Is the air quality good in Ulaanbaatar?
On February 8, 2026, at 5 AM PT, air quality in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, is poor with an AQI of 204, classified as "very unhealthy".
The city continues to record some of the highest pollution levels in the world, driven largely by its reliance on coal for heating and industrial activities.
Air quality is dynamic and, like the weather, can change frequently. Ulaanbaatar is ranked the most polluted major city in the world on Sunday morning.
Click here for a real-time air quality map of Ulaanbaatar.
While the air quality conditions today are poor, it is important to keep in mind that the average PM2.5 concentration in 2024 for Ulaanbaatar was 25.7 µg/m³. This corresponds to an AQI of 79, which falls into the “moderate” category and was 5.1 times the WHO annual guideline of 5 µg/m³.
Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia ranked as the most polluted major city on Feb 8, 2026, 5 AM PT. Source: IQAir.
When will air quality improve in Ulaanbaatar?
Forecasts indicate that conditions are expected to improve into the moderate range by Monday.
Hourly air quality forecast for Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia on Feb 8, 2026. Source: IQAir.
The city has seen unhealthy air quality since January 26, and conditions intensified to very unhealthy levels today.
Daily air quality trends in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, over the past 30 days. Source: IQAir.
Sustained improvement in air quality is dependent on long-term policy actions, including reducing coal reliance, improving home insulation, expanding renewable energy adoption, and strengthening regulatory frameworks (1).
Air quality map of Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia on Feb 8, 2026. Source: IQAir.
What is causing poor air quality in Ulaanbaatar?
Poor air quality in Ulaanbaatar is driven by a combination of environmental, structural, and socioeconomic factors.
Key factors contributing to poor air quality:
- Extensive use of coal for household heating, particularly in ger districts.
- Temperature inversions that trap pollution in the city’s valley geography (2).
- High dependence on coal-fired power stations and industrial emissions.
- Increasing urban migration and expansion of informal settlements lacking clean heating options (3).
- Vehicle exhaust emissions and aging transportation infrastructure (4).
Additional factors include extreme winters, rising energy costs that push families back to coal use, and insufficient implementation of previously proposed clean energy initiatives.
How can I protect myself from poor air quality?
- Get a free air quality app for real-time air quality alerts and forecasts.
- Shut doors and windows and set the HVAC to recirculate mode.
- Contribute to your community’s outdoor air quality data.
- Stay indoors when air quality is poor; if you do need to go outdoors, wear a KN95/FFP2 mask.
- Run a high-performance air purifier to filter particles, gases, and other pollutants.
