2022 World Air Quality Report US

Contents
About this report ............................................................................................................. 3

Executive summary ......................................................................................................... 4
Where does the data come from? ................................................................................... 5
Why PM2.5? ................................................................................................................ 5
Interpreting health risks with air quality guidelines and standards ........................... 6
Data presentation ........................................................................................................... 7
2022 Global PM2.5 map .................................................................................................. 8
Highlighted Contributor: Kyiv City ................................................................................... 9
Highlighted Contributor: Aires Nuevos ........................................................................... 1 0
2022 Country/region ranking ......................................................................................... 11
2022 Regional capital city ranking .................................................................................12
Overview of public monitoring status ............................................................................ 13
Regional summaries ....................................................................................................... 14
East Asia ...................................................................................................................... 14
China Mainland ..........................................................................................15
South Korea .............................................................................................. 16
Southeast Asia ............................................................................................................ 17
Indonesia .................................................................................................. 18
Malaysia ....................................................................................................19
Thailand .................................................................................................... 20
Vietnam ...................................................................................................... 21
Central & South Asia ................................................................................................... 22
India .......................................................................................................... 23
Pakistan .................................................................................................... 2 4
West Asia ..................................................................................................................... 25
Europe ......................................................................................................................... 26
Ukraine ..................................................................................................... 27
Northern America ........................................................................................................ 28
United States ............................................................................................ 29
Latin America & Caribbean ......................................................................................... 30
Brazil ......................................................................................................... 31
Chile .......................................................................................................... 32
Colombia ................................................................................................... 3 3
Africa ........................................................................................................................... 34
Chad .......................................................................................................... 35
South Africa .............................................................................................. 36
Oceania ........................................................................................................................ 37
Next steps ........................................................................................................................ 38
What can governments do? What can I do? .............................................................. 38
Become an air quality data contributor ..................................................................... 39
Methodology .................................................................................................................... 40
Data sources ............................................................................................................... 40
Data validation ............................................................................................................ 40
Data calibration ............................................................................................................ 40
Data calculation .......................................................................................................... 40
City level data .............................................................................................................. 40
Country/region data .................................................................................................... 40
Data availability .......................................................................................................... 41
Disclaimer ................................................................................................................... 41
FAQ ................................................................................................................................... 42
References ....................................................................................................................... 43
Acknowledgments .......................................................................................................... 47
2 | 2022 World Air Quality Report

About this report
The 2022 World Air Quality Report reviews the status of air quality around the world for the
year 2022. This report presents PM2.5 air quality data from 7,323 cities across 131 countries,
regions, and territories. The data used in this report was aggregated from over 30,000 regulatory
air quality monitoring stations and low-cost air quality sensors. These monitoring stations and
sensors are operated by governmental bodies, research institutions, non-profit non-governmental
organizations, universities and educational facilities, private companies, and citizen scientists
across the globe.
The PM2.5 data in this report is measured in units of micrograms per cubic meter (μg/m3) and
incorporates the 2021 World Health Organization (WHO) air quality guidelines and interim targets
as a basis for data visualization and risk communication.
The air quality data utilized in the 2022 World Air Quality Report was sourced from IQAir’s real-
time online air quality monitoring platform which validates, calibrates, and harmonizes air quality
data from monitoring stations located around the world.
Further historic air quality data sorted by city, country, and region can be found on the IQAir
website, including an interactive map featuring annual city concentrations and global
rankings of annual air quality for the 7,323 global cities included in this report.
IQAir aims to engage, inform, and inspire governments, educators, researchers, non-profit
organizations, companies, and citizens to build collaborative efforts to increase air quality
awareness. IQAir seeks to facilitate an informed dialogue and inspires action that improves air
quality and the health of global communities and cities.

Executive summary
Air pollution continues to be the world’s largest environmental health threat. Worldwide, poor air
quality accounts for 93 billion days lived with illness and over six million deaths each year. The total
economic cost equates to over $8 trillion dollars, surpassing 6.1 percent of the global annual GDP.1
Exposure to air pollution causes and aggravates several health conditions which include, but are not
limited to, asthma, cancer, lung illnesses, heart disease, and premature mortality.2
Air pollution most severely impacts already vulnerable populations. More than 90% of pollution related
deaths occur in low-income and middle-income countries.3 Children under 18 years old, pregnant
women, and older adults all have increased risk of developing or worsening health conditions from air
pollution exposure.4
Data for the World Air Quality Report was aggregated from measurements taken from over 30,000
global air quality monitoring stations. Hourly averaged data from both government-operated
regulatory instrumentation and non-government operated, ground-based air quality monitors was
collected and aggregated over the course of a year and used as the basis for the content of the
report.
In 2021, this report included data from 6,475 locations in 117 countries, territories, and regions. In
2022, these numbers have expanded to now include 7,323 locations in 131 countries, territories,
and regions. The coverage for the continent of Africa expanded significantly, with the inclusion of
seven additional countries in 2022. Despite the expansion, density of coverage remains extremely
scarce. While this report contains data from over 30,000 air quality monitoring stations, only
156 stations produced all the included data for the continent of Africa, home to this year’s most
polluted country in the world, Chad. With the only real-time, publicly available source of air quality
data for the entire country of Chad being provided by a single air quality monitor in the city of
N’Djamena, this year the spotlight on global air quality data coverage disparities shines bright on
the continent of Africa.
In 2022, 13 out of the 131 countries and regions included in this report have succeeded in achieving
PM2.5 concentrations at or below the WHO guideline for annual PM2.5 concentrations of 5 μg/
m3. Much work has been done to combat air pollution; however, as evidenced by this report,
there is still a long road ahead to ensure environmental equality. Citizens in only ten percent of the
global countries, regions and territories are breathing air that does not pose a risk to their health
as indicated by the WHO.

Where does the data come from?
While many other air quality reports and apps utilize modelled, satellite data, the data analyzed
for this report comes exclusively from empirically measured PM2.5 data collected from ground-
level air monitoring stations. The PM2.5 measurement data in this report is aggregated from both
regulatory air quality monitoring instrumentation and low-cost air quality sensors. These devices are
operated by government agencies, educational institutions, non-profit organizations, and individual
citizens who contribute to the monitoring of their local air quality. Most of the data used in the World
Air Quality Report is collected in real-time, with additional supplementary air quality measurements
sourced from historical year-end data sets. The combination of PM2.5 measurements collected in
real-time and historically sourced data results in the most comprehensive global data set for analysis.
Data from individual air quality monitoring stations and sensors have been grouped into
“settlements” that represent cities, towns, villages, counties, and municipalities based on local
population distributions and administrative divisions. “Settlements” will be referred to as cities
throughout the remainder of this report. Country and region annual PM2.5 concentrations, and their
subsequent rankings, are calculated as population weighted, averaged city-level concentrations.
Why PM2.5?
PM2.5 concentration describes the amount of fine particulate aerosol particles up to 2.5 microns in diameter
and is used as the standard air quality indicator for the World Air Quality Report. Measured in micrograms
per cubic meter (μg/m3), PM2.5 is one of six major air pollutants commonly used in the classification of air
quality. PM2.5 is largely accepted as the most harmful of these pollutants based on its prevalence in the
environment and the wide range of negative human health effects associated with its exposure.
PM2.5 can be produced by a variety of sources which can result in different chemical compositions and
physical characteristics. Sulfates, nitrates, black carbon, and ammonium are some of the most common
particles that make up PM2.5. The anthropogenic generation of PM2.5 can largely be attributed to combustion
engines, power generation, industrial processes, agricultural processes, wood and coal burning, and
construction. The most prevalent natural sources of PM2.5 include dust storms, wildfires, and sandstorms.

Interpreting health risks with air
quality guidelines and standards
In 2021, the World Health Organization (WHO) updated their air quality guidelines to reflect the
abundance of scientific evidence from the past 15 years showing the effects of PM2.5 on air
quality and health.5 The 2021 World Air Quality Report contained a detailed discussion outlining
how the WHO determined their annual PM2.5 guideline level of 5 µg/m3 and the daily PM2.5
guideline level of 15 µg/m3.
The need for two different standards, an annual exposure threshold and a daily exposure
threshold, is not immediately intuitive. The reasoning arises due to differing health risks
posed by short term versus long term PM2.5 exposure. Both threshold values consider the
concentration that a person is exposed to and the amount of time they are exposed to it.
Daily threshold values aim to protect people from short-term events that can cause immediate
health problems, such as wildfires and dust storms or heavy traffic and agricultural burning with
periodic emissions that occur on timescales of minutes to hours. The WHO daily average PM2.5
guideline was designed to express the concentration at which a 24 hour exposure could incur a
similar severity of health risks associated with chronic exposure to levels at the annual average
PM2.5 guideline level. Risks posed to human health quantitatively increases when periods of
acute exposure to PM2.5 concentrations above the daily average guideline occur more than
three to four days in a given year for individuals in environments that otherwise sustain the
annual PM2.5 guideline level.5 Exposure to acute events of poor air quality can affect sensitive
groups such as the elderly, children, and people with pre-existing health conditions like asthma
or diabetes more severely than healthy adults.6
The annual average guideline aims to quantify risks for long-term, chronic exposure. Sustained
exposure to PM2.5 concentrations above the annual average guideline level result in a chronic
impact on individuals’ respiratory and circulatory systems leading to long-term complications
such as heart disease and decreased lung function.7 Apart from the explicit health effects from
chronic exposure, long-lasting poor air quality conditions can have detrimental consequences
related to mental health of affected populations.8 While concentrations can vary seasonally in
some areas, chronic exposure to air pollution is mostly determined by residential geographical
location rather than short-term pollution events such as wildfires or meteorological conditions
such as temperature inversions.
For the purposes of this report, it is more beneficial to focus on long-term, annual average
PM2.5 concentrations that reflect the state of air quality chronically experienced in distinct
geographic locations rather than to analyze daily acute events. Health risks associated with the
day to day living conditions experienced by local residents in cities and countries are better
described in terms of long-term exposures, and therefore annual guidelines are more applicable
as a metric for evaluating the risk posed at quantified PM2.5 concentrations.

Data presentation
The data in this report is visualized using the World Health Organization (WHO) annual air
quality guideline levels and interim targets for PM2.5. This method of visualizing data allows
for easy identification of the cities and regions that are experiencing the greatest health risks
related to PM2.5.
The table below outlines the framework for the color coding used throughout the report. Seven
different colors are utilized, each color representing a range of PM2.5 concentrations that bracket
WHO designated guideline or target values. The colors span from blue, representing the lowest
PM2.5 concentrations and designate locations that have achieved the WHO annual PM2.5
guideline level to maroon, representing the highest PM2.5 concentrations and designate locations
that exceed the WHO annual PM2.5 guideline by more than ten times.
2022 World Air Quality Report visualization framework

Annual PM2.5 breakpoints based on
WHO guideline and interim targets PM2.5 Color code WHO levels
Meets WHO PM2.5 guideline 0-5 (μg/m³) Blue Air quality guideline
Exceeds WHO PM2.5 guideline by 1 to 2 times 5.1-10 (μg/m³) Green Interim target 4
Exceeds WHO PM2.5 guideline by 2 to 3 times 10.1-15 (μg/m³) Yellow Interim target 3
Exceeds WHO PM2.5 guideline by 3 to 5 times 15.1-25 (μg/m³) Orange Interim target 2
Exceeds WHO PM2.5 guideline by 5 to 7 times 25.1-35 (μg/m³) Red Interim target 1
Exceeds WHO PM2.5 guideline by 7 to 10 times 35.1-50 (μg/m³) Purple Exceeds target levels
Exceeds WHO PM2.5 guideline by over 10 times >50 (μg/m³) Maroon Exceeds target levels

2022 Global PM2.5 Map
PM2.5
(µg/m³)
50
35
25
15
10
2022 global map color coded by annual average PM2.5 concentration
In 2022, the countries, regions, and territories in Africa and Central and South Asia suffered from
the highest annual average PM2.5 concentrations weighted by population. While the availability
of air quality data in Africa continues to slowly grow, only 19 out of 54 countries in Africa had suf-
ficient data available to be included in this year’s report, leaving 35 countries unaccounted for.
Afghanistan has consistently ranked in the top 15 most polluted countries since 2018, however
it, along with the country of Oman (ranked as the 6th most polluted country in 2021), is notably
absent due to a lack of data availability. 20 new countries are now represented that were not
present in last year’s report, including Burkina Faso, ranking at 6th, and Rwanda, ranking at 13th
in this year’s Most Polluted Countries List. 13 countries, territories, and regions achieved the
WHO guidelines in 2022, many of which were located in the region of Oceania.

