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2017-2023
World's most polluted cities
Most polluted city ranking based on annual average PM2.5 concentration (μg/m³)
2023
World Air Quality Report
PM2.5 legend
0-5
Meets WHO guideline
5.1-10
Exceeds by 1 to 2 times
10.1-15
Exceeds by 2 to 3 times
15.1-25
Exceeds by 3 to 5 times
25.1-35
Exceeds by 5 to 7 times
35.1-50
Exceeds by 7 to 10 times
>50.1
Exceeds by over 10 times
Rank | City | 2023 | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Benoni, South Africa | 54.9 | 24.5 | 16.1 | 30 | 47 | 46.5 | 96.7 | 98.6 | 94.8 | 61.2 | 44.7 | 31.4 | 24.6 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| 2 | Bloemfontein, South Africa | 49.4 | 19.1 | 14 | 20 | 66.9 | 78.8 | 97.9 | 106.6 | 83.1 | 55.7 | 21.8 | 15.6 | 12 | 16.2 | 42.2 | 17.2 | 42.3 | -- | -- |
| 3 |  Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso | 46.6 | 63.3 | 81.5 | 45.9 | 56.2 | 43.1 | 41.8 | 41.6 | 39.7 | 40 | 37.1 | 28.4 | 18.6 | 63 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| 4 |  Abuja, Nigeria | 45.4 | 111.8 | 89.2 | 43.8 | 34.9 | 23.6 | 15.8 | 24.5 | 23.3 | 17.2 | 35.4 | 47.6 | 80.3 | 46.5 | 27.3 | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| 5 |  Cairo, Egypt | 42.4 | 77.2 | 45.9 | 49.6 | 33.6 | 37.3 | 32.1 | 34.5 | 25.6 | 28.1 | 38.3 | 44.7 | 60.7 | 47.4 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| 6 |  Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo | 40.8 | 12.6 | 20 | 24.6 | 53.3 | 83.9 | 92.4 | 63.4 | -- | -- | 34.8 | 16.1 | 30.6 | 15.5 | 44.6 | -- | 32.1 | -- | -- |
| 7 |  Kigali, Rwanda | 36.8 | 47.4 | 58.6 | 34.9 | 24.1 | 29.4 | 44 | 45.7 | 42.8 | 35.8 | 24.2 | 24.6 | 31.8 | 44 | 43.1 | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| 8 |  Basse Santa Su, Gambia | 34.6 | -- | -- | 52.4 | 41.5 | 38.8 | 19.5 | 10.9 | 8.5 | 10.9 | 26.3 | 57.3 | 90.5 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| 9 | Brits, South Africa | 33.6 | 12.5 | 9.2 | 14.6 | 26.4 | 28.1 | 66.1 | 67.1 | 58.6 | 48.2 | 30.5 | 19.5 | 15.4 | 28.7 | 21.7 | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| 10 |  Harare, Zimbabwe | 33.3 | 6.6 | 8.8 | 28.5 | 47.5 | 46.9 | 32.7 | 43.2 | 34.8 | 58.1 | 45.6 | 26.5 | 12.4 | 9.1 | 24.7 | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| 11 |  Accra, Ghana | 33.2 | 70 | 59.2 | 26.8 | 21.5 | 20.2 | 22.7 | 28.4 | 22.6 | 16.7 | 18.1 | 23.1 | 68.8 | 30.1 | 25.9 | 26.9 | 30.3 | -- | -- |
| 12 | Olifantsfontein, South Africa | 32.7 | 13.5 | 10.3 | 17.7 | 35.4 | 39 | 72.3 | 68.1 | 44.4 | 41.8 | 24.5 | 15 | 12.4 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| 13 | Vereeniging, South Africa | 32.4 | 19.9 | 16.6 | 24.2 | 35.8 | 31.2 | 51.7 | 54 | 50.9 | 36.3 | 26.7 | 22.5 | 18.7 | 24.7 | 26.6 | 26.5 | 30 | -- | -- |
