SmogRank / Democratic Republic of the Congo / Kinshasa

Air quality in Kinshasa

Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo. PM2.5 from 8 low-cost sensors, updated hourly.

38.9 µg/m³
Unhealthy for sensitive groups

Latest hour (05:00 UTC), 2.6× the WHO 24-hour guideline.

Rank

24 h
–
not enough data
7 days
#1
of 2,330 · 85.7 µg/m³
30 days
#1
of 2,327 · 79.6 µg/m³
Year
–
not enough data

Why it ranks here

Likely fire smoke. On Sep 24, when Kinshasa averaged 151.0 µg/m³ (its typical day: 73.1), NASA satellites detected 2,494 fires within 300 km (544 within 100 km). Smoke from those fires is a likely contributor; we don't check which way the wind blew, and mapped smoke can be high above the ground.

Chronic pollution. Its typical day over the past year was 73.1 µg/m³, 4.9× the WHO 24-hour guideline, so it ranks high most of the time, not only during events.

Based on Kinshasa's own measurements, with fire detections from NASA FIRMS and smoke maps from NOAA HMS; causes are the usual kinds for a pattern like this, not a confirmed source.

Last 4 days, hour by hour

15542026-10-01 00:00 UTC: 36.3 µg/m³2026-10-01 01:00 UTC: 33.5 µg/m³2026-10-01 02:00 UTC: 54.2 µg/m³2026-10-01 03:00 UTC: 30.6 µg/m³2026-10-01 04:00 UTC: 22.6 µg/m³2026-10-01 05:00 UTC: 38.9 µg/m³Sep 28Sep 29Sep 30Oct 1

Times in UTC. Dashed line: WHO 24-hour guideline (15 µg/m³).