Highlighted Contributor:
Kyiv City
Community efforts in Kyiv, Ukraine, are driven by a com-
mitment to improve the health of its citizens through
better air quality. To achieve this goal, a comprehensive
air quality network is being constructed. These efforts
are supported by contributions from public servants in
city government, Kyiv’s scientific community, and local
businesses and citizens invested in providing real-time
air quality information in a country that has historically
had some of the worst air quality in Europe.
Kyiv’s Department of Ecology and Natural Resources

operates a network of five reference monitoring stations
around the city. Air quality data from these stations is
shared publicly in collaboration with the non-govern-
mental air quality monitoring network LUN Misto AIR,
which operates forty additional monitoring stations in
Kyiv. Scientists from the Main Astronomical Observatory
in Kyiv, the Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv,
and the V.E. Lashkaryov Institue of Semiconductor Phys-
ics NAS have further expanded air quality monitoring by
hosting sensors at their institutions around the city.
Official Kyiv city air quality monitoring station.
The collection and dissemination of air quality data empowers residents of Kyiv to make changes that
positively impact their communities. In spite of the ongoing conflict, collaborators provide essential
information to citizens of Kyiv for the betterment of their health. The community efforts involved in
maintaining the city’s monitoring infrastructure demonstrates Kyiv’s dedication to the well-being and
autonomy of its citizens and its investment in the health of current and future generations.
Mayor of Kyiv visiting one of the official Kyiv City air quality monitoring stations in 2022

Highlighted Contributor:
Aires Nuevos
Aires Nuevos is Latin America’s largest citizen
operated air quality network. It was created
by Fundación Horizonte Ciudadano in part-
nership with the Centro de Acción Climática
PUCV of Chile in 2020 with support from CIFF
and Bernard van Leer Foundation, with the
goal of closing the air quality monitoring gaps
in the region. The Aires Nuevos program is a
collaborative multi-stakeholder effort based
on the ideal of community air quality gover-
nance. It includes members from local gov-
ernments, communities, and universities who
share their knowledge and expertise to utilize
air quality data to drive action that results in
reduced exposure to air pollution.
Community member installing an air quality
sensor near a playground
The Aires Nuevos monitoring network consists of 115 AirVisual air quality sensors spanning 42
municipalities in eight Latin American countries. Currently eight cities in the network are actively
working to implement local air pollution reduction measures based on network collected data.
Lima, Peru is one of these cities that serves as an example of comprehensive program-related ef-
fort. Six urban interventions in children’s spaces have been made over the last two years, to reduce
their exposure to air pollution and improve the environment in which they spend most of their days.
Community air quality monitoring in Chile

2022 Country/region ranking
Population weighted, 2022 average PM2.5 concentration (μg/m³) for countries, regions, and territories
in descending order
1 Chad 89.7 45 Türkiye 21.1 89 Spain 10.9

2 Iraq 80.1 46 Sri Lanka 20.7 90 Maldives 10.9
3 Pakistan 70.9 47 Senegal 20.4 91 Belgium 10.8
4 Bahrain 66.6 48 Syria 20.0 92 Austria 10.6
5 Bangladesh 65.8 49 Mexico 19.5 93 Honduras 10.2
6 Burkina Faso 63.0 50 Greece 19.0 94 Latvia 10.1
7 Kuwait 55.8 51 Azerbaijan 18.9 95 Switzerland 10.0
8 India 53.3 52 Italy 18.9 96 Ukraine 9.7
9 Egypt 46.5 53 Israel 18.8 97 Japan 9.1
10 Tajikistan 46.0 54 Guatemala 18.6 98 Panama 9.0
11 United Arab Emirates 45.9 55 Bulgaria 18.3 99 United States 8.9
12 Sudan 44.6 56 South Korea 18.3 100 Nicaragua 8.9
13 Rwanda 44.0 57 Thailand 18.1 101 United Kingdom 8.9
14 Qatar 42.5 58 Algeria 17.8 102 Angola 8.8
15 Saudi Arabia 41.5 59 Malaysia 17.7 103 Denmark 8.6
16 Nepal 40.1 60 Romania 17.2 104 Cambodia 8.3
17 Uganda 39.6 61 Georgia 17.0 105 Liechtenstein 8.3
18 Nigeria 36.9 62 Poland 16.3 106 Portugal 8.1
19 Bosnia Herzegovina 33.6 63 Colombia 15.7 107 Costa Rica 7.9
20 Uzbekistan 33.5 64 Montenegro 15.7 108 Argentina 7.7
21 Iran 32.5 65 Cyprus 15.6 109 Ireland 7.5
22 Armenia 31.4 66 Democratic Republic
of the Congo 15.5 110 Luxembourg 7.4
23 Ethiopia 31.3 67 Macao SAR 15.4 111 Canada 7.4
24 Kyrgyzstan 31.1 68 Slovenia 15.1 112 Bolivia 7.3
25 China 30.6 69 Philippines 14.9 113 Suriname 7.0
26 Indonesia 30.4 70 Kosovo 14.7 114 Norway 7.0
27 Ghana 30.2 71 Slovakia 14.5 115 Sweden 6.2
28 Mongolia 29.5 72 Hong Kong SAR 14.5 116 Belize 5.6
29 Laos 27.6 73 Albania 14.5 117 Andorra 5.4
30 Vietnam 27.2 74 El Salvador 14.2 118 Trinidad and Tobago 5.1
31 North Macedonia 25.6 75 Czech Republic 13.4 119 Finland 5.0
32 Gabon 25.0 76 Taiwan 13.4 120 Estonia 4.9
33 Serbia 24.7 77 Singapore 13.3 121 New Zealand 4.8
34 Zambia 24.6 78 Lithuania 13.2 122 Puerto Rico 4.3
35 Myanmar 24.3 79 Guyana 12.6 123 Australia 4.2
36 Madagascar 23.7 80 Hungary 12.6 124 Grenada 3.8
37 Croatia 23.5 81 Brazil 12.2 125 New Caledonia 3.5
38 Peru 23.5 82 Malta 11.7 126 Iceland 3.4
39 South Africa 23.4 83 Kenya 11.5 127 Bonaire, Sint Eusatius
and Saba 3.3
40 Kazakhstan 23.0 84 France 11.5 128 Bermuda 3.0
41 Moldova 22.6 85 Uruguay 11.3 129 U.S. Virgin Islands 2.9
42 Ivory Coast 22.5 86 Russia 11.2 130 French Polynesia 2.5
43 Chile 22.2 87 Netherlands 11.0 131 Guam 1.3
44 Turkmenistan 21.6 88 Germany 11.0

2022 Regional capital city ranking
Population weighted, 2022 average PM2.5 concentration (µg/m3) for countries, regions, and territories in descending order
1. N’Djamena, Chad (89.7) 59. Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo (15.5)
2. New Delhi, India (89.1) 60. Warsaw, Poland (15.3)
3. Baghdad, Iraq (86.7) 61. Bogota, Colombia (15.1)
4. Manama, Bahrain (66.6) 62. Metro Manila, Philippines (14.6)
5. Dhaka, Bangladesh (65.8) 63. Tirana, Albania (14.5)
6. Ougadougou, Burkina Faso (63.0) 64. Vilnius, Lithuania (14.5)
7. Kuwait City, Kuwait (57.5) 65. Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR (14.4)
8. Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (48.0) 66. Buenos Aires, Argentina (14.2)
9. Dushanbe, Tajikistan (47.7) 67. Ankara, Türkiye (14.0)
10. Cairo, Egypt (47.4) 68. Pristina, Kosovo (13.7)
11. Abuja, Nigeria (46.5) 69. San Salvador, El Salvador (13.4)
12. Riyadh, Saudi Arabia (46.2) 70. Bratislava, Slovakia (13.4)
13. Khartoum, Sudan (44.6) 71. Singapore, Singapore (13.3)
14. Kigali, Rwanda (44.0) 72. Paris, France (12.7)
15. Doha, Qatar (41.8) 73. Georgetown, Guyana (12.7)
16. Kathmandu, Nepal (40.7) 74. Berlin, Germany (12.6)
17. Islamabad, Pakistan (40.6) 75. Rome Italy (12.6)
18. Hanoi, Vietnam (40.1) 76. Prague, Czech Republic (11.9)
19. Kampala, Uganda (39.6) 77. Podgorica, Montenegro (11.8)
20. Jakarta, Indonesia (36.2) 78. Nairobi, Kenya (11.5)
21. Tehran, Iran (36.1) 79. Montevideo, Uruguay (11.3)
22. Tashkent, Uzbekistan (33.5) 80. Budapest, Hungary (11.2)
23. Sarajevo, Bosnia Herzegovina (32.4) 81. Moscow, Russia (10.8)
24. Yerevan, Armenia (31.4) 82. Brussels, Belgium (10.6)
83. Vienna, Austria (10.5)
25. Addis Ababa, Ethiopia (31.3)
84. Bern, Switzerland (10.5)
26. Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia (30.6)
85. Tegucigalpa, Honduras (10.2)
27. Accra, Ghana (30.1)
86. Amsterdam, Netherlands (10.1)
28. Beijing, China (29.8)
87. Taipei, Taiwan (9.9)
29. Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan (29.0)
88. Washington, USA (9.8)
30. Vientiane, Laos (27.6)
89. London, United Kingdom (9.6)
31. Skopje, North Macedonia (26.6)
90. Madrid, Spain (9.5)
32. Santiago, Chile (25.8)
91. Kyiv, Ukraine (9.5)
33. Lima, Peru (25.6)
92. Tokyo, Japan (9.2)
34. Lusaka, Zambia (24.6)
93. Panama, Panama (9.0)
35. Yangon, Myanmar (24.3)
94. Managua, Nicaragua (8.9)
36. Antananarivo, Madagascar (23.7)
95. Luanda, Angola (8.8)
37. Chisinau, Moldova (22.6)
96. Copenhagen, Denmark (8.7)
38. Abidjan, Ivory Coast (22.5)
97. Phnom Penh, Cambodia (8.3)
39. Zagreb, Croatia (22.4)
98. Vaduz, Leichtenstein (8.3)
40. Mexico City, Mexico (22.1) 99. San Jose, Costa Rica (7.9)
41. Belgrade, Serbia (22.1) 100. Lisbon, Portugal (7.5)
42. Ashgabat, Turkmenistan (21.6) 101. La Paz, Bolivia (7.3)
43. Astana, Kazakhstan (21.4) 102. Dublin, Ireland (7.1)
44. Colombo, Ski Lanka (20.9) 103. Paramaribo, Suriname (7.0)
45. Dakar, Senegal (20.4) 104. Oslo, Norway (6.9)
46. Tel Aviv-Yafo, Israel (19.5) 105. Ottawa, Canada (6.8)
47. Athens, Greece (19.2) 106. Stockholm, Sweden (6.8)
48. Sofia, Bulgaria (19.1) 107. Cape Town, South Africa (6.7)
49. Baku, Azerbaijan (18.9) 108. Helsinki, Finland (5.5)
50. Guatemala City, Guatemala (18.5) 109. Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago (5.0)
51. Seoul, South Korea (18.3) 110. Tallinn, Estonia (4.8)
52. Bangkok, Thailand (18.0) 111. Saint George’s, Grenada (3.8)
53. Algiers, Algeria (17.8) 112. Noumea, New Caledonia (3.5)
54. Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (17.6) 113. Reykjavik, Iceland (3.3)
55. Bucharest, Romania (17.1) 114. San Juan, Puerto Rico (3.3)
56. Nicosia, Cyprus (16.4) 115. Hamilton, Bermuda (3.0)
57. Tbilisi, Georgia (16.3) 116. Canberra, Australia (2.8)
58. Ljubljana, Slovenia (16.2)
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 110 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70
WHO PM2.5 air quality guideline WHO PM2.5 air quality guideline

Overview of public monitoring status
Global distribution of PM2.5 monitoring stations
Global Distribution of PM2.5 air quality monitoring stations providing data included in this report. Independently
operated monitoring stations are represented by blue markers. Government stations are represented by red markers
A map visualising the distribution of global air quality monitoring reveals obvious gaps in Latin
America, Africa, and Central Asia despite the high population of these regions and recent studies
demonstrating high risk factors of PM2.5 exposure in these areas.9 In contrast, North America,
Europe, and some places in Southeast Asia have much more dense air quality monitoring networks.
Nonetheless, recent efforts on filling air quality monitoring gaps have increased the number of air
quality monitoring stations in Latin America, Africa, and Central Asia. Independently operated air
quality monitoring stations have shown huge potential to resolve the disproportional air quality
monitoring coverage around the globe.
Ongoing advancements in low-cost monitors have made them a viable public alternative for those
countries, regions, and territories that lack government-operated air quality monitoring stations.
These advancements enable ease of deployment and allow for operation in remote areas. Affordable
pricing reduces some of the economic barriers of creating a dense network of stations due to very
minimal maintenance costs. In 2022, independently operated low-cost air quality monitoring provided
the only real-time air quality data for Afghanistan*, Albania, Angola, the Bahamas, Belize, Bermuda,
Bolivia, Bonaire, Cambodia, Cameroon*, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Ecuador, French
Polynesia, Gambia*, Grenada, Guam, Guyana, Honduras, Jamaica*, Jersey*, Latvia, Lebanon, the
Maldives, Moldova, Mauritius, Morocco*, Mozambique, Namibia, Nicaragua, Niger*, Panama, Saint
Eustatius and Saba, Sierra Leone, Oman, Papua New Guinea, South Sudan*, Suriname, Tanzania,
Timor Leste*, Togo*, Trinidad and Tobago, U.S. Virgin Islands, Uruguay, Venezuela*, Zambia,
Zimbabwe*.
*Cities in these countries did not meet the required limit of 60% annual data availability and were therefore excluded from the report.

