SmogRank / Cleaner or dirtier / Germany

Germany: cleaner or dirtier, 2026

In Germany, 243 cities have enough days in both years to compare 2026 so far (1 January to 6 October) with the same days of 2025: 123 got dirtier and 109 cleaner.

The 123 cities that got dirtier, biggest rise first

#	City	2025	2026	Change
1	Burg bei MagdeburgSaxony-Anhalt, Germany	51	58	+3.8 µg/m³+42%
2	Halle (Saale)Saxony-Anhalt, Germany	53	58	+2.9 µg/m³+29%
3	FürstenbergBrandenburg, Germany	49	55	+2.4 µg/m³+27%
4	ThaleSaxony-Anhalt, Germany	37	49	+2.3 µg/m³+35%
5	EisenhüttenstadtBrandenburg, Germany	53	58	+2.3 µg/m³+22%
6	Bitterfeld-WolfenSaxony-Anhalt, Germany	53	58	+2.3 µg/m³+22%
7	LudwigslustMecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany	49	55	+2.3 µg/m³+26%
8	KiefersfeldenBavaria, Germany	54	58	+2.2 µg/m³+21%
9	Schwedt (Oder)Brandenburg, Germany	51	55	+2.0 µg/m³+22%
10	TrappenkampSchleswig-Holstein, Germany	41	52	+2.0 µg/m³+27%
11	MalchowMecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany	48	54	+1.9 µg/m³+22%
12	MagdeburgSaxony-Anhalt, Germany	54	58	+1.9 µg/m³+18%
13	Brandenburg an der HavelBrandenburg, Germany	52	55	+1.8 µg/m³+19%
14	NeubrandenburgMecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany	55	58	+1.8 µg/m³+16%
15	Blankenfelde-MahlowBrandenburg, Germany	52	56	+1.8 µg/m³+18%
16	NeuruppinBrandenburg, Germany	46	53	+1.8 µg/m³+22%
17	HalberstadtSaxony-Anhalt, Germany	53	57	+1.7 µg/m³+16%
18	Bad BelzigBrandenburg, Germany	49	54	+1.7 µg/m³+19%
19	WismarMecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany	52	55	+1.6 µg/m³+17%
20	OtterndorfLower Saxony, Germany	48	53	+1.6 µg/m³+19%
21	BerlinState of Berlin, Germany	58	61	+1.5 µg/m³+12%
22	Königs WusterhausenBrandenburg, Germany	52	55	+1.5 µg/m³+15%
23	CuxhavenLower Saxony, Germany	48	53	+1.5 µg/m³+17%
24	DessauSaxony-Anhalt, Germany	55	58	+1.4 µg/m³+12%
25	CottbusBrandenburg, Germany	53	56	+1.4 µg/m³+13%
26	NauenBrandenburg, Germany	53	55	+1.4 µg/m³+14%
27	LubnjowBrandenburg, Germany	52	54	+1.4 µg/m³+15%
28	Dallgow-DöberitzBrandenburg, Germany	47	52	+1.4 µg/m³+17%
29	WittingenLower Saxony, Germany	51	54	+1.4 µg/m³+15%
30	UnnaNorth Rhine-Westphalia, Germany	57	59	+1.3 µg/m³+11%
31	MühlhausenThuringia, Germany	54	56	+1.3 µg/m³+12%
32	NorderneyLower Saxony, Germany	51	54	+1.3 µg/m³+14%
33	EmdenLower Saxony, Germany	51	54	+1.3 µg/m³+14%
34	Hansestadt SalzwedelSaxony-Anhalt, Germany	47	52	+1.3 µg/m³+15%
35	LüchowLower Saxony, Germany	47	52	+1.3 µg/m³+15%
36	OranienburgBrandenburg, Germany	54	57	+1.3 µg/m³+12%