| 14 | Akasia, South Africa | 32.3 | 25.4 | 34.7 | 30.6 | 39 | 44 | 35.1 | 31.1 | 26.4 | 29.5 | 53.1 | 20 | 16.8 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| 15 | Vereeniging NU, South Africa | 31.8 | 24.1 | 20.1 | 24.2 | 28.9 | 31.1 | 49.3 | 47.5 | 41.6 | 31.5 | 27.6 | 24.8 | 23.8 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| 16 | Alexandra, South Africa | 31.6 | 23.3 | 16.8 | 21.8 | 32.1 | 31.3 | 47.8 | 49.2 | 46.3 | 38.1 | 30 | 21.3 | 18 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| 17 |  Benghazi, Libya | 30.4 | -- | 50.1 | 30.3 | 26.8 | 36.5 | 28 | 27.1 | 24.3 | 25.8 | 38.1 | 28.5 | 25.2 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| 18 | Soweto, South Africa | 29.8 | 17 | 12.6 | 20.4 | 32.4 | 26.4 | 49.3 | 58.2 | 53.9 | -- | 31.3 | 26.6 | 16.9 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| 19 | Benin City, Nigeria | 28.6 | 48 | 56.2 | 27 | 21.9 | 18.5 | 19.3 | 19.1 | 18.3 | 11.9 | 13.6 | 15.5 | 41.4 | 38.1 | 29.7 | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| 20 |  Dakar, Senegal | 28.2 | 33.7 | 45 | 30 | 30.8 | 26.4 | 14.5 | 15.8 | 8.6 | 8.8 | 22.6 | 34.1 | 49.3 | 20.4 | 14.6 | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| 21 | Springs, South Africa | 28.1 | 14.9 | 10.9 | 16.5 | 30.7 | 28.8 | 57.2 | 51.3 | 40.5 | 35.1 | 26.3 | 17.5 | 11.3 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| 22 | Sasolburg, South Africa | 27.3 | 17.4 | 12.8 | 19.9 | 22.1 | 23.3 | 45.5 | 44.8 | 40.9 | 34.9 | 26.4 | 20.9 | 17.7 | 26.6 | 27 | 25.6 | 31.4 | -- | -- |
| 23 |  Kampala, Uganda | 27.3 | 46.4 | 38 | 24.3 | 15.1 | 25.9 | 28.2 | 41.8 | 28.7 | 34.3 | 24.1 | 15.9 | 20.2 | 39.6 | 27.6 | 26.1 | 29.1 | 40.8 | 54.3 |
| 24 |  Addis Ababa, Ethiopia | 27 | 23.1 | 24.4 | 28.3 | 24.6 | 31.5 | 36.1 | 34.2 | 30.3 | 34.6 | 17.3 | 18.1 | 21.4 | 31.3 | 23.9 | 14.7 | 20.1 | 27.1 | 26.9 |
| 25 | Bakau, Gambia | 26.1 | -- | -- | 29.8 | 32.9 | 34.7 | 16.9 | 15.3 | 10.3 | 12.2 | 21.6 | 41.1 | 51.8 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| 26 | Keneba, Gambia | 25.1 | -- | -- | -- | 28.6 | 34.8 | 18.9 | 11.9 | 9.2 | 9.9 | 21.4 | 33 | 64.6 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| 27 | Balfour, South Africa | 25.1 | 0 | 9.3 | 1.6 | 49.9 | 43.6 | 33.4 | 37 | 40 | 40.2 | 28.3 | 22.2 | 20.2 | 22 | 22.4 | 20.7 | -- | -- | -- |
| 28 | New Germany, South Africa | 24.4 | 14.9 | 14.8 | 13.9 | 15.1 | 17.1 | 22.1 | 30.1 | 52.2 | 22.3 | 21.6 | 30.2 | 25.8 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| 29 |  Lusaka, Zambia | 24.1 | 9.9 | 13.2 | 12.5 | 13.9 | 20.6 | 30 | 27.5 | 23.4 | 63.9 | 39.8 | 18.6 | 13 | 24.6 | 24.6 | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| 30 |  Douala, Cameroon | 24 | 40.2 | 46.1 | 32.1 | 17.2 | 15.8 | 18.7 | 23.3 | 17.3 | 16 | 12.6 | 16.7 | 33.8 | 40.3 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| 31 | Vanderbijlpark, South Africa | 23.6 | 17 | 14.3 | 16 | 19.1 | 16.3 | 25.1 | 30.3 | 34.5 | 25.2 | 37.9 | 35.2 | 12.2 | 29.5 | 32.9 | -- | 34.7 | -- | -- |
