The world's most polluted cities, ranked

2,346 of 2,447 measured cities in 72 countries breathed air above the WHO annual guideline of 5 µg/m³ so far this year. The worst was Miryang, South Korea, at 256.9.

#359 Loei 26.4 µg/m³, more polluted than 85% of 2,447
← Miryang 256.9 µg/m³ 200 µg/m³5 WHO annual 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 30751.4×
  2. 2HwasunJeollanam-do, South Korea 26643.2×
  3. 3SinhyeonGyeongsangnam-do, South Korea 19329.0×
  4. 4SejongSejong-si, South Korea 18527.8×
  5. 5HadongGyeongsangnam-do, South Korea 18227.4×
  6. 6SeogwipoJeju-do, South Korea 18027.2×
  7. 7SeosanChungcheongnam-do, South Korea 17226.0×
  8. 8GaigeturiJeju-do, South Korea 16424.9×
  9. 9HongseongChungcheongnam-do, South Korea 16224.7×
  10. 10PubalGyeonggi-do, South Korea 14121.4×
  11. 11KinzanChungcheongnam-do, South Korea 14021.3×
  12. 12TangjinChungcheongnam-do, South Korea 13821.0×
  13. 13GurugramHaryana, India 13620.6×▼12
  14. 14BeolgyoJeollanam-do, South Korea no daily values yet13220.0×
  15. 15AnseongGyeonggi-do, South Korea 13019.7×
  16. 16Taesal-liChungcheongnam-do, South Korea 13019.7×
  17. 17GapyeongGyeonggi-do, South Korea 12318.7×
  18. 18YangjuGyeonggi-do, South Korea 12218.4×
  19. 19Hwaseong-siGyeonggi-do, South Korea 12118.3×
  20. 20Yangp'yŏngGyeonggi-do, South Korea 11918.0×
  21. 21GangneungGangwon-do, South Korea 11918.0×
  22. 22YeongdongNorth Chungcheong, South Korea 11617.6×
  23. 23Faisalabadlow-cost sensorsPunjab, Pakistan 11517.3×▼21
  24. 23GeojeGyeongsangnam-do, South Korea 11517.3×
  25. 25HwawŏnDaegu, South Korea 11317.0×
  26. 26TongyeongGyeongsangnam-do, South Korea 11216.9×
  27. 27BoryeongChungcheongnam-do, South Korea 11216.8×
  28. 28GongjuChungcheongnam-do, South Korea 11216.8×
  29. 29NonsanChungcheongnam-do, South Korea 11116.8×
  30. 30SinanJeollanam-do, South Korea 11016.6×
  31. 31SeonghwanChungcheongnam-do, South Korea 11016.6×
  32. 32BawānaDelhi, India 10816.2×
  33. 33KosongGangwon-do, South Korea 10716.1×
  34. 34Ganghwa-gunIncheon, South Korea 10716.1×
  35. 35Charkhi DādriHaryana, India 10616.0×
  36. 36NangenJeollabuk-do, South Korea 10515.7×
  37. 36KunwiGyeongsangbuk-do, South Korea 10515.7×
  38. 38ChuncheonGangwon-do, South Korea 10415.6×
  39. 39WabuGyeonggi-do, South Korea 10415.5×
  40. 40ChinjuGyeongsangnam-do, South Korea 10415.5×
  41. 41Gujranwalalow-cost sensorsPunjab, Pakistan 10315.4×▼38
  42. 42KimjeJeollabuk-do, South Korea 10315.4×
  43. 43GoseongGyeongsangnam-do, South Korea 10215.3×
  44. 44Lahorelow-cost sensorsPunjab, Pakistan 10215.3×▼40
  45. 45Jeju CityJeju-do, South Korea 10015.0×
  46. 46NamsaJeollabuk-do, South Korea 10015.0×
  47. 47ChangsuJeollabuk-do, South Korea 10014.9×
  48. 48OkcheonNorth Chungcheong, South Korea 10014.9×
  49. 49T’aebaekGangwon-do, South Korea 9914.7×
  50. 49MānesarHaryana, India 9914.7×
All 2,447 cities
Excellent0–50
Good51–100
Lightly polluted101–150
Moderately polluted151–200
Heavily polluted201–300
Severely polluted301+

China's Air Quality Index (HJ 633-2012), PM2.5 individual 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