EAST ASIA
China Mainland | Hong Kong SAR | Japan | Macau SAR | Mongolia | South Korea | Taiwan
PM2.5
(µg/m³)
Country/Region Ranking
1. China (30.6)
50
2. Mongolia (29.5)
3. South Korea (18.3)

35
4. Macau SAR (15.4)
25 5. Hong Kong SAR (14.5)
6. Taiwan (13.4)
15
10 7. Japan (9.1)
5
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100
City markers indicating 2022 PM2.5 levels, size adjusted for population 2022 PM2.5 average (µg/m³)
0%
SUMMARY
The region of East Asia included data from 1,283 cities from
seven different countries and territories. China, Macau SAR,
Hong Kong SAR, Mongolia, Taiwan, and South Korea all had
decreases in their annual average PM2.5 concentrations while
Regional cities that met the Japan remained level. Taiwan showed the largest percentage
WHO PM2.5 guideline in 2022 reduction of 17.3 percent going from 16.2 μg/m3 in 2021 to
13.4 μg/m3 in 2022. Despite being home to the world’s coldest
capital of Ulaanbaatar, where city residents often use coal fires
to warm their homes, the country of Mongolia showed an
11 percent drop in PM2.5 concentrations. This is promising
5.3 94.3 news for a country where, according to data based on the
Ogasawara, Japan Hotan, China 2020 WHO Global Health Estimates, three out of the top four
leading causes of death in the country – heart disease, stroke,
and respiratory infections – are known to have increased risk
5 10 15 25 35 50 factors from chronic exposure to air pollution.10
Range of 2022 average PM2.5 (µg/m³) across regional cities The reductions in concentrations in 2022 in Hong Kong SAR and
Taiwan were sufficient to achieve WHO interim target 3 levels,
with annual PM2.5 concentrations below 15 μg/m3. Of the 1,283
cities in the region, 558 had increased annual average PM2.5
Most Polluted Regional Cities Least Polluted Regional Cities concentrations, 53 cities stayed the same, and 638 decreased
from last year. In 2022, no cities in this region achieved the WHO
Rank City 2022 Rank City 2022
annual guideline PM2.5 concentration 5 μg/m3.
1 Hotan, China 94.3 1 Ogasawara, Japan 5.3
Hotan remains the most polluted city in the region with
2 Kashgar, China 73.4 2 Kushiro, Japan 5.4 an annual average of 94.3 μg/m3 despite a concentration
reduction of 7.1 percent. Hotan, however, has dipped below
3 Shihezi, China 57.3 3 Ngari, China 5.6 the 100 μg/m3 mark for the first time since 2017. This is one of
the 18 cities above or equal to 10 times the WHO guidelines,
4 Yigou, China 56.4 4 Okinawa, Japan 5.6
all of which are in China. The least polluted city in the region is
5 Aksu, China 55.5 5 Nyingchi, China 5.7 Ogasawara, Japan which maintained last year’s concentration
of 5.3 μg/m3.
6 Puyang, China 54.3 6 Obihiro, Japan 5.8
7 Wujiaqu, China 53.3 7 Naha, Japan 5.8 MONITORING STATUS

8 Kizilsu, China 52.8 8 Taitung, Taiwan 5.8 Government operated monitoring stations in this region
continue to provide some of the best monitoring coverage
9 Hebi, China 52.2 9 Minamiaizu, Japan 6.0 in the world. China, Japan, and South Korea have a robust
amount of government stations. In this region, China provides
10 Changji, China 51.5 10 Shingu, Japan 6.0
the most coverage of landmass and monitors the air quality
11 Luohe, China 51.2 11 Gero, Japan 6.1 for the highest number of people in the world. Japan’s
combination of government-operated stations and non-
12 Anyang, China 51.0 12 Shinshiro, Japan 6.2 government-operated sensors provides the highest monitoring
13 Weinan, China 51.0 13 Oyabe, Japan 6.2 resolution. China is home to the greatest number of new cities
and sensors in this region, adding 24 new cities and 114 new
14 Xianyang, China 50.8 14 Aizuwakamatsu, Japan 6.3 stations in 2022. Government-operated monitors accounted
for over 97 percent of the stations in the region whose air
15 Kaifeng, China 50.2 15 Kuji, Japan 6.3
quality data was used in this report.

CHINA MAINLAND
PM2.5 Beijing Guangzhou Chengdu
(µg/m³)
Shanghai Shenzhen Chongqing
60
50
50
35 40
25 30
15 20
10
10
5
2018 2019 2020 2021 2022
City markers indicating 2022 PM2.5 levels, size adjusted for population PM2.5 annual mean (µg/m³) over 5 years
City 2022 JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC 2021
Beijing 29.8 45.4 22.5 40.4 35.8 21.0 22.5 17.0 18.4 29.4 39.6 44.3 21.2 34.4
Chengdu 38.3 66.5 42.7 47.4 31.3 29.4 28.3 24.3 22.9 23.4 38.5 47.0 57.6 40.3
Chongqing 26.0 42.5 30.9 27.4 19.3 15.2 15.1 12.4 11.1 25.6 26.9 34.7 51.0 31.0
Guangzhou 21.3 32.0 16.0 23.3 20.6 17.8 11.5 16.1 13.3 30.7 24.9 23.0 25.9 24.4
Shanghai 25.4 43.0 30.6 30.0 22.7 21.6 20.8 23.1 20.1 17.1 15.7 26.2 33.9 27.7
Shenzhen 15.7 24.9 13.2 16.2 16.0 11.2 6.5 10.9 8.9 26 18.3 15.1 21.4 17.9
PROGRESS Beijing
China’s air quality continues to show year by year improvement. Of the 524 cities included
in the data for this report, nearly 64 percent of cities demonstrated reductions in their
2018 2019 2020 2021 2022
100%
annual PM2.5 concentrations. This resulted in a slight decrease of China’s annual PM2.5
concentrations from 32.6 μg/m3 in 2021 to 30.6 μg/m3 in 2022. While all the most populated
90% 37.7% 18.7% 17.6%
Chinese cities featured in this report have seen improving PM2.5 levels with reductions ranging 24.4%
from a five percent (Chengdu) to 16 percent (Chongqing), none of the cities in the country have 29.4%
met the WHO annual guideline of 5 μg/m3. 80%

10%
10.8%
CHALLENGES 70% 13.3%
China’s coal usage continues to be a point of concern. China is responsible for a large portion 12.8%
16.2% 13.6%
of the world’s coal production and usage.11 Coal combustion is a significant contributor to 60%
the country’s PM2.5 emissions profile along with other sources such as industry, biomass 13.7% 14.6%
burning, road dust, and road vehicles.12 In order to combat these issues, China announced
50% 17.9%
a new emissions reporting framework in 2022 to hold companies and industries accountable 11.7%
19.5%
for the pollution they release.13 11.2%
40% 17.1%
HIGHLIGHT: BEIJING WINTER OPLYMPICS 15.8%
10.9%
11.9% 11.4%
The Olympic Games in Beijing coincided with a large decrease in PM2.5 concentrations during 30%
February. The monthly concentration dropped from 62.7 μg/m3 in 2021 to 22.5 μg/m3 in 2022. 9.4%
8.7% 17.6%
All the venues for the games were powered with only renewable resources, and there was 20%
8%
14.4%
a focus on utilizing vehicles that used sustainable energy sources.14 These new measures
13.6%
contributed to Beijing’s trend of continual reductions in PM2.5 levels, which have dropped by 12.7% 12.8%
10%
20 percent over the last two years with large improvements being made in the winter months.
11.5% 13.2%
The data demonstrates the significant results achievable by such an intervention strategy, 7.6%
4.8% 5.5%
which makes it a promising framework to reduce air pollution. 0%
Annual hours spent at different PM2.5 pollution levels

SOUTH KOREA
PM2.5 Seoul Busan Incheon
(µg/m³)
Daegu Daejeon Ulsan
25
50
35
20
25
15
10
15
5
2018 2019 2020 2021 2022
City markers indicating 2022 PM2.5 levels, size adjusted for population PM2.5 annual average (µg/m³) over 5 years
Seoul 18.3 28.5 25.2 21.1 21.9 16.9 12.3 16.1 11.2 11.5 14.0 22.6 18.9 19.7
Busan 15.3 20.9 19.4 20.5 15.6 17.5 10.5 12.1 10.2 9.7 10.8 19.1 17.3 15.6
Daegu 16.7 24.2 21.5 22.1 16.8 16.7 12.1 12.2 9.2 8.9 12.3 23.8 20.5 17.8
Daejeon 15.8 25.0 24.3 22.7 16.6 12.6 8.6 10.1 5.7 9.9 12.6 22.5 19.7 15.6
Incheon 18.7 28.3 24.5 22.1 21.4 16.5 11.9 17.5 11.3 13.7 16.4 24.1 No Data 19.9
Ulsan 15.5 18.1 17.2 19.8 16.0 18.0 11.6 12.0 13.0 11.3 11.8 20.0 17.9 14.9
PROGRESS Seoul
South Korea continues the trend of PM2.5 concentration reductions with an annual
concentration of 18.3 μg/m3 in 2022 down from 19.1 μg/m3 in 2021. This includes reductions
2018 2019 2020 2021 2022
100%
4.5% 2.9%
in the key cities of Seoul, Busan, and Daegu. The capital city Seoul, which is the most 7.4% 8.2%
5.1%
populous in the country, saw a reduction in PM2.5 concentrations of 7.1 percent from last year 7.2%
9.5% 5.9%
90%
and 27.3 percent since 2017. Incheon, Ulsan, and Daejeon however, suffered small increases
10.9% 9.4%
in their annual average concentrations. Although no city in South Korea met the WHO annual 11.8% 12.7%
concentration guideline of 5 μg/m3 or less, the monthly concentrations in some cities fell below 80% 15.2%
5.0 μg/m3 in July. The country as a whole saw PM2.5 concentrations reduced in 55 of the 98 14.6%
15.8%
total cities included in the report.
70%
CHALLENGES
25.8%
27.7%
60%
South Korea faces pollution from areas of manufacturing, industrial sites, sand and dust 29.7%
26.9%
storms from the Gobi Desert, and high traffic pollution from big cities. The geography of 32.9%
50%
the nation, the proximity to deserts, and increased frequency of dust storms due to climate
change come together to bring fine dust to many parts of the country.15 These combined
21.9%
threats to air quality require careful consideration and specialized plans to reduce the health 40% 20.4%
impact for people in South Korea.
16.9%
14.6%
30%
HIGHLIGHT: FINANCE AND FRAMEWORKS FOR BETTER AIR 17.5%
In 2022, South Korea battled air pollution by implementing financially focused frameworks 20% 19.5% 18.9%
and promoting multinational partnerships on clean air. They hosted the fourth Asia Pacific 16.2% 16.9%
Clean Air Partnership Joint Forum to address multinational concerns.16 South Korea also 12.5%
10%
used their platform at COP 27 to announce a multimillion-dollar donation to the Climate
9.6% 10.5%
Change Adaptation Fund to address issues outside of Asia.17 Domestically, they introduced 8.3%
4.9%
7.7%
frameworks such as the K-Taxonomy and joined the international Task Force on Climate- 0%
Related Financial Disclosures to help define emissions goals and how financial contributions Annual hours spent at different PM2.5 pollution levels
towards environmental causes must be standardized and promulgated.18,19

