Is the air quality good in Sarajevo?
On December 3, 2025, at 12:05 PM PT, air quality in Sarajevo, Bosnia Herzegovina is unhealthy with an Air Quality Index (AQI) of 199.
Air quality is dynamic and, like the weather, can change frequently. Sarajevo ranks 5th among the most polluted major cities in the world today.
Click here for a real-time air quality map of Sarajevo.
While the air quality conditions today are poor, it is important to keep in mind that the average PM2.5 concentration in 2024 for Sarajevo was 30.8 µg/m³. This corresponds to an AQI of 90, which falls into the moderate category and was 6.1 times the WHO annual guideline of 5 µg/m³.
Sarajevo, Bosnia Herzegovina ranked as the 5th most polluted major city on December 3, 2025 at 12:05 PM PT. Source: IQAir.
When will air quality improve in Sarajevo?
Air quality in Sarajevo is projected to steadily improve into Thursday, as shifts in wind direction and temperature help disperse pollutants.
Hourly air quality forecast for Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina for Nov 7, 2025. Source: IQAir.
Air quality map of Sarajevo, Bosnia Herzegovina on December 3, 2025. Source: IQAir.
Air quality in the Western Balkans ranges from "unhealthy for sensitive groups" to "very unhealthy," a frequent condition in the region during winter months.
Air quality map in the Western Balkans on December 3, 2025. Source: IQAir.
What is causing poor air quality in Sarajevo?
The main sources of poor air quality in Sarajevo include:
- Residential heating: Between 30,000 and 40,000 households depend on damp wood and inefficient stoves, which release high levels of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) (1).
- Geography: The city’s valley setting, encircled by mountains, traps smog and restricts airflow—especially during the colder seasons.
- Traffic and industry: Aging vehicles, local factories, and coal burning power plants are major contributors to nitrogen oxides (NOx) and sulfur dioxide (SO₂) emissions (2).
- Weather patterns: Cold temperatures and temperature inversions in autumn and winter worsen pollutant accumulation.
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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.