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: 126 of 2651 cities severely polluted (5%)2026-09-02: 1 of 2651 cities moderately polluted (0%)2026-09-02: 4 of 2651 cities lightly polluted (0%)2026-09-02: 55 of 2651 cities good (2%)2026-09-02: 2465 of 2651 cities excellent (93%)Sep 22026-09-03: 17 of 2651 cities severely polluted (1%)2026-09-03: 6 of 2651 cities heavily polluted (0%)2026-09-03: 1 of 2651 cities moderately polluted (0%)2026-09-03: 4 of 2651 cities lightly polluted (0%)2026-09-03: 65 of 2651 cities good (2%)2026-09-03: 2558 of 2651 cities excellent (96%)2026-09-04: 14 of 2653 cities severely polluted (1%)2026-09-04: 3 of 2653 cities heavily polluted (0%)2026-09-04: 2 of 2653 cities lightly polluted (0%)2026-09-04: 60 of 2653 cities good (2%)2026-09-04: 2574 of 2653 cities excellent (97%)2026-09-05: 9 of 2663 cities severely polluted (0%)2026-09-05: 5 of 2663 cities heavily polluted (0%)2026-09-05: 4 of 2663 cities lightly polluted (0%)2026-09-05: 44 of 2663 cities good (2%)2026-09-05: 2601 of 2663 cities excellent (98%)2026-09-06: 6 of 2455 cities severely polluted (0%)2026-09-06: 5 of 2455 cities heavily polluted (0%)2026-09-06: 1 of 2455 cities moderately polluted (0%)2026-09-06: 8 of 2455 cities lightly polluted (0%)2026-09-06: 55 of 2455 cities good (2%)2026-09-06: 2380 of 2455 cities excellent (97%)2026-09-07: 19 of 2637 cities severely polluted (1%)2026-09-07: 4 of 2637 cities heavily polluted (0%)2026-09-07: 1 of 2637 cities moderately polluted (0%)2026-09-07: 3 of 2637 cities lightly polluted (0%)2026-09-07: 81 of 2637 cities good (3%)2026-09-07: 2529 of 2637 cities excellent (96%)Sep 72026-09-08: 10 of 2604 cities severely polluted (0%)2026-09-08: 2 of 2604 cities heavily polluted (0%)2026-09-08: 3 of 2604 cities moderately polluted (0%)2026-09-08: 6 of 2604 cities lightly polluted (0%)2026-09-08: 84 of 2604 cities good (3%)2026-09-08: 2499 of 2604 cities excellent (96%)2026-09-09: 23 of 2631 cities severely polluted (1%)2026-09-09: 8 of 2631 cities heavily polluted (0%)2026-09-09: 1 of 2631 cities moderately polluted (0%)2026-09-09: 6 of 2631 cities lightly polluted (0%)2026-09-09: 89 of 2631 cities good (3%)2026-09-09: 2504 of 2631 cities excellent (95%)2026-09-10: 17 of 2585 cities severely polluted (1%)2026-09-10: 5 of 2585 cities heavily polluted (0%)2026-09-10: 7 of 2585 cities lightly polluted (0%)2026-09-10: 92 of 2585 cities good (4%)2026-09-10: 2464 of 2585 cities excellent (95%)2026-09-11: 25 of 2411 cities severely polluted (1%)2026-09-11: 6 of 2411 cities heavily polluted (0%)2026-09-11: 4 of 2411 cities lightly polluted (0%)2026-09-11: 78 of 2411 cities good (3%)2026-09-11: 2298 of 2411 cities excellent (95%)2026-09-12: 5 of 2461 cities severely polluted (0%)2026-09-12: 1 of 2461 cities heavily polluted (0%)2026-09-12: 5 of 2461 cities lightly polluted (0%)2026-09-12: 67 of 2461 cities good (3%)2026-09-12: 2383 of 2461 cities excellent (97%)2026-09-13: 4 of 2301 cities severely polluted (0%)2026-09-13: 1 of 2301 cities heavily polluted (0%)2026-09-13: 1 of 2301 cities moderately polluted (0%)2026-09-13: 1 of 2301 cities lightly polluted (0%)2026-09-13: 77 of 2301 cities good (3%)2026-09-13: 2217 of 2301 cities excellent (96%)2026-09-14: 14 of 2459 cities severely polluted (1%)2026-09-14: 3 of 2459 cities heavily polluted (0%)2026-09-14: 1 of 2459 cities moderately polluted (0%)2026-09-14: 5 of 2459 cities lightly polluted (0%)2026-09-14: 64 of 2459 cities good (3%)2026-09-14: 2372 of 2459 cities excellent (96%)Sep 142026-09-15: 16 of 2547 cities severely polluted (1%)2026-09-15: 6 of 2547 cities heavily