37	Frankfurt (Oder)Brandenburg, Germany	53	56	+1.3 µg/m³+13%
38	KöthenSaxony-Anhalt, Germany	52	55	+1.3 µg/m³+13%
39	Osternienburger LandSaxony-Anhalt, Germany	52	55	+1.3 µg/m³+13%
40	PotsdamBrandenburg, Germany	52	55	+1.3 µg/m³+13%
41	JorkLower Saxony, Germany	52	54	+1.3 µg/m³+14%
42	BuxtehudeLower Saxony, Germany	52	54	+1.3 µg/m³+14%
43	WernigerodeSaxony-Anhalt, Germany	52	54	+1.2 µg/m³+13%
44	WeißenfelsSaxony-Anhalt, Germany	55	58	+1.2 µg/m³+11%
45	FriesoytheLower Saxony, Germany	54	56	+1.2 µg/m³+11%
46	BöselLower Saxony, Germany	54	56	+1.2 µg/m³+11%
47	HannoverLower Saxony, Germany	52	54	+1.2 µg/m³+13%
48	StrausbergBrandenburg, Germany	51	54	+1.2 µg/m³+13%
49	BraunschweigLower Saxony, Germany	51	54	+1.2 µg/m³+13%
50	WolfsburgLower Saxony, Germany	51	53	+1.1 µg/m³+12%
51	MahlowBrandenburg, Germany	61	63	+1.1 µg/m³+8%
52	SchwerinMecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany	53	55	+1.1 µg/m³+11%
53	RostockMecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany	52	54	+1.1 µg/m³+11%
54	Neustadt an der DonauBavaria, Germany	50	53	+1.1 µg/m³+12%
55	SalzgitterLower Saxony, Germany	49	52	+1.1 µg/m³+12%
56	LüneburgLower Saxony, Germany	49	52	+1.1 µg/m³+12%
57	LauenburgSchleswig-Holstein, Germany	47	52	+1.1 µg/m³+13%
58	WittenbergeBrandenburg, Germany	47	52	+1.1 µg/m³+13%
59	BernburgSaxony-Anhalt, Germany	58	60	+1.0 µg/m³+8%
60	WittenbergSaxony-Anhalt, Germany	56	58	+1.0 µg/m³+8%
61	OldenburgLower Saxony, Germany	55	56	+1.0 µg/m³+9%
62	KelheimBavaria, Germany	51	53	+1.0 µg/m³+11%
63	GüstrowMecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany	52	53	+0.9 µg/m³+10%
64	BützowMecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany	51	53	+0.9 µg/m³+10%
65	WeimarThuringia, Germany	53	54	+0.8 µg/m³+8%
66	LindauBavaria, Germany	53	54	+0.8 µg/m³+8%
67	Bernau bei BerlinBrandenburg, Germany	53	54	+0.8 µg/m³+8%
68	NordhausenThuringia, Germany	52	54	+0.8 µg/m³+8%
69	KleinmachnowBrandenburg, Germany	48	52	+0.8 µg/m³+9%
70	Herrsching am AmmerseeBavaria, Germany	43	48	+0.8 µg/m³+10%
71	SondershausenThuringia, Germany	43	48	+0.8 µg/m³+10%
72	TarpSchleswig-Holstein, Germany	40	44	+0.8 µg/m³+11%
73	ElsterwerdaBrandenburg, Germany	53	55	+0.8 µg/m³+8%
74	HalstenbekSchleswig-Holstein, Germany	52	54	+0.8 µg/m³+8%
75	StralsundMecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany	51	53	+0.8 µg/m³+9%
76	HildesheimLower Saxony, Germany	52	53	+0.7 µg/m³+7%
77	KlötzeSaxony-Anhalt, Germany	45	49	+0.7 µg/m³+9%
78	GoslarLower Saxony, Germany	43	47	+0.7 µg/m³+9%