Every day for a year

SepNovDecJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepMonWedFri2025-09-29: no data2025-09-30: no data2025-10-01: no data2025-10-02: no data2025-10-03: no data2025-10-04: no data2025-10-05: no data2025-10-06: no data2025-10-07: no data2025-10-08: no data2025-10-09: no data2025-10-10: no data2025-10-11: no data2025-10-12: no data2025-10-13: no data2025-10-14: no data2025-10-15: no data2025-10-16: no data2025-10-17: no data2025-10-18: no data2025-10-19: no data2025-10-20: no data2025-10-21: no data2025-10-22: no data2025-10-23: no data2025-10-24: no data2025-10-25: no data2025-10-26: no data2025-10-27: no data2025-10-28: no data2025-10-29: no data2025-10-30: no data2025-10-31: no data2025-11-01: no data2025-11-02: no data2025-11-03: no data2025-11-04: no data2025-11-05: no data2025-11-06: no data2025-11-07: no data2025-11-08: no data2025-11-09: no data2025-11-10: no data2025-11-11: no data2025-11-12: no data2025-11-13: no data2025-11-14: no data2025-11-15: no data2025-11-16: no data2025-11-17: no data2025-11-18: no data2025-11-19: no data2025-11-20: no data2025-11-21: no data2025-11-22: no data2025-11-23: no data2025-11-24: no data2025-11-25: no data2025-11-26: no data2025-11-27: no data2025-11-28: no data2025-11-29: no data2025-11-30: no data2025-12-01: no data2025-12-02: no data2025-12-03: no data2025-12-04: no data2025-12-05: no data2025-12-06: no data2025-12-07: no data2025-12-08: no data2025-12-09: no data2025-12-10: no data2025-12-11: no data2025-12-12: no data2025-12-13: no data2025-12-14: no data2025-12-15: no data2025-12-16: no data2025-12-17: no data2025-12-18: no data2025-12-19: no data2025-12-20: no data2025-12-21: no data2025-12-22: no data2025-12-23: no data2025-12-24: no data2025-12-25: no data2025-12-26: no data2025-12-27: no data2025-12-28: no data2025-12-29: no data2025-12-30: no data2025-12-31: no data2026-01-01: no data2026-01-02: no data2026-01-03: no data2026-01-04: no data2026-01-05: no data2026-01-06: no data2026-01-07: no data2026-01-08: no data2026-01-09: no data2026-01-10: no data2026-01-11: no data2026-01-12: no data2026-01-13: no data2026-01-14: no data2026-01-15: no data2026-01-16: no data2026-01-17: no data2026-01-18: no data2026-01-19: no data2026-01-20: no data2026-01-21: no data2026-01-22: no data2026-01-23: no data2026-01-24: no data2026-01-25: no data2026-01-26: no data2026-01-27: no data2026-01-28: no data2026-01-29: no data2026-01-30: no data2026-01-31: no data2026-02-01: 41.2 µg/m³2026-02-02: no data2026-02-03: no data2026-02-04: no data2026-02-05: no data2026-02-06: no data2026-02-07: no data2026-02-08: no data2026-02-09: no data2026-02-10: no data2026-02-11: no data2026-02-12: no data2026-02-13: no data2026-02-14: no data2026-02-15: no data2026-02-16: no data2026-02-17: no data2026-02-18: no data2026-02-19: no data2026-02-20: no data2026-02-21: no data2026-02-22: no data2026-02-23: no data2026-02-24: no data2026-02-25: no data2026-02-26: no data2026-02-27: no data2026-02-28: no data2026-03-01: no data2026-03-02: no data2026-03-03: no data2026-03-04: no data2026-03-05: no data2026-03-06: no data2026-03-07: no data2026-03-08: no data2026-03-09: no data2026-03-10: no data2026-03-11: no data2026-03-12: no data2026-03-13: no data2026-03-14: no data2026-03-15: no data2026-03-16: no data2026-03-17: no data2026-03-18: no data2026-03-19: no data2026-03-20: no data2026-03-21: no data2026-03-22: no data2026-03-23: no data2026-03-24: no data2026-03-25: no data2026-03-26: no data2026-03-27: no data2026-03-28: no data2026-03-29: no data2026-03-30: 21.7 µg/m³2026-03-31: no data2026-04-01: no data2026-04-02: no data2026-04-03: no data2026-04-04: no data2026-04-05: no data2026-04-06: no data2026-04-07: no data2026-04-08: no data2026-04-09: 29.7 µg/m³2026-04-10: 48.8 µg/m³2026-04-11: no data2026-04-12: no data2026-04-13: 72.2 µg/m³2026-04-14: no data2026-04-15: no data2026-04-16: no data2026-04-17: no data2026-04-18: no data2026-04-19: no data2026-04-20: no data2026-04-21: no data2026-04-22: no data2026-04-23: no data2026-04-24: no data2026-04-25: no data2026-04-26: no data2026-04-27: no data2026-04-28: no data2026-04-29: no data2026-04-30: no data2026-05-01: no data2026-05-02: no data2026-05-03: no data2026-05-04: no data2026-05-05: no data2026-05-06: 51.2 µg/m³2026-05-07: 49.5 µg/m³2026-05-08: no data2026-05-09: 51.8 µg/m³2026-05-10: no data2026-05-11: no data2026-05-12: 56.1 µg/m³2026-05-13: 48.3 µg/m³2026-05-14: 54.6 µg/m³2026-05-15: no data2026-05-16: 72.1 µg/m³2026-05-17: 53.1 µg/m³2026-05-18: 53.1 µg/m³2026-05-19: 41.2 µg/m³2026-05-20: 48.9 µg/m³2026-05-21: 73.9 µg/m³2026-05-22: 68.4 µg/m³2026-05-23: 80.2 µg/m³2026-05-24: 67.3 µg/m³2026-05-25: 73.0 µg/m³2026-05-26: 71.9 µg/m³2026-05-27: 70.4 µg/m³2026-05-28: 81.8 µg/m³2026-05-29: 110.0 µg/m³2026-05-30: 81.1 µg/m³2026-05-31: 89.0 µg/m³2026-06-01: 92.4 µg/m³2026-06-02: 91.4 µg/m³2026-06-03: 78.0 µg/m³2026-06-04: 67.7 µg/m³2026-06-05: 76.9 µg/m³2026-06-06: 127.0 µg/m³2026-06-07: no data2026-06-08: 64.9 µg/m³2026-06-09: 70.3 µg/m³2026-06-10: 104.7 µg/m³2026-06-11: 105.7 µg/m³2026-06-12: 89.0 µg/m³2026-06-13: 94.0 µg/m³2026-06-14: 92.0 µg/m³2026-06-15: 113.7 µg/m³2026-06-16: 71.4 µg/m³2026-06-17: 87.6 µg/m³2026-06-18: 67.5 µg/m³2026-06-19: 69.6 µg/m³2026-06-20: 86.0 µg/m³2026-06-21: 55.6 µg/m³2026-06-22: 65.8 µg/m³2026-06-23: 83.9 µg/m³2026-06-24: 112.5 µg/m³2026-06-25: 93.0 µg/m³2026-06-26: 60.6 µg/m³2026-06-27: 71.1 µg/m³2026-06-28: 68.2 µg/m³2026-06-29: 74.6 µg/m³2026-06-30: 103.0 µg/m³2026-07-01: 65.8 µg/m³2026-07-02: 65.1 µg/m³2026-07-03: 89.3 µg/m³2026-07-04: 113.0 µg/m³2026-07-05: 84.7 µg/m³2026-07-06: 72.0 µg/m³2026-07-07: 89.7 µg/m³2026-07-08: 123.0 µg/m³2026-07-09: 88.2 µg/m³2026-07-10: 92.1 µg/m³2026-07-11: 91.0 µg/m³2026-07-12: 94.4 µg/m³2026-07-13: 106.0 µg/m³2026-07-14: 106.0 µg/m³2026-07-15: 95.8 µg/m³2026-07-16: 94.6 µg/m³2026-07-17: 91.1 µg/m³2026-07-18: 78.2 µg/m³2026-07-19: 90.6 µg/m³2026-07-20: 79.1 µg/m³2026-07-21: 98.5 µg/m³2026-07-22: 120.0 µg/m³2026-07-23: no data2026-07-24: no data2026-07-25: 98.3 µg/m³2026-07-26: 83.9 µg/m³2026-07-27: no data2026-07-28: 49.6 µg/m³2026-07-29: 68.2 µg/m³2026-07-30: 74.9 µg/m³2026-07-31: no data2026-08-01: 94.4 µg/m³2026-08-02: 66.0 µg/m³2026-08-03: 67.7 µg/m³2026-08-04: 85.0 µg/m³2026-08-05: 119.5 µg/m³2026-08-06: 71.1 µg/m³2026-08-07: 55.6 µg/m³2026-08-08: 63.4 µg/m³2026-08-09: no data2026-08-10: 36.9 µg/m³2026-08-11: 49.7 µg/m³2026-08-12: 60.9 µg/m³2026-08-13: 55.7 µg/m³2026-08-14: 61.2 µg/m³2026-08-15: 52.5 µg/m³2026-08-16: 76.2 µg/m³2026-08-17: no data2026-08-18: 60.1 µg/m³2026-08-19: 63.1 µg/m³2026-08-20: 109.0 µg/m³2026-08-21: 85.9 µg/m³2026-08-22: 111.0 µg/m³2026-08-23: 121.0 µg/m³2026-08-24: 70.7 µg/m³2026-08-25: 63.3 µg/m³2026-08-26: 98.7 µg/m³2026-08-27: 108.5 µg/m³2026-08-28: 51.5 µg/m³2026-08-29: no data2026-08-30: 38.6 µg/m³2026-08-31: 38.3 µg/m³2026-09-01: 88.9 µg/m³2026-09-02: 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/m³2026-09-13: no data2026-09-14: 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/m³2026-09-22: no data2026-09-23: 113.0 µg/m³2026-09-24: 151.0 µg/m³2026-09-25: 114.0 µg/m³2026-09-26: 65.6 µg/m³2026-09-27: 50.1 µg/m³2026-09-28: 58.2 µg/m³2026-09-29: no data2026-09-30: 75.5 µg/m³
Good 0–9.0Moderate 9.1+Unhealthy for sensitive groups 35.5+Unhealthy 55.5+Very unhealthy 125.5+Hazardous 225.5+No data