SOUTHEAST ASIA
Cambodia | Indonesia | Laos | Malaysia | Myanmar | Philippines | Singapore | Thailand | Vietnam
PM2.5
(µg/m³)
1. Indonesia (30.4)
50
2. Laos (27.6)
3. Vietnam (27.2)
35 4. Myanmar (24.3)
5. Thailand (18.1)
25 6. Malaysia (17.7)
7. Philippines (14.9)
15 8. Singapore (13.3)
9. Cambodia (8.3)
10
5
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100
2.7%
SUMMARY
Countries in the Southeast Asia region have continued their
efforts to decrease PM2.5 concentrations to safe levels
recommended by the WHO guidelines. Industry, power
Regional cities that met the generation, vehicle emissions, and open burning remain top
WHO PM2.5 guideline in 2022 contributors of PM2.5 in the area. The highlighted countries
of Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, and Vietnam are using
governmental bodies and regulatory action to address these
sources of ambient air pollution.
2.0 49.6 PM2.5 concentrations decreased for seven of nine countries
Nam Sach, Vietnam Pasarkemis, Indonesia in the Southeast Asia region; only Laos and Vietnam recording
higher annual averages compared to 2021. Indonesia ended
the year with the highest PM2.5 concentration of all countries
5 10 15 25 35 50 in the region with an annual average of 30.4 μg/m3. Indonesia
Range of 2022 average PM2.5 (µg/m³) across regional cities was worst in the region in PM2.5 concentration in 2021
as well. Cambodia improved its air pollution levels in 2022
with a 58 percent decrease in its annual average PM2.5
concentration down to 8.3 μg/m3, the lowest in the region.
Most Polluted Regional Cities Least Polluted Regional Cities
Cambodia was the 6th most polluted Southeast Asia country
Rank City 2022 Rank City 2022 in 2021, so it is encouraging to note its improvement in 2022.
1 Pasarkemis, Indonesia 49.6 1 Nam Sach, Vietnam 2.0 Of the 296 regional cities included in this report, just 8
2 Hanoi, Vietnam 40.1 2 Kupang, Indonesia 2.3 satisfied the WHO PM2.5 guideline limit of 5 μg/m3, leaving
a total of 288 cities that exceeded WHO-recommended
Pangkalpinang, 3.3
3 Cileungsir, Indonesia 36.6 3
Indonesia PM2.5 concentrations. Thailand and Indonesia are the most
4 Jakarta, Indonesia 36.2 4 Kinh Mon, Vietnam 3.8 represented in the list of the 15 most polluted cities, with 7
Chaloem Phra Kiat,
and 5 respectively. Indonesia is also well represented in the
5 36.2 5 Cam Pha, Vietnam 3.9
Thailand list of the 15 least polluted cities with 6. While Vietnam has
6 Bekasi, Indonesia 35.4 6 Mamuju, Indonesia 4.0 7 cities in the 15 least polluted cities list, its capital city Hanoi
was the second most polluted city in the region with an annual
7 Surabaya, Indonesia 34.4 7 Bongawan, Malaysia 4.7
average PM2.5 concentration of 40.1 μg/m3.
8 Nan, Thailand 30.4 8 Mong Cai, Vietnam 5.3
9 Pak Nam, Thailand 30.4 9 Tra Vinh, Vietnam 5.5

MONITORING STATUS
10 Thanh Hoa, Vietnam 29.9 10 Samarinda, Indonesia 5.7 The Southeast Asia region is represented by 296 cities across
9 countries, a net increase of 69 cities compared to the 227
11 Khlong Takhot, Thailand 29.0 11 Phu Thai, Vietnam 6.1
represented in 2021. The eight cities that met the WHO PM2.5
12 Tha Wasukri, Thailand 28.8 12 Quang Yen, Vietnam 6.6 guidelines set at 5 μg/m3 were in three countries: Indonesia
Palangkaraya, (four cities), Vietnam (three), and Malaysia (one). As air quality
13 Don Han, Thailand 28.2 13 6.7
Indonesia data collection continues to increase, historical trends can
14 Vientiane, Laos 27.6 14 Limbang, Malaysia 6.8 be uncovered and we can better our understanding of the
Pangkalan Bun, impacts of air pollution on human health.
15 Yang Sai, Thailand 27.3 15 6.9
Indonesia

INDONESIA
PM2.5 Jakarta Surabaya Bandung
(µg/m³)
Semarang Bogor Makassar
50
45
50
40
35
35
30
25 25
20
15
15
10
10
5
2018 2019 2020 2021 2022
Jakarta 36.2 27.8 27.9 28.2 33.2 36.2 50.7 48.6 48.1 46.5 32.1 27.2 27.7 39.2
Surabaya 34.4 41.5 35.2 33.4 42.2 24.9 42.4 28.6 28.6 38.1 35.0 36.7 29.9 34.8
Bandung 26.1 26.0 27.4 14.5 16.5 12.6 20.9 35.1 32.7 38.9 31.3 29.3 28.5 33.4
Semarang 24.3 34.8 28.7 19.9 22.3 15.7 22.5 25.4 22.2 31.6 26.0 20.9 22.7 28.6
Bogor 15.9 21.8 18.1 15.8 18.1 18.8 20.7 24.6 20.5 14.0 6.5 5.2 3.8 16.1
Makassar 13.2 10.2 8.3 7.9 12.4 11.4 14.1 17.6 17.6 20.2 12.9 11.8 10.1 13.5
PROGRESS Jakarta
Indonesia’s air quality improved in 2022, with an annual average PM2.5 concentration of 30.4
μg/m3 marking an 11 percent decrease from 2021. Jakarta improved its PM2.5 concentration 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022
for the third year in a row, with a 7.7 percent decrease since 2021 and a 27 percent decrease 100%
since 2019. The city’s annual average PM2.5 concentration was 36.2 μg/m3 in 2022.
Citizens in Jakarta and other major cities are especially vulnerable to air pollution from vehicle
emissions and high-congestion traffic areas. Four cities in Indonesia satisfied the WHO PM2.5 90%
23.5%
26.8%
concentration recommendations, accounting for ten percent of cities that provided adequate 28%
air quality information for the year. The two new cities represented in this year’s report are also 39.1%
80%
the two most polluted: Pasarkemis and Cileungsir recorded average PM2.5 concentrations of 45%
49.6 μg/m3 and 36.6 μg/m3, respectively.
70%
CHALLENGES 22.1%
22.2% 24.1%
Air pollution in Indonesia is driven by coal-fired power plants, forest fires, and peatland 60%
degradation, while major cities are especially impacted by vehicle emissions.20 Indonesia is
still developing sustainable infrastructure to mitigate airborne pollutants from these sources.
Recent regulatory actions include setting stricter standards on vehicle emissions, programs to 50% 21.5%
improve residential stoves, and making landowners and corporations responsible for fires that 17.6%
23.1%
occur on their land.21,22,23 16.5% 17.4%
40%
HIGHLIGHT: RETIRING COAL-FIRED POWER PLANTS 13%

30%
Indonesia’s Energy Transition Mechanism announced in November that they would be retiring 12.3%
18.8%
their first power plant through a partnership with the Asian Development Bank that seeks to 17.6% 18.9%
retire or repurpose coal-fired power plants.24 This action aligns with the goals of Perusahaan 20% 12.4%
Listrik Negara (PLN), Indonesia’s state-run utilities firm, to achieve carbon neutrality by 2060.25
The agreement states that the Cirebon 1 power plant will be refinanced and retired in 2037,26 11.2%
9.3%
6.2% 9%
15 years before the end of its estimated useful life. The early closure of the 660 MW plant could 10% 7.4%
reduce greenhouse gas emissions by as much as 30 million metric tonnes across the 15-year 4.6%
7.6%
5.9% 5.9% 4.6%
span and significantly reduced PM2.5 throughout the region.24
0%

MALAYSIA
PM2.5 Kuala Lumpur Klang Ipoh
(µg/m³)
Johor Bahru Petaling Jaya Kuantan
40
50 35
30
35
25
25
20
15 15
10
10
5 2019 2020 2021 2022
Kuala Lumpur 17.6 22.0 16.3 19.0 19.9 17.4 12.7 19.4 19.3 21.9 14.5 15.2 14.0 18.6
Klang 27.1 39.0 29.0 25.9 28.0 26.1 17.1 24.6 25.6 26.8 22.9 25.6 34.3 38.2
Ipoh 16.9 24.3 17.3 19.9 18.0 17.5 13.9 19.3 17.3 13.4 11.9 15.4 15.1 19.3
Johor Bahru 20.6 14.0 15.2 17.3 22.7 22.9 27.3 25.6 27.3 26.2 17.8 15.9 15.0 20.7
Petaling Jaya 26.5 32.9 24.8 28.6 28.5 22.3 19.1 27.8 21.3 30.9 30.0 29.0 22.9 32.5
Kuantan 10.3 12.0 6.6 9.8 9.0 12.9 12.6 14.5 9.9 12.8 7.8 7.6 7.7 11.8
PROGRESS Kuala Lumpur

Malaysia experienced an overall drop in PM2.5 levels, with an annual average concentration
of 17.7 μg/m3, marking a 9.6 percent improvement from 2021. Klang, the country’s most 2019 2020 2021 2022
100%
polluted city in 2021, saw a 29.1 percent decline in PM2.5 levels down to 27.1 μg/m3. 4.8% 3.7% 4.2%
Malaysia’s capital city, Kuala Lumpur, also experienced cleaner air, as PM2.5 concentrations 4.6% 11.8%
dropped 5.4 percent to 17.6 μg/m3. Malaysia’s only city to meet WHO PM2.5 guidelines was 90%
17.2% 17.6%
Bongawan, which averaged 4.7 μg/m3 in 2022. The largest increase in PM2.5 occurred in 8.9%
Seremban where concentrations rose 68 percent to 25.7 μg/m3. The general improvement 80%
in air quality was observed alongside more comprehensive air quality monitoring. 62 cities
publicly reported PM2.5 data in 2022, up from 49 in 2021. The availability of more air quality
70%
data provides a better representation of air quality across Malaysia and a more accurate 38.9%
picture of the air breathed by its citizens. 33.4%

60% 39.1%
CHALLENGES 52.9%
Air pollution in Malaysia is driven by growing industrialization, vehicle emissions, and open 50%
burning27; the country is simultaneously affected by transboundary haze from biomass burning
and forest fires in neighboring countries.28 This combination of sources makes Malaysia’s
40%
air pollution difficult to address in a single action. A collaborative study by the Centre for
Research on Energy and Clean Air and Greenpeace Malaysia revealed that poor air quality 28.7%
29.2%
is an attributable cause of roughly 32,000 avoidable deaths across the country each year.29 30%
25.4%
HIGHLIGHT: PUNISHING POLLUTERS 20%

In October 2022, the Department of Environment published a revision of the Environmental 24.2%
Quality Act that increased penalties for environmental polluters. The amendment includes 17%
10%
a clause that clarifies the regulations regarding open burning,30 but the document mainly 12.6% 14.5%
targets the penalties for noncompliance rather than making the existing pollution and emission 3.8%
requirements stricter. The Department of Environment is working on another amendment to 0%
the Environmental Quality Act, expected in 2025.31 Annual hours spent at different PM2.5 pollution levels

