Is the air quality good in Indonesia?
As of October 21, 2026, air quality across Indonesia remains poor, with major cities experiencing air quality in the "unhealthy" to "hazardous" range and high PM2.5 concentrations from transboundary wildfire smoke, posing serious health risks to residents, especially children and the elderly.
By 10:00 AM (Indonesia Time, GMT+7), several urban centers have recorded AQI readings between 100 and 500, prompting health warnings. Residents are advised to limit outdoor activity, keep windows closed, wear masks when outside, and use air purifiers indoors.
While conditions remain poor, Indonesia's annual PM2.5 concentration in 2025 was 30 µg/m³, equivalent to an AQI of 90, classified as "moderate" and 6 times the WHO annual guideline of 5 µg/m³, placing Indonesia 17th globally in the 2025 World Air Quality Report.
Air quality map of Indonesia and neighboring countries, as of 10:00 AM (local time) on October 21, 2026. Source: IQAir.
Which cities are affected by bad air quality in Indonesia?
As of October 21, 2026, the following cities across Indonesia are experiencing poor air quality:
Air quality conditions can change throughout the day. For a complete, real-time overview of pollution levels nationwide, see Indonesia's air quality map.
Jakarta ranked among the world's most polluted major cities as of 10:00 AM (local time) on October 21, 2026. Source: IQAir.
When will the air quality improve in Indonesia?
Indonesia experiences wildfires regularly during its dry season, but this year the blazes have been especially severe because a strong El Niño has brought drought, with researchers noting that air quality impacts have been very severe and persistent, and several weeks of fire season still remain (1).
Meaningful improvement depends on the onset of the northeast monsoon season, expected in late October to November, which will bring more sustained rainfall that dampens active fire fronts and clears smoke from the atmosphere. Lasting improvement requires stronger prevention, accountability for illegal burning, and protection of peatlands.
What is causing poor air quality in Indonesia?
Indonesia has the world's largest share of tropical peatland, accounting for about a third of the global total, and peatland fires burning slowly and mostly underground for extended periods are responsible for much of the dry-season haze that this year has affected air quality as far away as Malaysia, Singapore, and the Philippines (2).
Environmentalists blame inadequate preparedness and decades of forest-clearing permits and peatland drainage for the scale of this year's crisis, with parts of Indonesia experiencing hazardous air quality and thick haze turning skies in Central Kalimantan to apocalyptic shades of yellow and orange (3).
Beyond seasonal fires, Indonesia's chronic urban air pollution is driven by coal-fired power stations, industrial activity, vehicle emissions, construction dust, road dust, and unregulated agricultural burning, with over 57% of Jakarta's population reported to suffer from respiratory problems directly linked to air pollution (4).
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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.