138 of 138 measured days were over the WHO 24-hour guideline.

Daily world rank

#1#301FebMarAprMayJunJulAugSep

Rank on each day's board (1 = most polluted city that day).

2026 against 2025, month by month

15JanFebMarAprMay 2026: 65.8 µg/m³MayJun 2026: 84.1 µg/m³JunJul 2026: 89.0 µg/m³JulAug 2026: 72.7 µg/m³AugSep 2026: 79.6 µg/m³SepOctNovDec

Faded bars: 2025. A month shows once it has 10 measured days.

Monitors

StationOperatorType
KINAQ KimwenzaCC BY 4.0KINAQLow-cost
KINAQ MasialaCC BY 4.0KINAQLow-cost
KINAQ KalembelembeCC BY 4.0KINAQLow-cost
KINAQ BelAirCC BY 4.0KINAQLow-cost
KINAQ LimeteCC BY 4.0KINAQLow-cost
KintamboCC BY 4.0KINAQLow-cost
WASARU ASBL / KINAQ LembaCC BY 4.0AirGradientLow-cost
WASARU / KINAQ HuilleriesCC BY 4.0KINAQLow-cost

No reference monitor here, so the value is the median of low-cost sensors (at least two reporting each hour). Low-cost sensors can read high in humid air. Data via OpenAQ; licences as listed. How we rank. Embed this on your site.

Updated 2026-10-01 06:07 UTC. Values are PM2.5 in µg/m³ (fine particles), the median of each city's monitors.