THAILAND
PM2.5 Mae Hong Son Chiang Mai Kohn Kaen
(µg/m³)
Nonthaburi Nakhon Ratchasima Bangkok
45
50 40
35
35 30
25
25
20
15 15
10
10
5 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022
Bangkok 18.0 25.4 27.1 20.1 27.9 12.2 8.4 7.7 8.6 11.0 21.2 22.5 24.6 20.0
Chiang Mai 18.4 19.5 24.8 39.9 38.8 13.2 7.2 6.0 5.7 7.9 14.8 17.8 26.3 24.9
Khon Kaen 25.1 41.8 37.7 40.2 40.6 18.3 13.9 12.8 11.8 15.4 2.8 No Data 22.6
Mae Hong Son 18.8 No Data 73.2 55.6 17.5 10.4 5.0 5.4 9.4 15.3 16.1 26.3 28.5
Nakhon
Ratchasima 13.9 21.9 24.2 27.5 21.3 6.8 5.7 8.3 7.0 8.0 12.3 10.1 13.7 20.3
Nonthaburi 18.0 25.7 29.6 20.9 31.2 11.6 6.5 6.3 7.3 9.7 21.4 22.9 23.9 20.8
PROGRESS Bangkok
Thailand had cleaner air in 2022, decreasing its annual average PM2.5 concentration to 18.1 μg/
m3, a 10.4 percent decrease from 2021 levels. Some of these improvements can be be attributed 2019 2020 2021 2022
100%
to more rain due El Niño. Bangkok, Thailand’s capital and most populous city, improved its air 3.1%
7.1% 7.9% 6.8%
quality for another year, decreasing its annual average PM2.5 by 10 percent down to 18.0 μg/ 12.8%
m3. Air pollution in Thailand follows seasonal trends, with higher PM2.5 concentrations during 90%
9%
10.9% 8.9%
the dry season from November through February. This period is followed by the summer season
12.8%
beginning in March that is often accompanied by agriculture burning from farmers clearing their
80%
land.32 157 cities provided enough PM2.5 data for inclusion in the 2022 World Air Quality Report, 10.5% 12.3%
zero of which met the WHO guidelines of 5 μg/m3. 16.4%

70%
CHALLENGES
19.9%
19.9% 17.7%
60%
People in northern Thailand are especially vulnerable to negative health impacts from air pollution,
as forest fires in March and April caused spikes in PM2.5 concentrations 400 percent higher 25.3%
than WHO recommended levels.33 Transboundary haze, illegal crop burning, and teak wood 50% 15.8%
13.5%
smuggling operations contribute to much of this pollution. The Geo-Informatics and Space 15.1%
Technology Development Agency identified 1,060 air pollution hotspots across Thailand’s 76 40%
provinces, with a combined 202 hotspots in the northern provinces of Chiang Mai, Lampang and
the Mekong region.34 16.3%
30% 23.3% 23.1%
HIGHLIGHT: AIR QUALITY IN THE CAPITAL 22.1%
20%
Bangkok’s new governor, Chadchart Sittipunt,35 has identified air pollution control as a priority
in his goal to make Bangkok a welcoming and liveable city for everyone. Chadchart hopes 19%
to improve the quality of life for Bangkok residents and visitors through policy objectives to 10%
17.4% 17.8%
15.4%
increase air pollution monitoring, PM2.5 forecasting, and black smoke detection.36,37,38 It remains
to be seen if these actions, in addition to efforts to cut emissions, can lead to significantly 5%
0%
improvements in ambient air quality and inspire future country-wide action.

VIETNAM
PM2.5 Hanoi Thanh Hoa Long Xuyen
(µg/m³)
Ho Chi Minh City Da Nang
50
50
40
35
30
25
20
15
10
10
5 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022
Hanoi 40.1 50.9 38.2 42.3 43.6 32.5 29.0 24.6 26.1 39.5 45.0 47.9 61.6 36.2
Da Nang 18.8 26.1 11.3 20.9 23.6 17.6 15.6 13.6 14.0 16.3 21.1 20.1 24.3 14.1
Thanh Hoa 29.9 38.2 34.9 28.7 33.1 26.2 19.4 14.2 15.5 28.7 37.3 32.2 50.7 46.9
Ho Chi Minh City 21.2 29.7 17.9 21.5 23.6 14.3 17.1 16.2 16.9 12.3 23.4 26.8 33.9 19.4
Long Xuyen 24.8 36.5 27.0 28.9 29.6 16.9 16.7 17.2 15.0 14.5 31.4 32.6 31.9 26.0
PROGRESS Hanoi
Vietnam’s annual average PM2.5 concentration increased to 27.2 μg/m3 in 2022 after falling
in 2021. The country’s two most populous cities, Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi, experienced
2018 2019 2020 2021 2022
100%
9.3 percent and 10.8 percent higher PM2.5 concentrations, respectively. Air quality monitoring
increased to cover 20 cities in 2022, five more than the previous year. Cam Pha, Kinh Mon, 17.3%
90% 20.8%
and Nam Sach each met the WHO PM2.5 guidelines of 5 μg/m3, with their annual averages 25.6% 24.5%
even falling below 4 μg/m3. Vietnam’s PM2.5 concentrations follow seasonal trends, with 31.6%
greater PM2.5 exposure during the dry season from November through April. Air pollution 80%
from open burning and wildfires can be exacerbated by a dry climate, contributing to higher
19.1%
PM2.5 levels during these months. 14.5%
70%
CHALLENGES 21.5% 22.6%
60%
Power generation from fossil fuels, motor vehicles emissions, and industrial factories are still 28%
16.2%
18.7%
significant contributors of air pollution in Vietnam.39 The National Strategy for Environmental
50%
Protection to 2030 with a vision until 2050 was approved in response to growing environmental
concerns related to these pollutant sources. The Strategy emphasizes the use of eco- 20.7% 20.1%
friendly transportation and the phase-out of fossil fuels while also targeting industry through 40%
environmental zoning, permitting, impact assessments, as well as increased monitoring.40,41 23.4%
22.3%
HIGHLIGHT: REDUCING POLLUTION

30% 23.6%
18%
20.7%
Vietnam’s Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment partnered with the United States 20%
13.4%
Agency for International Development to launch the “Reducing Pollution” initiative. The project 15.3%
will invest $11.3 million USD over a five-year period to target environmental pollution with a 4.7%
10% 14.3%
focus on air pollution.42 Initiatives include reducing air pollution from road transportation and 7.2% 4%
9.5%
open burning, as well as the development of an environmental data disclosure platform and 6.5%
6.1%
improved waste management.43 0%

CENTRAL & SOUTH ASIA
Bangladesh | India | Iran | Kazakhstan | Kyrgyzstan | Maldives | Nepal | Pakistan | Sri Lanka | Tajikistan |
Turkmenistan | Uzbekistan
PM2.5
(µg/m³)
1. Pakistan (70.9)
2. Bangladesh (65.8)
50
3. India (53.3)
4. Tajikistan (46.0)
5. Nepal (40.1)
35
6. Uzbekistan (33.5)
7. Iran (32.5)
25 8. Kyrgyzstan (31.1)
9. Kazakhstan (23.0)
15 10. Turkmenistan (21.6)
10 11. Sri Lanka (20.7)
12. Maldives (10.9)

5
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100
3.2%
SUMMARY
In 2022, Central and South Asia was home to eight of the
world’s ten cities with the worst air pollution. According to
the World Bank’s report on Air Pollution in South Asia 2022,
Regional cities that met the air pollution causes an estimated two million premature
WHO PM2.5 guideline in 2022 deaths across the region each year and incurs significant
economic costs.44 India and Pakistan generally experience
the worst air quality in this region. Only nine cities in the
region achieved annual PM2.5 concentrations in 2022 that
0.9 97.4 met WHO Guidelines. Nearly 60 percent of the population
Tarakeswar, India Lahore, Pakistan lives in areas where concentrations of PM2.5 are seven
times higher than the WHO guideline. In addition to the
dominant primary sources of air pollution around the globe,
other sources make substantial contributions in this region,
5 10 15 25 35 50
Range of 2022 average PM2.5 (µg/m³) across regional cities including combustion of solid fuels for cooking and heating,
emissions from small industries such as brick kilns, burning of
municipal and agricultural waste, and cremation. Air pollution
travels long distances—crossing municipal, state, and
Most Polluted Regional Cities Least Polluted Regional Cities national boundaries—and gets trapped in large “airsheds”
that are shaped by climatology and geography. The World
Bank report identifies six major airsheds in South Asia where
1 Lahore, Pakistan 97.4 1 Tarakeswar, India 0.9
spatial interdependence in air quality is high.44 It is estimated
2 Bhiwadi, India 92.7 2 Digboi, India 1.4 that less than half the air pollution in South Asia’s major
cities is produced within cities themselves, highlighting the
3 Delhi, India 92.6 3 Chu, Kazakhstan 1.5
importance for widespread emissions reductions, not only
4 Peshawar, Pakistan 91.8 4 Petropavl, Kazakhstan 2.4 those centered in urban areas.
Shchuchinsk,
90.3 2.6
MONITORING STATUS
5 Darbhanga, India 5
Kazakhstan
6 Asopur, India 90.2 6 Aladu, India 2.7
In 2022, nearly all Central and South Asia countries have
7 Patna, India 88.9 7 Kattupalli, India 2.8
expanded their air quality network by increasing the number
Zhezqazghan,
8 Ghaziabad, India 88.6 8
Kazakhstan 3.0 of stations publicly reporting PM2.5 concentration data. While
most of the countries in the region are highly dependent
9 Dharuhera, India 87.8 9 Aqtobe, Kazakhstan 4.2
on government-operated monitoring stations to provide
10 Chapra, India 85.9 10 Beyneu, Kazakhstan 5.7 most public air quality data, the number of non-government
11 Muzaffarnagar, India 85.5 11 Kyzyl-Orda, Kazakhstan 7.8 stations in the region has increased by 30 percent from 2021.
In some of the capital cities in the region (Dhaka, Bangladesh;
12 Faisalabad, Pakistan 84.5 12 Polampalle, India 8.3 Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan; Islamabad, Pakistan; Colombo, Sri
13 Greater Noida, India 83.2 13 Aktau, Kazakhstan 9.7 Lanka) the percentage of low-cost sensor stations is more
than 80 percent. The Maldives is included for the first time in
14 Bahadurgarh, India 82.2 14 Kharsawan, India 9.8
this year’s report, with six cities providing publicly accessible
15 Faridabad, India 79.7 15 Muttayyapuram, India 10.6 data for their citizens through low-cost sensors.

INDIA
PM2.5 Delhi Kolkata Mumbai
(µg/m³)
Hyderabad Bengaluru Chennai
120
110
50
100
90
80
35
70
60
25
50
40
15
30
10
20
5 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022
Delhi 92.6 141 100.9 91.0 98.0 73.2 56.2 34.3 31.1 38.3 99.7 176.8 171.9 96.4
Kolkata 59.0 98.3 77.4 62.1 23.6 27.6 23.4 12.6 16.5 19.6 33.6 88.7 120.6 59
Mumbai 46.7 74.8 65.9 67.5 41.7 41.5 17.8 17.1 15.3 18.7 37.9 74.8 88.1 46.4
Hyderabad 42.4 61.0 55.8 56.4 43.4 39.5 23.1 18.0 17.8 23.0 38.6 72.0 61.3 39.4
Bengaluru 31.5 37.9 42.5 45.1 39.9 29.5 15.0 15.0 14.2 18.1 36.9 45.8 38.8 29.0
Chennai 25.3 20.1 24.9 29.5 14.5 26.0 21.1 17.2 17.5 21.9 32.4 36.6 41.5 25.2
PROGRESS New Delhi

India’s annual average PM2.5 level in 2022 was 53.3 μg/m3, only slightly lower than the 2021
average of 58.1. In 2021, 12 of the 15 most polluted cities in the Central and South Asia were
in India. That number stayed the same in 2022. Two of the top 15 most polluted cities in
2019 2020 2021 2022
100%
the region, Darbhanga and Asopur, deployed government stations in 2022. Bhiwadi, the most
polluted city in the country, saw annual PM2.5 levels of 92.7 μg/m3, and roughly 60 percent of
cities in India included in this report experienced annual PM2.5 levels of at least seven times 90%
higher than the WHO guideline.
CHALLENGES 80%
Air pollution is the second biggest risk factor for disease based on the 2019 Global Burden of
53.5%
Disease report, and the economic cost of air pollution is estimated to exceed $150 billion dollars 56.3%
70%
annually. The transportation sector’s contribution to PM2.5 varies from 20-35 percent across 63.1% 66.3%
Indian cities.45 The National Clean Air Program (NCAP), launched by the Indian government in
2019, was updated in 2022 with a new target of 40 percent reduction in PM concentration by 60%
2026. The plan seeks to reduce PM concentrations by 20-30 percent by 2024 in all identified
non-attainment cities, increase air quality monitoring, and conduct source apportionment studies.
Stubble (crop) burning is also an important challenge in the region but is an episodic phenomenon 50%
confined to few areas, including Delhi and North India. In 2022, India relaxed environmental
compliance rules for coal mines which allowed for increased production in response to power
40% 13.7%
outages exacerbated by extreme heatwaves.46 In November, steam coal/thermal coal imports
hit a ten month low and total coal production increased 11.7 percent to 75.9 million tons.47,48 19.9%
HIGHLIGHT: LACK OF A NATIONAL EMISSION INVENTORY

30% 14.5%
12.1% 13.7%
Air quality monitoring has increased over the past years in India, but the country still lacks
the ability to track the progress of reduction strategies through an effective and reliable 20%
10.3% 12.8%
emissions inventory.49 A 2021 study shows that global and regional estimates agree on the 12.2% 9.2%
leading sources of air pollution in India, but they vary significantly from in terms of uncertainty
10%
associated with these estimations. The highest variations in the estimated emissions are related 7.6%
5% 7%
to power plants, transportation, and agricultural residue burning.49 A comprehensive national 8.4%
emission database is critical in determining sectoral emission reductions needed to meet the
0%
targeted 40 percent reduction in particulate concentrations by 2026 outlined in the NCAP. The
ability to attribute emissions to their respective sources is necessary to monitor the progress of Annual hours spent at different PM2.5 pollution levels
emissions-lowering initiatives.