| 32 | Marikana, South Africa | 23.1 | 14.2 | 11.2 | 11.5 | 29.2 | 24.6 | 38.7 | 45.2 | 34.6 | 27.5 | 20.4 | 13.5 | 10.9 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| 33 | Bluff, South Africa | 21.9 | 10 | 8.8 | 11.4 | 16.1 | 20.3 | 30.3 | 38.7 | 40 | 35.9 | 21.9 | 21.6 | 16.9 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| 34 | Lagos, Nigeria | 21.8 | 237.5 | -- | 15.2 | 15.4 | 14.2 | 14.5 | 14.2 | 13 | 13.2 | 14.9 | 19.9 | 66.4 | 36.1 | 40.9 | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| 35 | Pretoria, South Africa | 21.1 | 11.2 | 10.4 | 11.9 | 22.5 | 21.1 | 35 | 37.5 | 38.2 | 28.3 | 17.3 | 10.6 | 8.5 | 21.7 | 21.6 | 24.4 | 25.5 | -- | -- |
| 36 | Emalahleni, South Africa | 21.1 | 11.7 | 7.4 | 18.3 | 25.5 | 26.6 | 36.5 | 34.8 | 33 | 25.5 | 16.7 | 12.8 | 9.6 | 24.3 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| 37 |  Antananarivo, Madagascar | 20.6 | 10.4 | -- | 11.8 | 17.3 | 23.2 | 24.9 | 20.5 | 16.6 | 20 | 36.8 | 24.8 | 14.5 | 23.7 | 21.5 | 20.7 | -- | -- | -- |
| 38 | Khuma, South Africa | 20.4 | 13.3 | 12.4 | 12.8 | 17.9 | 16.1 | 27.8 | 28.3 | 28.2 | 24.9 | 17.7 | 13.3 | 10.5 | 8.7 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| 39 | Thabazimbi, South Africa | 19.3 | 1.7 | 12.4 | 14.2 | 24.5 | 18.2 | 23.8 | 20 | 39.9 | 24 | 21.5 | 14.6 | 7.9 | 42.2 | 26.6 | 14.7 | 19.4 | -- | -- |
| 40 | Middelburg, South Africa | 19.1 | 8.9 | 5.9 | 11.3 | 19.5 | 20 | 27.2 | 31.6 | 30.9 | 26.3 | 15.9 | 12.1 | 9.6 | 18.2 | 16.2 | 19.8 | 26.6 | -- | -- |
| 41 | Bojanala Platinum, South Africa | 18.8 | 11.2 | 9.5 | 10 | 18.6 | 20.7 | 25.9 | 27.3 | 26.8 | 26 | 16.1 | 10.8 | -- | 8.7 | 21.7 | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| 42 | Johannesburg, South Africa | 18.7 | 15.2 | 14.4 | 13.9 | 21.8 | 19.8 | 22.7 | 26.6 | 23 | 21.1 | 15.1 | 15.9 | 13 | 21.7 | 27.3 | 22.3 | 25.3 | -- | -- |
| 43 | Ermelo, South Africa | 18 | 12.6 | 5.5 | 40.2 | 17.6 | 16.7 | 20 | 24.3 | 21.9 | 17.5 | 11.9 | 11.1 | 8.3 | 14.8 | 27.8 | 16.7 | 28.4 | -- | -- |
| 44 | Mahikeng, South Africa | 17.9 | 7.4 | 7.6 | -- | 21.1 | 15.3 | 23.6 | 21.1 | 28.5 | 27.5 | 20.8 | 10.3 | 8.1 | 8.4 | 14.3 | 11.3 | 26.5 | -- | -- |
| 45 |  Libreville, Gabon | 16.9 | 25.1 | 24.1 | 15.3 | 11.6 | 12.4 | 19.8 | 27 | 21.2 | 15.9 | 7.6 | 7.2 | 16 | 25 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| 46 |  Abidjan, Ivory Coast | 16.6 | 36.6 | 25.1 | 13.4 | 12.7 | 8.4 | 9.5 | 14.5 | 11.2 | 8.2 | 8.1 | 13.2 | 39.2 | 22.5 | 26.5 | 21.9 | -- | -- | -- |
| 47 | Embalenhle, South Africa | 16.5 | 8.5 | 6.2 | 5.2 | 3.2 | 16.6 | 22.7 | 34.4 | 28.5 | 23.7 | 17.7 | 17.2 | 14.2 | 17.4 | 17.1 | 15.6 | 30 | -- | -- |
| 48 | Rustenburg, South Africa | 16.3 | 11.9 | 7.5 | 12.7 | 20.8 | 20.4 | 30.4 | 33 | 15.8 | 21.3 | 16.4 | 12 | 11.2 | 21.6 | 25.5 | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| 49 |  Lome, Togo | 16.3 | 2.1 | 6.2 | 1.8 | 1 | -- | 13.5 | 17.3 | 15.8 | 12.7 | 12.8 | 14.5 | 49.4 | 13.6 | 27.2 | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| 50 | Hartbeespoort, South Africa | 15.6 | 9.7 | 8.7 | 9.9 | 18.6 | 15.2 | 26.2 | 25.9 | 27 | 20.5 | 13.9 | 6.5 | 5.4 | 16.3 | 17 | 20.8 | 60 | -- | -- |
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