 cities moderate (1%)2026-09-26: 46 of 2359 cities satisfactory (2%)2026-09-26: 2295 of 2359 cities good (97%)2026-09-27: 3 of 2260 cities poor (0%)2026-09-27: 9 of 2260 cities moderate (0%)2026-09-27: 50 of 2260 cities satisfactory (2%)2026-09-27: 2198 of 2260 cities good (97%)2026-09-28: 1 of 2320 cities poor (0%)2026-09-28: 7 of 2320 cities moderate (0%)2026-09-28: 76 of 2320 cities satisfactory (3%)2026-09-28: 2236 of 2320 cities good (96%)Sep 282026-09-29: 1 of 2352 cities poor (0%)2026-09-29: 7 of 2352 cities moderate (0%)2026-09-29: 103 of 2352 cities satisfactory (4%)2026-09-29: 2241 of 2352 cities good (95%)2026-09-30: 1 of 2212 cities poor (0%)2026-09-30: 10 of 2212 cities moderate (0%)2026-09-30: 24 of 2212 cities satisfactory (1%)2026-09-30: 2177 of 2212 cities good (98%)2026-10-01: 1 of 1397 cities poor (0%)2026-10-01: 3 of 1397 cities moderate (0%)2026-10-01: 20 of 1397 cities satisfactory (1%)2026-10-01: 1373 of 1397 cities good (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 India AQI PM2.5 sub-index.