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 167
  2. 2Gujranwalalow-cost sensorsPunjab, Pakistan 161
  3. 3Dera MāndiDelhi, India 161
  4. 4Blantyrelow-cost sensorsSouthern Region, Malawi 159
  5. 5JīndHaryana, India 158
  6. 6Lilongwelow-cost sensorsCentral Region, Malawi 156
  7. 7Peshawarlow-cost sensorsKhyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan 156
  8. 8GurugramHaryana, India 156
  9. 9Lahorelow-cost sensorsPunjab, Pakistan 155
  10. 10Yamuna NagarHaryana, India 154
  11. 11Zombalow-cost sensorsSouthern Region, Malawi 153
  12. 12Kampalalow-cost sensorsCentral Region, Uganda 152
  13. 13Multanlow-cost sensorsPunjab, Pakistan 151
  14. 14Faisalabadlow-cost sensorsPunjab, Pakistan 151
  15. 15Jammulow-cost sensorsJammu and Kashmir, India 149
  16. 16NoidaUttar Pradesh, India 143
  17. 17KaithalHaryana, India 140
  18. 18Sialkotlow-cost sensorsPunjab, Pakistan 139
  19. 19BhiwadiRajasthan, India 139
  20. 20Dhakalow-cost sensorsDhaka Division, Bangladesh 138
  21. 21Singaporelow-cost sensorsSingapore 134
  22. 22DādriUttar Pradesh, India 134
  23. 23DhāruheraHaryana, India 133
  24. 24Rahim Yar Khanlow-cost sensorsPunjab, Pakistan 130
  25. 25Saint-Louislow-cost sensorsSaint-Louis, Senegal 127
  26. 26Dubailow-cost sensorsDubai, United Arab Emirates 126
  27. 27Queenstown Estatelow-cost sensorsSingapore 126
  28. 28JalandharPunjab, India 125
  29. 29BahadurgarhHaryana, India 119
  30. 30FaridabadHaryana, India 117
  31. 30ChittoorAndhra Pradesh, India 117
  32. 32Rawalpindilow-cost sensorsPunjab, Pakistan 116
  33. 33Bahawalpurlow-cost sensorsPunjab, Pakistan 116
  34. 34Karongalow-cost sensorsNorthern Region, Malawi 114
  35. 35HāpurUttar Pradesh, India 113
  36. 36Tabananlow-cost sensorsBali, Indonesia 113
  37. 36BaddiHimachal Pradesh, India 113
  38. 38DushanbeDushanbe, Tajikistan 112
  39. 39Alipurlow-cost sensorsIslamabad, Pakistan 112
  40. 40Hararelow-cost sensorsHarare, Zimbabwe 111
  41. 41AmbālaHaryana, India 111
  42. 42AnantapurAndhra Pradesh, India 110
  43. 43DelhiDelhi, India 108
  44. 44ThānesarHaryana, India 108
  45. 45Sri GanganagarRajasthan, India 107
  46. 46SonīpatHaryana, India 107
  47. 46MuzaffarnagarUttar Pradesh, India 107
  48. 48NarelaDelhi, India 106
  49. 49Islamabadlow-cost sensorsIslamabad, Pakistan 106
  50. 50Greater NoidaUttar Pradesh, India 105
All 2,311 cities
Good0–50
Moderate51–100
Sensitive groups101–150
Unhealthy151–200
Very unhealthy201–300
Hazardous301+

The US EPA's Air Quality Index for PM2.5 (2024 breakpoints). 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: 9 of 2352 cities unhealthy (0%)2026-09-02: 32 of 2352 cities unhealthy for sensitive groups (1%)2026-09-02: 732 of 2352 cities moderate (31%)2026-09-02: 1579 of 2352 cities good (67%)Sep 22026-09-03: 1 of 2356 cities very unhealthy (0%)2026-09-03: 12 of 2356 cities unhealthy (1%)2026-09-03: 40 of 2356 cities unhealthy for sensitive groups (2%)2026-09-03: 575 of 2356 cities moderate (24%)2026-09-03: 1728 of 2356 cities good (73%)2026-09-04: 12 of 2347 cities unhealthy (1%)2026-09-04: 28 of 2347 cities unhealthy for