PAKISTAN
PM2.5 Faisalabad Lahore Rawalpindi
(µg/m³)
Karachi Islamabad Peshawar
130
120
50
110
100
90
35
80
70
25
Pakistan 60
50
15
40
10
30
5 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022
Islamabad 40.6 56.0 42.6 35.2 25.9 24.6 33.8 27.0 25.9 34.2 39.4 56.0 86.0 41.1
Faisalabad 84.5 154.9 81.6 97.4 77.4 65.6 52.8 51.5 41.3 57.0 84.9 144.5 189.0 94.2
Karachi 50.6 66.2 58.5 48.4 39.4 43.2 21.6 21.6 27.9 30.4 47.2 78.9 117.0 45.9
Lahore 97.4 133.0 102.5 85.6 69.3 60.9 52.1 47.8 46.2 64.2 123.2 190.5 192.9 86.5
Peshawar 91.8 110.2 103.5 78.3 68.5 53.5 56.3 51.8 57.8 79.0 100.0 132.0 212.1 89.6
Rawalpindi 48.5 72.0 51.3 37.9 27.7 31.3 33.3 28.9 26.4 33.2 36.8 78.5 114.8 51.4
PROGRESS Islamabad
In 2022, Pakistan ranked as the third most polluted global country. Ranking number one in
this year’s list of most polluted global cities, Lahore has continued the trend of increasing 2019 2020 2021 2022
PM2.5 levels. PM2.5 concentrations in Lahore dropped from a high of 133.2 µg/m3 in 2017 100%
to a low of 79.2 µg/m3 in 2020. Since then however, concentrations have continued to climb,
now reaching 97.4 μg/m3 in 2022. Every Pakistani city included here reported annual average 18.6%
90%
PM2.5 concentrations at least eight times higher than the recommended WHO guideline. 24.2%
29.6%
25.1%
The city of Peshawar, with a population of nearly two million, is listed as fourth in the region’s
most polluted cities rankings with an annual concentration of 91.8 µg/m3. The average life 80%
expectancy in Pakistan would increase by 2.6 years if the country reached the WHO interim
13.8%
target 4 value of 10 μg/m3.50
70%
CHALLENGES 22%
16.5%
21.1%
House and forest fires contributed to Pakistan’s poor air quality in 2022. The Dadu village 60% 18%
fire in April, the Haripur and Sherani District wildfires in May, and the Shangla District and
Karachi fires in June each contributed to Pakistan’s 12 percent increase in annual PM2.5
concentrations. Crop burning and winter weather patterns resulting in temperature inversions 50%
16.9%
that promote air stagnation keep air pollution trapped close to the ground are other main
22.3% 20.8%
contributors to this country’s poor air quality. 40%
HIGHLIGHT: AIR QUALITY MONITORING AND POLLUTION 28%
REDUCTION EFFORTS 30%

20.1%
In June of 2021, Pakistan announced a revised Pakistan Clean Air Plan (PCAP) to perform 19.7% 19.6%
national and local air pollution assessments. Implementation of this plan continued in 2022 20%
via the development of a National Clean Air Plan,51 a joint effort with contributions from the 13.4%
8.2%
Pakistan Ministry of the Environment and support from the Climate and Clean Air Coalition
10% 7.6%
(CCAC), the Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI), and Clean Air Asia. This plan sets targets 7.4%
7.2% 6.8%
for air pollution concentrations, identifies air pollution mitigation strategies, and outlines a plan 3.7% 4.9%
for coordinating action on air quality management. Development of the plan has also resulted 0%
in the country’s first national air pollutant inventory, which includes the first-ever quantification
of black carbon and other air pollutants at both the national and the provincial scale. Annual hours spent at different PM2.5 pollution levels

WEST ASIA
Armenia | Azerbaijan | Bahrain | Georgia | Iraq | Israel | Kuwait | Qatar | Saudi Arabia | Syria | United Arab
Emirates
PM2.5
(µg/m³)
1. Iraq (80.1)
50
2. Bahrain (66.6)
3. Kuwait (55.8)
4. United Arab Emirates (45.9)

35 5. Qatar (42.5)
6. Saudi Arabia (41.5)
7. Armenia (31.4)
25
8. Syria (20.0)
9. Azerbaijan (18.9)
15 10. Israel (18.8)
10 11. Georgia (17.0)
5
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100
0%
SUMMARY
Three out of four of the region’s most polluted cities were the
capital cities of Baghdad (Iraq), Manama (Bahrain), and Kuwait City
(Kuwait). Baghdad, the region’s most polluted city, showed a nearly
Regional cities that met the 75 percent increase in 2022, going from 49.7 μg/m3 to 86.7 μg/
WHO PM2.5 guideline in 2022 m3. This sharp increase comes from higher PM2.5 concentrations
in the summer months from intense dust storms in the area. The
capital city of Georgia, Tbilisi, demonstrated the highest PM2.5
reduction of any capital city in the region, 20 percent, after going
11.6 86.7 from 20.4 μg/m3 in 2021 to 16.3 μg/m3 in 2022. Of the 74 cities
Be’er Ora, Israel Baghdad, Iraq included in this region for the report, 38 cities had increased annual
PM2.5 concentrations from last year, 32 cities had decreased
concentrations, and four new cities have been included. No cities
had annual averages below the WHO guidelines.
5 10 15 25 35 50
Range of 2022 average PM2.5 (µg/m³) across regional cities Of the 11 countries in this region, nine had their annual average
increase and two had their annual average decrease from 2021.
PM2.5 concentrations in the region range from 17.0 μg/m3 in
Georgia to 80.1 μg/m3 in Iraq. Thus, the least polluted country
Most Polluted Regional Cities Least Polluted Regional Cities
in the region is still higher than three times the WHO guidelines.
While the anthropogenic sources of air pollution in the region such
1 Baghdad, Iraq 86.7 1 Be’er Ora, Israel 11.6
as fossil fuel-based energy production, emissions from industrial
2 Manama, Bahrain 66.6 2 Batumi, Georgia 14.1 processes, waste burning, construction, and vehicles continue to
3 Dhahran, Saudi Arabia 62.8 3 Nesher, Israel 15.7
contribute to the PM2.5 concentrations, dust storms have been
a major source of natural pollution in the area.52 There was a
4 Kuwait City, Kuwait 57.5 4 Kfar Menahem, Israel 15.7 series of dust storms in May 2022 that caused massive amounts
5 Ras Al Khaimah, UAE 55.2 5 Sde Yoav, Israel 15.7 of particulate matter to pollute countries in the region which
instigated environmental, social, and health impacts.52,53
6 Ash Shihaniyah, Qatar 48.8 6 Gan Yavne, Israel 15.9
7 Abu Dhabi, UAE 48.0 7 Erez, Israel 16.0 MONITORING STATUS

8 Riyadh, Saudi Arabia 46.2 8 Mavki’im, Israel 16.0 West Asia continues to have relatively scarce air quality monitoring
9 Dubai, UAE 43.7 9 Qiryat Shemona, Israel 16.1 in comparison to other regions of the world. Dubai in the United
Arab Emirates holds by far the most monitoring stations in the
10 Doha, Qatar 41.8 10 Tbilisi, Georgia 16.3
region, housing almost one fifth of the region’s monitors in this
11 Erbil, Iraq 35.0 11 Ashdod, Israel 16.3 single city. Israel has the most cities accounted for in the region
with 52, giving the highest spatial resolution of air quality data.
12 As Salimiyah, Kuwait 32.5 12 Karmia, Israel 16.3
There has been an increase in low-cost sensor data in the region
13 Jeddah, Saudi Arabia 32.5 13 Ein Tamar, Israel 16.4 with an increase of 65 percent from last year. The resulting
distribution of government monitors to non-government monitors
14 Yerevan, Armenia 31.4 14 Yad Binyamin, Israel 16.5
is 60 percent government to 40 percent non-government.
15 Yeghegnavan, Armenia 28.4 15 Haifa, Israel 16.5

EUROPE
Albania | Andorra | Austria | Belgium | Bosnia and Herzegovina | Bulgaria | Croatia | Cyprus | Czech Republic | Denmark | Estonia | Finland | France | Germany | Greece |
Hungary | Iceland | Ireland | Italy | Kosovo | Latvia | Liechtenstein | Lithuania | Luxembourg | Malta | Moldova | Montenegro | Netherlands | North Macedonia | Norway |
Poland | Portugal | Romania | Russia | Serbia | Slovakia | Slovenia | Spain | Sweden | Switzerland | Türkiye | Ukraine | United Kingdom
PM2.5
(µg/m³)
1. Bosnia Herzegovina (33.6)
2. North Macedonia (25.6)
3. Serbia (24.7)
4. Croatia (23.5)
5. Moldova (22.6)
50 6. Türkiye (21.1)
7. Greece (19.0)
8. Italy (18.9)
9. Bulgaria (18.3)
10. Romania (17.2)
11. Poland (16.3)
35 12. Montenegro (15.7)
13. Cyprus (15.6)
14. Slovenia (15.1)
15. Kosovo (14.7)
16. Slovakia (14.5)
25 17. Albania (14.5)
18. Czech Republic (13.4)
19. Lithuania (13.2)
20. Hungary (12.6)
21. Malta (11.7)
15 22. France (11.5)
23. Russia (11.2)
10 24. Netherlands (11.0)
25. Germany (11.0)
5 26. Spain (10.9)
27. Belgium (10.8)
28. Austria (10.6)
City markers indicating 2022 PM2.5 levels, size adjusted for population 29. Latvia (10.1)
30. Switzerland (10.0)
31. Ukraine (9.7)
32. United Kingdom (8.9)
33. Denmark (8.6)
4.6%
34. Liechtenstein (8.3)
35. Portugal (8.1)
36. Ireland (7.5)
37. Luxembourg (7.4)
38. Norway (7.0)
39. Sweden (6.2)
40. Andorra (5.4)
41. Finland (5.0)
Regional cities which met the 42. Estonia 4.9)
WHO PM2.5 guideline in 2022 43. Iceland (3.4)
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100
2022 PM2.5 annual average (µg/m³)
1.7 53.0
Kittilä, Finland Igdir, Türkiye SUMMARY
The region of Europe is represented in this year’s report
by 1,713 cities in 43 countries. The annual average PM2.5
concentrations in 2022 range from from 3.4 μg/m3 in Iceland
5 10 15 25 35 50 to 33.6 μg/m3 in Bosnia Herzegovina. Europe is home to
Range of 2022 average PM2.5 (µg/m³) across regional cities three countries that meet the WHO annual PM2.5 guideline:
Iceland, Finland, and Estonia. Of the 41 countries reporting
data in 2021, 15 countries reported increased annual PM2.5
concentrations, three remained the same, and 23 have
Most Polluted Regional Cities Least Polluted Regional Cities reduced averages compared to 2021. There are two new
countries added to this region from last year: Moldova and
Rank City 2022 Rank City 2022 Latvia. Bosnia Herzegovina had the largest absolute PM2.5
concentration increase in the region going from 27.8 μg/m3 in
1 Igdir, Türkiye 53.0 1 Kittilä, Finland 1.7
2021 to 33.6 μg/m3 in 2022. The largest decrease of annual
2 Krasnoyarsk, Russia 51.7 2 Blaarthem, Netherlands 1.8 concentration was in Montenegro, dropping from 35.2 μg/m3
in 2021 to 15.7 µg/m3 in 2022 for a decrease of 19.5 μg/
Tuzla, Bosnia
3
Herzegovina
49.4 3 Corfu, Greece 2.3 m3. This year, five additional cities are included for the country
Zenica, Bosnia of Montenegro providing more data and enabling a more
4 48.6 4 Ulsteinvik, Norway 2.5
Herzegovina comprehensive assessment of air quality for the country.
Ilidza, Bosnia 43.1 2.7
5
Herzegovina
5 Vaasa, Finland Of the 1,713 cities in Europe included in this year’s report, 4.6
percent had annual averages below the WHO annual PM2.5
6 Novi Pazar, Serbia 41.7 6 Korsholm, Finland 2.7
guideline of 5 μg/m3. Finland had the most cities in the region
7 Gaziantep, Türkiye 40.2 7 Husavik, Iceland 3.0 that achieved the guideline value with a total of 20 cities, followed
by the UK with 13, and Spain with eight. Europe’s air quality
8 Uzice, Serbia 40.0 8 Albalat dels Tarongers, 3.1 benefited in 2022 from having a mild winter which decreased
Spain
Bijelo Polje, the demand for pollution generating energy consumption.
9 39.6 9 Reykjavik, Iceland 3.3
Montenegro
10 Banja Luka, Bosnia
Herzegovina
37.1 10 Alcoutim, Portugal 3.3 MONITORING STATUS
11 Duzce, Türkiye 36.8 11 Bodo, Norway 3.5 Europe continues to have a robust network of monitors which
enable high spatial resolution air quality information for this
12 Cacak, Serbia 35.7 12 Voore, Estonia 3.6 region. Countries in Western Europe, as well as Poland and
Türkiye, continue to have a strong network of government
13 Mersin, Türkiye 35.3 13 Chatou, France 3.6
sensors. Low-cost sensors in, for example, Greece and
14 Pljevlja, Montenegro 34.5 14 Saint-Joseph, France 3.6 Romania, help provide granularity to government data.
The distribution of government and low-cost sensors is 73
15 Konya, Türkiye 34.5 15 Vladivostok, Russia 3.6 percent government operated to 27 percent non-government
operated monitoring stations.