polluted (0%)2026-09-15: 2 of 2547 cities moderately polluted (0%)2026-09-15: 3 of 2547 cities lightly polluted (0%)2026-09-15: 79 of 2547 cities good (3%)2026-09-15: 2441 of 2547 cities excellent (96%)2026-09-16: 32 of 2618 cities severely polluted (1%)2026-09-16: 3 of 2618 cities heavily polluted (0%)2026-09-16: 1 of 2618 cities moderately polluted (0%)2026-09-16: 6 of 2618 cities lightly polluted (0%)2026-09-16: 90 of 2618 cities good (3%)2026-09-16: 2486 of 2618 cities excellent (95%)2026-09-17: 21 of 2610 cities severely polluted (1%)2026-09-17: 2 of 2610 cities heavily polluted (0%)2026-09-17: 4 of 2610 cities lightly polluted (0%)2026-09-17: 84 of 2610 cities good (3%)2026-09-17: 2499 of 2610 cities excellent (96%)2026-09-18: 18 of 2681 cities severely polluted (1%)2026-09-18: 5 of 2681 cities heavily polluted (0%)2026-09-18: 59 of 2681 cities good (2%)2026-09-18: 2599 of 2681 cities excellent (97%)2026-09-19: 5 of 2685 cities severely polluted (0%)2026-09-19: 4 of 2685 cities heavily polluted (0%)2026-09-19: 7 of 2685 cities lightly polluted (0%)2026-09-19: 91 of 2685 cities good (3%)2026-09-19: 2578 of 2685 cities excellent (96%)2026-09-20: 3 of 2432 cities severely polluted (0%)2026-09-20: 4 of 2432 cities heavily polluted (0%)2026-09-20: 2 of 2432 cities moderately polluted (0%)2026-09-20: 10 of 2432 cities lightly polluted (0%)2026-09-20: 82 of 2432 cities good (3%)2026-09-20: 2331 of 2432 cities excellent (96%)2026-09-21: 23 of 2553 cities severely polluted (1%)2026-09-21: 4 of 2553 cities heavily polluted (0%)2026-09-21: 1 of 2553 cities moderately polluted (0%)2026-09-21: 16 of 2553 cities lightly polluted (1%)2026-09-21: 91 of 2553 cities good (4%)2026-09-21: 2418 of 2553 cities excellent (95%)Sep 212026-09-22: 2 of 2619 cities severely polluted (0%)2026-09-22: 2 of 2619 cities heavily polluted (0%)2026-09-22: 1 of 2619 cities moderately polluted (0%)2026-09-22: 21 of 2619 cities lightly polluted (1%)2026-09-22: 108 of 2619 cities good (4%)2026-09-22: 2485 of 2619 cities excellent (95%)2026-09-23: 1 of 2685 cities heavily polluted (0%)2026-09-23: 25 of 2685 cities lightly polluted (1%)2026-09-23: 91 of 2685 cities good (3%)2026-09-23: 2568 of 2685 cities excellent (96%)2026-09-24: 1 of 2700 cities heavily polluted (0%)2026-09-24: 15 of 2700 cities lightly polluted (1%)2026-09-24: 97 of 2700 cities good (4%)2026-09-24: 2587 of 2700 cities excellent (96%)2026-09-25: 9 of 2658 cities lightly polluted (0%)2026-09-25: 65 of 2658 cities good (2%)2026-09-25: 2584 of 2658 cities excellent (97%)2026-09-26: 5 of 2665 cities lightly polluted (0%)2026-09-26: 60 of 2665 cities good (2%)2026-09-26: 2600 of 2665 cities excellent (98%)2026-09-27: 7 of 2564 cities lightly polluted (0%)2026-09-27: 49 of 2564 cities good (2%)2026-09-27: 2508 of 2564 cities excellent (98%)2026-09-28: 6 of 2634 cities lightly polluted (0%)2026-09-28: 72 of 2634 cities good (3%)2026-09-28: 2556 of 2634 cities excellent (97%)Sep 282026-09-29: 5 of 2679 cities lightly polluted (0%)2026-09-29: 88 of 2679 cities good (3%)2026-09-29: 2586 of 2679 cities excellent (97%)2026-09-30: 4 of 2442 cities lightly polluted (0%)2026-09-30: 29 of 2442 cities good (1%)2026-09-30: 2409 of 2442 cities excellent (99%)2026-10-01: 3 of 1541 cities lightly polluted (0%)2026-10-01: 23 of 1541 cities good (1%)2026-10-01: 1515 of 1541 cities excellent (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, this year to 2 Oct 2026, 05:00 UTC, smogrank.com/?w=year.

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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 China AQI PM2.5 sub-index.