sensitive groups (1%)2026-09-04: 496 of 2347 cities moderate (21%)2026-09-04: 1811 of 2347 cities good (77%)2026-09-05: 1 of 2355 cities very unhealthy (0%)2026-09-05: 12 of 2355 cities unhealthy (1%)2026-09-05: 26 of 2355 cities unhealthy for sensitive groups (1%)2026-09-05: 510 of 2355 cities moderate (22%)2026-09-05: 1806 of 2355 cities good (77%)2026-09-06: 1 of 2144 cities very unhealthy (0%)2026-09-06: 10 of 2144 cities unhealthy (0%)2026-09-06: 35 of 2144 cities unhealthy for sensitive groups (2%)2026-09-06: 432 of 2144 cities moderate (20%)2026-09-06: 1666 of 2144 cities good (78%)2026-09-07: 12 of 2332 cities unhealthy (1%)2026-09-07: 44 of 2332 cities unhealthy for sensitive groups (2%)2026-09-07: 419 of 2332 cities moderate (18%)2026-09-07: 1857 of 2332 cities good (80%)Sep 72026-09-08: 1 of 2296 cities very unhealthy (0%)2026-09-08: 14 of 2296 cities unhealthy (1%)2026-09-08: 43 of 2296 cities unhealthy for sensitive groups (2%)2026-09-08: 485 of 2296 cities moderate (21%)2026-09-08: 1753 of 2296 cities good (76%)2026-09-09: 1 of 2331 cities very unhealthy (0%)2026-09-09: 19 of 2331 cities unhealthy (1%)2026-09-09: 41 of 2331 cities unhealthy for sensitive groups (2%)2026-09-09: 434 of 2331 cities moderate (19%)2026-09-09: 1836 of 2331 cities good (79%)2026-09-10: 14 of 2277 cities unhealthy (1%)2026-09-10: 43 of 2277 cities unhealthy for sensitive groups (2%)2026-09-10: 392 of 2277 cities moderate (17%)2026-09-10: 1828 of 2277 cities good (80%)2026-09-11: 8 of 2087 cities unhealthy (0%)2026-09-11: 47 of 2087 cities unhealthy for sensitive groups (2%)2026-09-11: 392 of 2087 cities moderate (19%)2026-09-11: 1640 of 2087 cities good (79%)2026-09-12: 9 of 2141 cities unhealthy (0%)2026-09-12: 35 of 2141 cities unhealthy for sensitive groups (2%)2026-09-12: 490 of 2141 cities moderate (23%)2026-09-12: 1607 of 2141 cities good (75%)2026-09-13: 12 of 1995 cities unhealthy (1%)2026-09-13: 41 of 1995 cities unhealthy for sensitive groups (2%)2026-09-13: 485 of 1995 cities moderate (24%)2026-09-13: 1457 of 1995 cities good (73%)2026-09-14: 11 of 2148 cities unhealthy (1%)2026-09-14: 37 of 2148 cities unhealthy for sensitive groups (2%)2026-09-14: 418 of 2148 cities moderate (19%)2026-09-14: 1682 of 2148 cities good (78%)Sep 142026-09-15: 1 of 2236 cities very unhealthy (0%)2026-09-15: 12 of 2236 cities unhealthy (1%)2026-09-15: 54 of 2236 cities unhealthy for sensitive groups (2%)2026-09-15: 439 of 2236 cities moderate (20%)2026-09-15: 1730 of 2236 cities good (77%)2026-09-16: 12 of 2312 cities unhealthy (1%)2026-09-16: 50 of 2312 cities unhealthy for sensitive groups (2%)2026-09-16: 535 of 2312 cities moderate (23%)2026-09-16: 1715 of 2312 cities good (74%)2026-09-17: 1 of 2312 cities hazardous (0%)2026-09-17: 8 of 2312 cities unhealthy (0%)2026-09-17: 40 of 2312 cities unhealthy for sensitive groups (2%)2026-09-17: 520 of 2312 cities moderate (22%)2026-09-17: 1743 of 2312 cities good (75%)2026-09-18: 6 of 2358 cities unhealthy (0%)2026-09-18: 31 of 2358 cities unhealthy for sensitive groups (1%)2026-09-18: 576 of 2358 cities moderate (24%)2026-09-18: 