Most polluted cities in Malawi

4 measured cities ranked by PM2.5, last 7 days. Worst: Zomba at 55.9 µg/m³, #20 in the world.

#	City	µg/m³
1	Zomba low-cost sensorsSouthern Region	55.9
2	Blantyre low-cost sensorsSouthern Region	54.4
3	Lilongwe low-cost sensorsCentral Region	51.7
4	Mzuzu low-cost sensorsNorthern Region	37.5

Good 0–9.0Moderate 9.1+Unhealthy for sensitive groups 35.5+Unhealthy 55.5+Very unhealthy 125.5+Hazardous 225.5+No data

Estimated: cities without a monitor

Malawi cities we can't measure, with model estimates for the last 7 days. Listed by population, not ranked: estimates aren't precise enough to rank. Model estimates from the Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service (CAMS), adjusted to measured cities nearby where there are any. Adjusted, a single day lands within ×1.5 of what a monitor would read about two times in three; unadjusted, it can be off by half or double. Treat them as a guide, not a measurement.

City	7-day estimate	Band
Kasungu estimated	≈ 17 µg/m³	Moderate
Mangochi estimated	≈ 18 µg/m³	Moderate
Salima estimated	≈ 20 µg/m³	Moderate
Liwonde estimated	≈ 17 µg/m³	Moderate
Balaka estimated	≈ 17 µg/m³	Moderate
Dedza estimated	≈ 16 µg/m³	Moderate
Nkhotakota estimated	≈ 19 µg/m³	Moderate
Mchinji estimated	≈ 18 µg/m³	Moderate
Nsanje estimated	≈ 17 µg/m³	Moderate
Mzimba estimated	≈ 15 µg/m³	Moderate
Mponela estimated	≈ 18 µg/m³	Moderate
Rumphi estimated	≈ 16 µg/m³	Moderate
Ntcheu estimated	≈ 17 µg/m³	Moderate
Mwanza estimated	≈ 18 µg/m³	Moderate
Chitipa estimated	≈ 13 µg/m³	Moderate
Monkey Bay estimated	≈ 18 µg/m³	Moderate
Mulanje estimated	≈ 17 µg/m³	Moderate
Nkhata Bay estimated	≈ 17 µg/m³	Moderate

Regions

Central Region 1 Northern Region 2 Southern Region 2

Updated 2026-10-01 14:07 UTC. Values are PM2.5 in µg/m³ (fine particles), the median of each city's monitors.