SmogRank / World / South Africa / KwaZulu-Natal / 2025
Most polluted cities in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, 2025
1 city in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa ranked by their average PM2.5 over the 365 days; 1 above the WHO annual guideline (5.0 µg/m³). The only one: Shakaskraal at 15.9 µg/m³, #373 of 2,624 cities in the world. A city needs measurements on 70% of the days to be ranked.
Ranked by unhealthy days: the share of each city's measured days with a daily mean over 35.4 µg/m³ (US AQI 101+), Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups or worse on the US EPA's scale. Ties go to the higher average.
- 1Shakaskraallow-cost sensors 10%
Low-cost sensors: consumer units, counted only in cities with no government-grade monitor; they read close to reference monitors on the whole, but 15 to 25% high in humid air. How we use them.
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
All cities in the world, 2025 · All cities in South Africa, 2025 · KwaZulu-Natal now
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SmogRank, most polluted cities in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, PM2.5, 2025, smogrank.com/za/region/kwazulu-natal/history/2025 (accessed 6 Oct 2026).
You're welcome to reuse a single chart, image or figure with this citation and a link. Terms. Raw monitor readings in bulk are published by OpenAQ, under each provider's licence.