79	HamburgGermany	54	55	+0.7 µg/m³+7%
80	ErfurtThuringia, Germany	52	54	+0.7 µg/m³+7%
81	StarnbergBavaria, Germany	44	48	+0.7 µg/m³+9%
82	UlmBaden-Wurttemberg, Germany	54	55	+0.6 µg/m³+6%
83	WalsrodeLower Saxony, Germany	52	53	+0.6 µg/m³+6%
84	WieslochBaden-Wurttemberg, Germany	51	52	+0.6 µg/m³+7%
85	FürthHesse, Germany	39	43	+0.6 µg/m³+8%
86	SchöneicheBrandenburg, Germany	52	53	+0.6 µg/m³+6%
87	ReutlingenBaden-Wurttemberg, Germany	52	53	+0.6 µg/m³+6%
88	NeuenhagenBrandenburg, Germany	52	53	+0.6 µg/m³+6%
89	LingenLower Saxony, Germany	49	52	+0.6 µg/m³+7%
90	DelmenhorstLower Saxony, Germany	48	51	+0.6 µg/m³+7%
91	LemwerderLower Saxony, Germany	48	51	+0.6 µg/m³+7%
92	MüllheimBaden-Wurttemberg, Germany	44	47	+0.6 µg/m³+8%
93	Villingen-SchwenningenBaden-Wurttemberg, Germany	39	42	+0.6 µg/m³+9%
94	LudwigsburgBaden-Wurttemberg, Germany	52	53	+0.5 µg/m³+5%
95	UslarLower Saxony, Germany	41	44	+0.5 µg/m³+7%
96	AltenburgThuringia, Germany	54	55	+0.4 µg/m³+4%
97	HeidelbergBaden-Wurttemberg, Germany	51	52	+0.4 µg/m³+4%
98	GöttingenLower Saxony, Germany	50	52	+0.4 µg/m³+4%
99	DuderstadtLower Saxony, Germany	49	51	+0.4 µg/m³+4%
100	WilhelmshavenLower Saxony, Germany	47	49	+0.4 µg/m³+5%
101	KahlaThuringia, Germany	45	47	+0.4 µg/m³+5%
102	LübeckSchleswig-Holstein, Germany	44	47	+0.4 µg/m³+5%
103	TeltowBrandenburg, Germany	56	56	+0.3 µg/m³+3%
104	TübingenBaden-Wurttemberg, Germany	54	54	+0.3 µg/m³+3%
105	OsnabrückLower Saxony, Germany	52	53	+0.3 µg/m³+3%
106	PforzheimBaden-Wurttemberg, Germany	51	52	+0.3 µg/m³+3%
107	EisenachThuringia, Germany	51	52	+0.3 µg/m³+3%
108	WarsteinNorth Rhine-Westphalia, Germany	51	52	+0.2 µg/m³+2%
109	AalenBaden-Wurttemberg, Germany	51	51	+0.2 µg/m³+2%
110	MichelstadtHesse, Germany	48	49	+0.2 µg/m³+2%
111	OytenLower Saxony, Germany	48	49	+0.2 µg/m³+2%
112	FreiburgBaden-Wurttemberg, Germany	48	49	+0.2 µg/m³+2%
113	GeraThuringia, Germany	53	54	+0.2 µg/m³+2%
114	JenaThuringia, Germany	53	53	+0.2 µg/m³+2%
115	FriedrichshafenBaden-Wurttemberg, Germany	53	53	+0.2 µg/m³+2%
116	SchwerteNorth Rhine-Westphalia, Germany	52	52	+0.2 µg/m³+2%
117	TauberbischofsheimBaden-Wurttemberg, Germany	50	51	+0.2 µg/m³+2%
118	VölklingenSaarland, Germany	50	51	+0.2 µg/m³+2%
119	RintelnLower Saxony, Germany	49	50	+0.2 µg/m³+2%
120	Neu-UlmBavaria, Germany	53	54	+0.1 µg/m³+1%
121	Biberach an der RißBaden-Wurttemberg, Germany	51	51	+0.1 µg/m³+1%
122	Lauda-KönigshofenBaden-Wurttemberg, Germany	51	51	+0.1 µg/m³+1%
123	AachenNorth Rhine-Westphalia, Germany	47	48	+0.1 µg/m³+1%

