SmogRank / Countries / South Africa
Most polluted cities in South Africa
3 measured cities ranked by PM2.5, last 30 days. Worst: Vereeniging at 36.7 µg/m³, #54 in the world.
| # | City | µg/m³ | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Vereeniging low-cost sensorsGauteng | 36.7 | |
| 2 | Shakaskraal low-cost sensorsKwaZulu-Natal | 16.2 | |
| 3 | Richards Bay low-cost sensorsKwaZulu-Natal | 12.1 |
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
South Africa 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 |
|---|---|
| Johannesburg estimated | ≈ 20 µg/m³ |
| Cape Town estimated | ≈ 31 µg/m³ |
| Durban estimated | ≈ 13 µg/m³ |
| Pretoria estimated | ≈ 15 µg/m³ |
| Soweto estimated | ≈ 20 µg/m³ |
| Gqeberha estimated | ≈ 12 µg/m³ |
| Soshanguve estimated | ≈ 15 µg/m³ |
| Pietermaritzburg estimated | ≈ 15 µg/m³ |
| Evaton estimated | ≈ 20 µg/m³ |
| Benoni estimated | ≈ 16 µg/m³ |
| Bloemfontein estimated | ≈ 8 µg/m³ |
| Thembisa estimated | ≈ 16 µg/m³ |
| East London estimated | ≈ 11 µg/m³ |
| Boksburg estimated | ≈ 15 µg/m³ |
| Welkom estimated | ≈ 12 µg/m³ |
| Newcastle estimated | ≈ 12 µg/m³ |
| Krugersdorp estimated | ≈ 14 µg/m³ |
| Rustenburg estimated | ≈ 11 µg/m³ |
| Emalahleni estimated | ≈ 18 µg/m³ |
| Randburg estimated | ≈ 17 µg/m³ |
| Roodepoort estimated | ≈ 17 µg/m³ |
| Botshabelo estimated | ≈ 8 µg/m³ |
| Brakpan estimated | ≈ 15 µg/m³ |
| Kariega estimated | ≈ 8 µg/m³ |
| Polokwane estimated | ≈ 8 µg/m³ |
| Germiston estimated | ≈ 20 µg/m³ |
| Vanderbijlpark estimated | ≈ 17 µg/m³ |
| Paarl estimated | ≈ 19 µg/m³ |
| Centurion estimated | ≈ 17 µg/m³ |
| Klerksdorp estimated | ≈ 12 µg/m³ |
| Somerset West estimated | ≈ 25 µg/m³ |
| Mdantsane estimated | ≈ 9 µg/m³ |
| Middelburg estimated | ≈ 13 µg/m³ |
| George estimated | ≈ 9 µg/m³ |
| Carletonville estimated | ≈ 13 µg/m³ |
| Potchefstroom estimated | ≈ 13 µg/m³ |
| Mthatha estimated | ≈ 9 µg/m³ |
| KwaDukuza estimated | ≈ 16 µg/m³ |
| Westonaria estimated | ≈ 17 µg/m³ |
| Etwatwa estimated | ≈ 16 µg/m³ |
Regions
Updated 2026-10-01 12:07 UTC. Values are PM2.5 in µg/m³ (fine particles), the median of each city's monitors.