UKRAINE
PM2.5 Odessa
(µg/m³) Kyiv Lviv
20
50
15
35
10
25
15
10
0
5 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022
Kyiv 9.5 9.6 11.2 15.4 7.2 6.0 6.6 5.0 7.2 7.3 7.6 13.1 18.3 18.8
Lviv 10.8 12 11.7 19.7 10.3 6.7 7.6 6.9 8.0 6.8 9.1 15.2 14.8 No Data
Odessa 9.0 13.2 14.4 13.1 7.3 5.7 6.8 6.6 9.2 5.4 7.3 9.0 11.0 No Data
PROGRESS
Russia’s invasion of the Ukraine on February 24, 2022 upended industries and destroyed
Kyiv
businesses.54 Infrastructure such as grids and powerplants has been heavily targeted by
Russia. An estimated 2.4 million Ukrainians are out of work.55 Furthermore, 8 million refugees 2019 2020 2021 2022
fled the country in 2022.56 This devasting war has led to a reduction of human-generated air 100%
3.9%
4.3% 5.5%
pollution. Ukraine’s annual average PM2.5 concentration decreased from 18.5 μg/m3 in 2021 4.6%
to 9.7 μg/m3 in 2022, a finding which can be largely attributed to concentration reductions 6.7%
10.2%
90% 8.8%
in large cities early in the year. PM2.5 concentrations in Ukraine’s capital, Kyiv, decreased 12.7%
nearly 50%, dropping from 18.8 μg/m3 to 9.5 μg/m3. Kyiv and many other Ukranian cities 8.7%
experienced lower concentrations in January and February and did not return to high levels for 80% 12.1% 11.8%
the rest of the year. The city-level concentrations range from 6.7 μg/m3 in Uman to 15.8 μg/
m3 in Velyki Dmytrovychi. 16.7%
18.6%
70%
CHALLENGES 20.2% 21.9%
It would be impossible to ignore the effect that armed conflict has on a country’s air quality. The 60%
operation of heavy military vehicles and aircrafts release air pollution from oil combustion, and
the destruction of buildings and other infrastructure pose health issues to those exposed.57.58 19.7%
32.3%
50%
The main sources of peacetime air pollution in Ukraine are industries involving ferrous 15.7%
17.3%
metallurgy, thermal energy, coal, oil, gas, and cement production. Many of these emissions
40%
come from energy generation.
HIGHLIGHT: RESILIENT AND EXPANDING MONITORING 30% 26.4%

22.3%
NETWORKS 20.5%
Despite the outbreak of war, Ukraine expanded air monitoring networks to cover more people 20%
30.9%
and a greater geographic area. Collected data represents almost triple the number of cities in
2022 than in 2021 thanks to the combined efforts of government groups and non-governmental
10%
organizations. The Department of Ecology and Natural Resources in Kyiv ensured air quality 15.7% 15.4% 14.3%
monitoring stations were operational to provide year-round data. Supplemental data was
provided by educational organizations like the Main Astronomical Observatory of the National 0%
Academy of Sciences of Ukraine. LUN City Air, a private sector project, helped install sensors
in other cities to provide more spatial coverage for the monitoring network. This cross- Annual hours spent at different PM2.5 pollution levels
sectional cooperation gives people a clear picture of the air they breathe.

NORTHERN AMERICA
United States | Canada
PM2.5
(µg/m³)
50
1. United States (8.9)

35
25
2. Canada (7.4)
15
10
5
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100
16.1%
SUMMARY
The Northern America region is populated by two
countries: the United States and Canada. Both
countries showed reduction in their overall annual
Regional cities that met the average PM2.5 concentration this year, each
WHO PM2.5 guideline in 2022 improving by 13-14 percent. The United States
lowered its annual average PM2.5 concentration
to 8.9 μg/m3, while Canada dropped its annual
average to 7.4 μg/m3. These improvements in PM2.5
0.6 18.6 concentration coincide with the Paris Agreement
Roanoke Coffeyville,
emissions reduction goals as well as individual actions
Rapids, NC, USA KS, USA
from each country. Neither of the two countries
improved enough to satisfy the WHO annual PM2.5
5 10 15 25 35 50
guideline, but continued investment in renewable
Range of 2022 average PM2.5 (µg/m³) across regional cities energy, sustainable development, and responsible
practices can reduce PM2.5 emissions in the future.
16.1 percent of cities in the Northern America region

Most Polluted Regional Cities * Least Polluted Regional Cities met the WHO PM2.5 concentrations guidelines in
2022, despite a record-breaking number of wildfires.
Rank City 2022 Rank City 2022 The United States, along with Canadian provinces like
1 Coffeyville, KS, USA 18.6 1
Roanoke Rapids, NC,
USA 0.6 British Columbia and Alberta, experienced numerous
wildfires in 2022.59 In spite of recent emissions
2 Baldwin Park, CA, USA 17.8 2 Castroville, CA, USA 0.8
reduction plan updates for both countries, year-round
3 Hughson, CA, USA 17.0 3 Utqiagvik, AK, USA 1.0 wildfire occurrence increases PM2.5 concentrations.
4 Tulare, CA, USA 16.9 4 Jeffersontown, KY, USA 1.0
Annual premature deaths blamed on anthropogenic
PM2.5 particulates are estimated at 200,000 in the
5 Claymont, DE, USA 16.4 5 Shorewood, MN, USA 1.0 United States and nearly 15,000 in Canada.
6 Paramount, CA, USA 16.3 6 Terryville, NY, USA 1.0
7 Visalia, CA, USA 16.2 7 Rio Del Mar, CA, USA 1.1
MONITORING STATUS
8 Forest Park, GA, USA 15.5 8 Ossining, NY, USA 1.1
In Northern America, there is a structured monitoring
network comprised of government monitors and
9 Lewiston, ME, USA 15.5 9 Williams, CA, USA 1.2 non-government operated sensors. In 2022, 3,198
10 Cutler, CA, USA 15.3 10 Ayer, MA, USA 1.3 cities in the region provided adequate air quality
information for inclusion in this report. 2,143 of
11 Ontario, CA, USA 15.1 11 Sierra Vista, AZ, USA 1.5
these cities reported data from only non-government
12 Enterprise, OR, USA 15.0 12 Wailea, HI, USA 1.5 operated monitors, and 477 reported data from only
government stations that provide publicly available
13 Exeter, CA, USA 14.8 13 Parker, CO, USA 1.6
air quality information. Roughly 400 more cities in
14 Hanford, CA, USA 14.8 14 Sedona, AZ, USA 1.7 the Northern America region are represented in this
year’s report compared to 2021.
15 Parlier, CA, USA 14.7 15 Durango, CO, USA 1.7
*For the region of Northern America, only cities with populations

>5,000 are ranked here

UNITED STATES
PM2.5 New York City Chicago Washington, D.C.
(µg/m³)
Los Angeles San Francisco Denver
20
50
15
35
10
25
15
10
0
5 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022
Washington, D.C. 9.8 10.0 9.1 7.8 5.5 8.5 11.0 14.2 10.6 8.6 9.3 10.5 12.9 9.1
New York City 9.9 12.4 10.2 10.4 5.7 10.2 9.5 13.6 11.0 7.4 8.5 9.5 10.8 10.0
Los Angeles 10.5 11.5 6.0 7.4 8.6 12.3 14.7 12.2 10.6 10.0 15.1 8.0 9.3 13.7
Chicago 11.8 13.5 14.9 11.5 9.5 11.3 9.5 12.6 10.8 9.1 10.7 13.7 14.7 13.4
San Francisco 8.1 15.1 10.3 4.3 5.3 5.2 5.4 3.7 6.7 9.3 9.2 9.2 13.9 8.2
Denver 4.9 7.3 5.9 4.0 2.8 3.6 3.8 4.4 4.2 6.7 5.9 4.8 5.4 9.8
PROGRESS Washington
In 2022, air quality in the United States improved significantly relative to 2021. A major
contributing factor to this year’s improvements was a relatively mild wildfire season. 15.7 percent 2019 2020 2021 2022
of the cities included in this year’s report achieved annual average PM2.5 concentrations 100%
4.5% 3.1%
4.5%
meeting the WHO annual PM2.5 guideline. In 2022, nine out of ten most populous cities in 8.2%
the United States showed improvements in annual PM2.5 concentrations compared to 2021.
90%
Miami, FL observed a 14 percent increase in PM2.5 concentrations. Monthly average PM2.5 14.8%
17.1%
16.7%
concentrations for multiple cities in Arizona, Colorado, California, Idaho, Oregon, New Mexico,
Texas, and Washington peaked with the wildfire occurrence throughout the year. 80% 23.4%
CHALLENGES
70% 19.3%
Wildfires in the United States are becoming a year-round challenge. Increasing emissions 19.8%
from wildfires in recent years are quickly erasing air quality improvements gained over the past
decade.60 Research studies61 observe improvements in particulate matter air quality in the United 60%
States over the past decade except in wild-fire prone areas like the Pacific Northwest region.
50.7%
In 2022, the most polluted city in U.S. was Coffeyville, KS with an annual PM2.5 concentrations 50%
ranging between 18-20 µg/m3. Environmental justice, especially for clean air, has been a historical 44.9%
32.7%
challenge in United States. In 2022, the U.S. EPA announced multiple clean energy infrastructure
and air quality monitoring investments would be funded by the Inflation Reduction Act and 40% 35.6%
American Rescue Plan aimed at reducing the harmful environmental impacts on communities in
close proximity of industry and transportation corridors.
30%
HIGHLIGHT: RECONSIDERATION OF THE NATIONAL AMBIENT
AIR QUALITY STANDARDS FOR PARTICULATE MATTER (PM) 20%
The U.S. EPA announced62 its proposed decision to lower the primary (health-based) annual 29.1% 27.5%
22.4% 22.3%
PM2.5 standard from its current level of 12.0 µg/m3 and is considering a revised level ranging 10%
between 9 to 10 μg/m3. By 2032 EPA projects that 18 counties will not meet the current standard.
A reduction of the standard to 9 μg/m3 is projected to result in this number nearly tripling to 51
counties unable to reach attainment. While there is an ongoing debate on the adequacy of the 0%
proposed standard63, and a potential change as low as 8.0 µg/m3, more emission reductions will Annual hours spent at different PM2.5 pollution levels
be needed in many areas of the country to meet the new proposed standard.