The 109 cities that got cleaner, biggest fall first

#	City	2025	2026	Change
1	IngolstadtBavaria, Germany	57	53	−2.0 µg/m³−16%
2	NiederzierNorth Rhine-Westphalia, Germany	54	51	−1.7 µg/m³−16%
3	JülichNorth Rhine-Westphalia, Germany	54	51	−1.7 µg/m³−16%
4	MainzRheinland-Pfalz, Germany	55	52	−1.7 µg/m³−15%
5	LüdenscheidNorth Rhine-Westphalia, Germany	51	41	−1.7 µg/m³−19%
6	BambergBavaria, Germany	54	49	−1.6 µg/m³−15%
7	Oettingen in BayernBavaria, Germany	57	54	−1.6 µg/m³−13%
8	ElsenfeldBavaria, Germany	53	48	−1.5 µg/m³−15%
9	GroßostheimBavaria, Germany	53	48	−1.5 µg/m³−15%
10	GießenHesse, Germany	54	51	−1.4 µg/m³−13%
11	MönchengladbachNorth Rhine-Westphalia, Germany	54	51	−1.4 µg/m³−13%
12	KrefeldNorth Rhine-Westphalia, Germany	56	53	−1.4 µg/m³−12%
13	WormsRheinland-Pfalz, Germany	57	54	−1.4 µg/m³−11%
14	Ludwigshafen am RheinRheinland-Pfalz, Germany	57	55	−1.4 µg/m³−11%
15	OberhausenNorth Rhine-Westphalia, Germany	56	53	−1.4 µg/m³−12%
16	Bad FrankenhausenThuringia, Germany	53	50	−1.3 µg/m³−13%
17	WuppertalNorth Rhine-Westphalia, Germany	53	51	−1.3 µg/m³−13%
18	HattingenNorth Rhine-Westphalia, Germany	52	48	−1.2 µg/m³−12%
19	Frankfurt am MainHesse, Germany	54	52	−1.2 µg/m³−11%
20	DüsseldorfNorth Rhine-Westphalia, Germany	54	52	−1.2 µg/m³−11%
21	RatingenNorth Rhine-Westphalia, Germany	52	47	−1.2 µg/m³−12%
22	HagenNorth Rhine-Westphalia, Germany	56	54	−1.2 µg/m³−10%
23	TrierRheinland-Pfalz, Germany	53	51	−1.1 µg/m³−11%
24	PulheimNorth Rhine-Westphalia, Germany	52	48	−1.1 µg/m³−11%
25	SinnersdorfNorth Rhine-Westphalia, Germany	52	48	−1.1 µg/m³−11%
26	KelsterbachHesse, Germany	52	49	−1.1 µg/m³−11%
27	HattersheimHesse, Germany	52	49	−1.1 µg/m³−11%
28	BonnNorth Rhine-Westphalia, Germany	53	49	−1.1 µg/m³−11%
29	Schwandorf in BayernBavaria, Germany	53	51	−1.1 µg/m³−11%
30	WeidenBavaria, Germany	53	51	−1.1 µg/m³−11%
31	KölnNorth Rhine-Westphalia, Germany	53	51	−1.1 µg/m³−11%
32	KaldenkirchenNorth Rhine-Westphalia, Germany	54	52	−1.1 µg/m³−10%
33	NettetalNorth Rhine-Westphalia, Germany	54	52	−1.1 µg/m³−10%
34	AnsbachBavaria, Germany	54	52	−1.1 µg/m³−10%
35	TraunreutBavaria, Germany	54	52	−1.1 µg/m³−10%
36	ArzbergBavaria, Germany	54	52	−1.0 µg/m³−10%
37	Trostberg an der AlzBavaria, Germany	54	52	−1.0 µg/m³−10%
38	MarktredwitzBavaria, Germany	54	52	−1.0 µg/m³−10%
39	NurembergBavaria, Germany	55	53	−1.0 µg/m³−9%
40	KehlBaden-Wurttemberg, Germany	55	53	−0.9 µg/m³−8%
41	FlensburgSchleswig-Holstein, Germany	48	43	−0.9 µg/m³−10%
42	SuhlThuringia, Germany	48	43	−0.9 µg/m³−10%
43	FilderstadtBaden-Wurttemberg, Germany	53	51	−0.9 µg/m³−9%
44	EssenNorth Rhine-Westphalia, Germany	55	53	−0.9 µg/m³−8%
45	WetzlarHesse, Germany	52	51	−0.8 µg/m³−8%
46	Bad KreuznachRheinland-Pfalz, Germany	56	55	−0.8 µg/m³−7%
47	GersfeldHesse, Germany	31	27	−0.8 µg/m³−14%
48	BensheimHesse, Germany	52	49	−0.8 µg/m³−8%
49	AschaffenburgBavaria, Germany	53	52	−0.8 µg/m³−8%
50	BorkenNorth Rhine-Westphalia, Germany	54	52	−0.8 µg/m³−8%
51	GelsenkirchenNorth Rhine-Westphalia, Germany	57	55	−0.8 µg/m³−7%
52	LörrachBaden-Wurttemberg, Germany	52	48	−0.7 µg/m³−7%
53	Rüsselsheim am MainHesse, Germany	52	51	−0.7 µg/m³−7%
54	DortmundNorth Rhine-Westphalia, Germany	57	56	−0.7 µg/m³−6%
55	Ludweiler-WarndtSaarland, Germany	47	43	−0.7 µg/m³−8%
56	WadgassenSaarland, Germany	47	43	−0.7 µg/m³−8%