1745 of 2358 cities good (74%)2026-09-19: 1 of 2377 cities very unhealthy (0%)2026-09-19: 23 of 2377 cities unhealthy (1%)2026-09-19: 53 of 2377 cities unhealthy for sensitive groups (2%)2026-09-19: 548 of 2377 cities moderate (23%)2026-09-19: 1752 of 2377 cities good (74%)2026-09-20: 2 of 2128 cities very unhealthy (0%)2026-09-20: 31 of 2128 cities unhealthy (1%)2026-09-20: 44 of 2128 cities unhealthy for sensitive groups (2%)2026-09-20: 421 of 2128 cities moderate (20%)2026-09-20: 1630 of 2128 cities good (77%)2026-09-21: 1 of 2254 cities hazardous (0%)2026-09-21: 2 of 2254 cities very unhealthy (0%)2026-09-21: 32 of 2254 cities unhealthy (1%)2026-09-21: 55 of 2254 cities unhealthy for sensitive groups (2%)2026-09-21: 396 of 2254 cities moderate (18%)2026-09-21: 1768 of 2254 cities good (78%)Sep 212026-09-22: 34 of 2311 cities unhealthy (1%)2026-09-22: 65 of 2311 cities unhealthy for sensitive groups (3%)2026-09-22: 472 of 2311 cities moderate (20%)2026-09-22: 1740 of 2311 cities good (75%)2026-09-23: 42 of 2367 cities unhealthy (2%)2026-09-23: 45 of 2367 cities unhealthy for sensitive groups (2%)2026-09-23: 453 of 2367 cities moderate (19%)2026-09-23: 1827 of 2367 cities good (77%)2026-09-24: 1 of 2370 cities very unhealthy (0%)2026-09-24: 29 of 2370 cities unhealthy (1%)2026-09-24: 54 of 2370 cities unhealthy for sensitive groups (2%)2026-09-24: 581 of 2370 cities moderate (25%)2026-09-24: 1705 of 2370 cities good (72%)2026-09-25: 1 of 2338 cities very unhealthy (0%)2026-09-25: 18 of 2338 cities unhealthy (1%)2026-09-25: 39 of 2338 cities unhealthy for sensitive groups (2%)2026-09-25: 694 of 2338 cities moderate (30%)2026-09-25: 1586 of 2338 cities good (68%)2026-09-26: 21 of 2359 cities unhealthy (1%)2026-09-26: 31 of 2359 cities unhealthy for sensitive groups (1%)2026-09-26: 720 of 2359 cities moderate (31%)2026-09-26: 1587 of 2359 cities good (67%)2026-09-27: 16 of 2260 cities unhealthy (1%)2026-09-27: 29 of 2260 cities unhealthy for sensitive groups (1%)2026-09-27: 639 of 2260 cities moderate (28%)2026-09-27: 1576 of 2260 cities good (70%)2026-09-28: 14 of 2320 cities unhealthy (1%)2026-09-28: 47 of 2320 cities unhealthy for sensitive groups (2%)2026-09-28: 685 of 2320 cities moderate (30%)2026-09-28: 1574 of 2320 cities good (68%)Sep 282026-09-29: 15 of 2352 cities unhealthy (1%)2026-09-29: 54 of 2352 cities unhealthy for sensitive groups (2%)2026-09-29: 775 of 2352 cities moderate (33%)2026-09-29: 1508 of 2352 cities good (64%)2026-09-30: 12 of 2212 cities unhealthy (1%)2026-09-30: 18 of 2212 cities unhealthy for sensitive groups (1%)2026-09-30: 681 of 2212 cities moderate (31%)2026-09-30: 1501 of 2212 cities good (68%)2026-10-01: 6 of 1397 cities unhealthy (0%)2026-10-01: 13 of 1397 cities unhealthy for sensitive groups (1%)2026-10-01: 475 of 1397 cities moderate (34%)2026-10-01: 903 of 1397 cities good (65%)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, 01:00 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 01:07 UTC. Values are PM2.5 (fine particles), the median of each city's monitors, as the US AQI PM2.5 sub-index.