SmogRank / Countries / Malawi

Most polluted cities in Malawi

4 measured cities, this year; 4 above the WHO annual guideline. Worst: Lilongwe at 47.9 µg/m³, #38 in the world.

3 moderate  1 unhealthy for sensitive groups

  1. 1Lilongwelow-cost sensorsCentral Region
    47.99.6×
  2. 2Karongalow-cost sensorsNorthern Region
    28.85.8×
  3. 3Blantyrelow-cost sensorsSouthern Region
    28.45.7×
  4. 4Mzuzulow-cost sensorsNorthern Region
    19.43.9×
Good0–9.0
Moderate9.1–35.4
Sensitive groups35.5–55.4
Unhealthy55.5–125.4
Very unhealthy125.5–225.4
Hazardous225.5+

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.

City7-day estimateBand
Kasungu≈ 17 µg/m³Moderate
Mangochi≈ 18 µg/m³Moderate
Salima≈ 20 µg/m³Moderate
Liwonde≈ 17 µg/m³Moderate
Balaka≈ 17 µg/m³Moderate
Dedza≈ 16 µg/m³Moderate
Nkhotakota≈ 19 µg/m³Moderate
Mchinji≈ 18 µg/m³Moderate
Nsanje≈ 17 µg/m³Moderate
Mzimba≈ 15 µg/m³Moderate
Mponela≈ 18 µg/m³Moderate
Rumphi≈ 16 µg/m³Moderate
Ntcheu≈ 17 µg/m³Moderate
Mwanza≈ 18 µg/m³Moderate
Chitipa≈ 13 µg/m³Moderate
Monkey Bay≈ 18 µg/m³Moderate
Mulanje≈ 17 µg/m³Moderate
Nkhata Bay≈ 17 µg/m³Moderate

Regions

Central Region 1Northern Region 2Southern Region 2

Measured cities in each region (30 days).

Updated 2026-10-01 16:07 UTC. Values are PM2.5 in µg/m³ (fine particles), the median of each city's monitors.