57	DuisburgNorth Rhine-Westphalia, Germany	55	53	−0.7 µg/m³−6%
58	KasselHesse, Germany	55	54	−0.7 µg/m³−6%
59	BottropNorth Rhine-Westphalia, Germany	56	54	−0.7 µg/m³−6%
60	WiesbadenHesse, Germany	52	51	−0.6 µg/m³−6%
61	Neuhaus am RennwegThuringia, Germany	39	36	−0.6 µg/m³−8%
62	Höhr-GrenzhausenRheinland-Pfalz, Germany	41	37	−0.6 µg/m³−8%
63	BendorfRheinland-Pfalz, Germany	41	37	−0.6 µg/m³−8%
64	SoestNorth Rhine-Westphalia, Germany	52	49	−0.6 µg/m³−6%
65	LeverkusenNorth Rhine-Westphalia, Germany	52	50	−0.6 µg/m³−6%
66	Kempten (Allgäu)Bavaria, Germany	52	51	−0.6 µg/m³−6%
67	StendalSaxony-Anhalt, Germany	53	52	−0.6 µg/m³−6%
68	StuttgartBaden-Wurttemberg, Germany	55	54	−0.6 µg/m³−5%
69	DattelnNorth Rhine-Westphalia, Germany	55	54	−0.6 µg/m³−5%
70	GärtringenBaden-Wurttemberg, Germany	47	44	−0.5 µg/m³−6%
71	HerrenbergBaden-Wurttemberg, Germany	47	44	−0.5 µg/m³−6%
72	Hanau am MainHesse, Germany	51	48	−0.5 µg/m³−5%
73	RitterhudeLower Saxony, Germany	52	51	−0.5 µg/m³−5%
74	WürzburgBavaria, Germany	54	53	−0.5 µg/m³−5%
75	MünsterNorth Rhine-Westphalia, Germany	55	54	−0.5 µg/m³−4%
76	GroßalmerodeHesse, Germany	42	39	−0.4 µg/m³−5%
77	WitzenhausenHesse, Germany	42	39	−0.4 µg/m³−5%
78	Limburg an der LahnHesse, Germany	52	52	−0.4 µg/m³−4%
79	KaiserslauternRheinland-Pfalz, Germany	53	52	−0.4 µg/m³−4%
80	Schwäbisch HallBaden-Wurttemberg, Germany	54	53	−0.4 µg/m³−4%
81	BielefeldNorth Rhine-Westphalia, Germany	54	53	−0.4 µg/m³−4%
82	AugsburgBavaria, Germany	54	54	−0.4 µg/m³−4%
83	LampertheimHesse, Germany	54	54	−0.4 µg/m³−4%
84	MannheimBaden-Wurttemberg, Germany	56	55	−0.4 µg/m³−3%
85	SaarbrückenSaarland, Germany	52	51	−0.3 µg/m³−3%
86	TitzNorth Rhine-Westphalia, Germany	52	52	−0.3 µg/m³−3%
87	WeselNorth Rhine-Westphalia, Germany	53	52	−0.3 µg/m³−3%
88	SulzbachHesse, Germany	53	53	−0.3 µg/m³−3%
89	EschbornHesse, Germany	53	53	−0.3 µg/m³−3%
90	DillingenSaarland, Germany	54	53	−0.3 µg/m³−3%
91	MunichBavaria, Germany	54	54	−0.3 µg/m³−3%
92	BraunlageLower Saxony, Germany	32	31	−0.3 µg/m³−5%
93	Waldfischbach-BurgalbenRheinland-Pfalz, Germany	37	36	−0.3 µg/m³−4%
94	BebraHesse, Germany	51	51	−0.2 µg/m³−2%
95	FuldaHesse, Germany	52	51	−0.2 µg/m³−2%
96	RiedstadtHesse, Germany	48	47	−0.2 µg/m³−2%
97	DarmstadtHesse, Germany	52	51	−0.2 µg/m³−2%
98	KoblenzRheinland-Pfalz, Germany	53	52	−0.2 µg/m³−2%
99	Neuenburg am RheinBaden-Wurttemberg, Germany	53	53	−0.2 µg/m³−2%
100	JüchenNorth Rhine-Westphalia, Germany	53	53	−0.2 µg/m³−2%
101	SpeyerRheinland-Pfalz, Germany	58	57	−0.2 µg/m³−2%
102	Königstein im TaunusHesse, Germany	33	32	−0.1 µg/m³−2%
103	ZierenbergHesse, Germany	43	42	−0.1 µg/m³−1%
104	KielSchleswig-Holstein, Germany	44	43	−0.1 µg/m³−1%
105	TrochtelfingenBaden-Wurttemberg, Germany	39	39	−0.1 µg/m³−1%
106	KonstanzBaden-Wurttemberg, Germany	52	51	−0.1 µg/m³−1%
107	BurghausenBavaria, Germany	53	53	−0.1 µg/m³−1%
108	GreizThuringia, Germany	54	54	−0.1 µg/m³−1%
109	HeilbronnBaden-Wurttemberg, Germany	55	55	−0.1 µg/m³−1%

Means in US AQI over the days a city was measured in both years, the same calendar days each year; a city needs 55% of the days paired, and at least 30. The change is in µg/m³ and per cent. How we compare.

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

Updated 2026-10-07 12:07 UTC. Values are PM2.5 (fine particles), the median of each city's monitors, as the US AQI PM2.5 sub-index.