LATIN AMERICA & CARIBBEAN
Argentina | Belize | Bermuda | Bolivia | Bonaire, Saint Eustatius, and Saba | Brazil | Chile | Colombia | Costa Rica | El Salvador | Grenada | Guatemala |
Guyana | Honduras | México | Nicaragua | Panama | Perú | Puerto Rico | Suriname | Trinidad and Tobago | U.S. Virgin Islands | Uruguay
PM2.5
(µg/m³) Country/Region Ranking
1. Peru (23.5)
2. Chile (22.2)
3. Mexico (19.5)
4. Guatemala (18.6)
50 5. Colombia (15.7)
6. El Salvador (14.2)
7. Guyana (12.6)
8. Brazil (12.2)
9. Uruguay (11.3)
35 10. Honduras (10.2)
11. Panama (9.0)
12. Nicaragua (8.9)
13. Costa Rica (7.9)
25 14. Argentina (7.7)
15. Bolivia (7.3)
16. Suriname (7.0)
17. Belize (5.6)
18. Trinidad and Tobago (5.1)
15
19. Puerto Rico (4.3)
20. Grenada (3.8)
10 21. Bonaire, Saint Eustatius and Saba (3.3)
22. Bermuda (3.0)
5 23. U.S. Virgin Islands (2.9)
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100
SUMMARY
9.3% Vehicle emissions, power generation, wildfires, landfills, and

industrial operations continue to be major air pollution sources in
the Latin America & Caribbean region. Commitments to cleaner
air and the environment can reduce pollutants and protect
Regional cities that met the the region’s citizens. Countries are already shifting towards a
WHO PM2.5 guideline in 2022 healthier future by investing in renewable energy, engaging in
environmental protection regulations, and supporting citizen
knowledge and safety.
Of the 15 countries that passed data inclusion criteria in

1.4 41.2 both 2021 and 2022, average annual PM2.5 concentrations
Arecibo, Puerto Rico San Juan de Lurichango, Peru improved in 12 µg/m3. Peru, the region’s most polluted country,
experienced the largest net improvement by decreasing
its annual average PM2.5 concentration by 6.1 μg/m3, a
21% decrease, down to 23.5 μg/m3. By percentage, the
5 10 15 25 35 50 Caribbean Netherlands (Bonaire, Saint Eustatius, and Saba)
Range of 2022 average PM2.5 (µg/m³) across regional cities had the greatest positive change, with a 35% decrease in
PM2.5 concentration bringing the annual average to 3.3 μg/
m3. Conversely, PM2.5 concentrations in Colombia rose 10%
reaching an annual average of 15.5 μg/m3. The U.S. Virgin
Most Polluted Regional Cities Least Polluted Regional Cities Islands remains the region’s least polluted country.
Rank City 2022 Rank City 2022 In 2022, four countries achieved the WHO PM2.5 annual
1
San Juan de 41.2 1 Arecibo, Puerto Rico 1.4 guideline, compared to just two in 2021. 9.7% of qualified cities
Lurigancho, Peru
in the region achieved the WHO guideline of 5 μg/m3, up from
2 Vitarte, Peru 40.0 2 Caguas, Puerto Rico 2.4 6.9% in the previous year. This improvement in air quality has
San Jose del Cabo, positive implications for the lives of millions, with decreased
3 Quilpue, Chile 39.1 3
Mexico 2.5
concentrations of airborne particulate matter reducing health
Cruz Bay, U.S. Virgin
4 Santa Anita, Peru 38.8 4
Islands 2.7 risks related to ambient air pollution.
San German, Puerto
37.7 2.8
MONITORING STATUS
5 Coyhaique, Chile 5
Rico
6 Carabayllo, Peru 37.6 6 Camuy, Puerto Rico 2.9
Air quality monitoring in the Latin America & Caribbean region
7 Metepec, Mexico 36.1 7 Hamilton, Bermuda 3.0 grew significantly from 2021 to 2022, with a net gain of 53
Villa Maria del Triunfo, Charlotte Amalie, cities contributing to a total of 227 cities across 24 countries.
8 35.0 8
U.S. Virgin islands 3.0
Peru This expansion of air quality monitoring provides insight into
The Bottom, Bonaire, Saint
9 Padre las Casas, Chile 33.8 9
Eustatius and Saba
3.3 underrepresented areas whose air quality can now be observed
on a global scale. Countries represented for the first time in the
10 Villa Alemana, Chile 33.0 10 Guayanilla, Puerto Rico 3.3
World Air Quality Report include Belize, Bermuda, Bolivia, El
11 Traiguen, Chile 30.1 11 San Juan, Puerto Rico 3.3 Salvador, Guyana, Nicaragua, Panama, and Suriname.
12 Llaillay, Chile 29.0 12 Saint George’s,

3.8 The support from contributors like the Aires Nuevos project
Grenada
has strengthened air quality information in Latin America and
13 Xonacatlan, Mexico 28.5 13 Pianco, Brazil 4.0 the Caribbean, emphasizing the importance of community
engagement. The Aires Nuevos network of monitors
14 El Bosque, Chile 28.3 14 Punta Arenas, Chile 4.0
contributed data from 8 countries, with coverage of 42 local
15 Providencia, Chile 28.2 15 Fortelaza, Brazil 4.1 governments and 14 universities using 115 low-cost air quality
monitors from IQAir.

BRAZIL
PM2.5 Sao Paulo Rio de Janeiro Fortaleza
(µg/m³)
Campinas Manaus Guarulhos
50 20
35 15
25
10
15
5
10
5 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022
Sao Paulo du Campo 13.5 10.7 12.1 11.8 12.3 14.7 17.0 21.8 15.7 13.8 13.1 8.9 9.7 15.2
Rio de Janeiro 10.6 8.4 7.6 11.3 9.1 11.1 15.6 17.4 11.4 11.4 10.8 6.6 6.5 13.0
Fortaleza 4.1 5.9 6.8 3.0 2.3 2.5 2.8 2.6 4.5 6.1 6.6 2.4 4.2 4.3
Campinas 15.5 11.8 12.7 No Data 17.3 17.2 19.4 22.8 19.6 16.5 14.4 10.8 9.6 16.4
Manaus 12.7 6.6 4.6 3.6 5.0 6.5 6.8 11.3 24.5 30.2 23.1 15.3 7.8 10.3
Guarulhos 15.0 10.7 12.6 12.2 14.3 17.1 19.5 25.3 16.8 15.5 14.1 11.1 10.3 16.1
PROGRESS Sao Paulo

Brazil continued its trend in reducing annual average PM2.5 concentrations,
dropping to 12.2 μg/m3 in 2022 from 13.6 μg/m3 in 2021 and 14.2 μg/m3 in 2020.
2019 2020 2021 2022
100%
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil’s most populous city, experienced an 18.5 percent decrease 3.6% 3.6% 3.7% 2.6%
in average PM2.5 concentration to 10.6 μg/m3. Amazon wildfires in September 7% 7.1%

6.1%
90% 7.5%
caused a massive spike in PM2.5, with six cities in the states of Rondonia and
Acre recording PM2.5 concentrations exceeding 60 μg/m3. 64 Four cities maintained
annual average PM2.5 concentrations below the WHO guidelines limits in 2022, 80% 18.8% 20.8%
21.4%
up from just two in 2021. 26.3%
CHALLENGES 70%
Illegal deforestation and burning are still issues for Brazil as the country remains a
60%
global leader in wood charcoal production.65,66 Brazil’s charcoal is largely produced 22%
23.3%
from native Amazonian wood and non-native eucalyptus harvested for its fast 24.6%
growth. Wood is heated in a low oxygen environment, producing carbon-rich 50% 23.1%
charcoal, ash, and airborne pollutants like methane and carbon dioxide. Workers
in the wood charcoal industry experience health risks related to their extreme
40%
exposure to PM2.5 and CO2. 67
HIGHLIGHT: DEFORESTATION 30%

32.9%
32%
33.2%
Luiz Inácio “Lula” da Silva became the 39th President of Brazil in January 2023 28.5%
after winning the general election in October.68 At COP 27, Lula reinforced his 20%
commitment to the environment and climate security, announcing goals to stop
deforestation of the Amazon rainforest, halt illegal gold mining, and restore climate- 10%
critical ecosystems.69 This commitment follows sharp increases in Amazon rainforest 14.6% 14.4%
9.4% 8.8%
deforestation during the previous administration.70 Preservation of the Amazon can
lead to human health benefits through increased carbon sequestration from the 0%
forest and reduced carbon emissions from logging and burning. Annual hours spent at different PM2.5 pollution levels

CHILE
PM2.5 Santiago Concepcion Puente Alto
(µg/m³)
Antofagasta Vina del Mar Valparaiso
30
50
25
20
35
15
25
10
15
10
5
5 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022
Santiago 25.8 9.1 13.0 16.1 23.3 56.4 50.8 37.3 41.6 25.2 12.7 11.4 12.4 25.8
Concepcion 20.6 5.8 11.7 10.4 19.4 46.4 37.0 32.0 34.8 23.1 9.5 8.0 8.0 17.7
Puente Alto 19.7 8.8 13.0 12.6 18.4 39.4 35.9 27.7 30.4 18.5 10.3 10.6 11.0 22.7
Antofagasta 10.6 6.2 8.0 9.5 11.3 14.3 13.0 14.1 14.5 12.3 9.2 7.2 7.7 10.7
Vina del Mar 16.2 9.0 11.7 14.8 19.1 33.6 23.6 14.4 19.6 15.1 9.5 10.9 11.4 14.3
Valparaiso 17.7 7.1 11.5 15.4 15.6 41.6 30.8 19.9 26.0 16.1 9.3 8.4 9.7 14.2
PROGRESS Santiago
Chile’s air pollution worsened slightly in 2022, increasing annual PM2.5 concentration just 2
percent to 22.2 μg/m3. The country is home to eight of the top 15 most polluted cities in the 2019 2020 2021 2022
region. City-based PM2.5 concentrations are exacerbated by the dry season from May through 100%
November, with one city exceeding the PM2.5 concentration of 100 μg/m3 in June. Air pollutant 6.3%
12% 12.8%
concentrations in this range are dangerous for all citizens and outdoor areas should be avoided 15%
to reduce exposure. Punta Arenas was the only city whose annual average PM2.5 concentration 90% 9.9%
fell below WHO PM2.5 guidelines.
12.3%
12.7%
15.7%
Chileans near Valparaiso experience increased health-related risks from the high concentrations
70%
of airborne pollutants emitted by mining, gas, oil, cement, and chemical companies that operate 15.2% 10.8% 10.3%
in the region. Codelco, Chile’s state-owned mining firm, agreed to close their copper smelter and
refinery in the Valparaiso province following the hospitalizations of over 100 residents, including 60%
children. Codelco had already spent over $150 million in efforts to reduce emissions, but outdat-
ed technology at the smelter led to difficulties that eventually resulted in the closure. 31% 20.1% 16.6%
50%
Chile’s topography also contributes to increased air pollution risks, as the Andes Mountains
28.5%
and the smaller Chilean Coast Range can create bowl-like conditions in the country’s valleys.71
The Andes Mountains are the longest continental mountain range in the world and the highest 40%
outside of Asia. The effects of Chile’s geography are exacerbated in the winter months when 15.7%
cool, dense coastal fog traps air near the earth’s surface. Much of Chile experienced its highest 19.7%
average PM2.5 concentrations in May and June, with 29 percent of cities included in the report 30%
reaching PM2.5 concentrations above 50 μg/m3 during these months. With little atmospheric 21.1%
circulation during this time, air pollution and its associated health risks are magnified. 18.9%
20%
HIGHLIGHT: AIR QUALITY SCIENCE EDUCATION IN CHILE’S
21.2%
NATIONAL CURRICULUM
19.2%
10%
14.1%
11.5%
In addition to providing air quality sensor data, Aires Nuevos empowers citizen scientists in the 8.6%
3.6%
Chilean community. Aires Nuevos uses low-cost sensors to host technical workshops, teach 0%
data analysis, and spread environmental knowledge. These efforts have contributed to new
material in a citizen science book for Chile’s national curriculum, exposing students to air quality Annual hours spent at different PM2.5 pollution levels
information and scientific analysis for the first time.

COLOMBIA
PM2.5 Medellin Cota
(µg/m³)
Bogota Guarne
25
50
20
35
15
25
10
15
10
5
5 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022
Bogota 15.1 16.9 21.1 18.2 14.9 10.5 12.4 8.2 11.6 16.6 14.9 16.9 19.1 13.7
Cota 15.5 16.5 20.0 18.3 15.4 10.6 12.3 10.6 13.0 17.5 15.6 15.6 17.8 12.8
Guarne 9.8 10.9 14.1 13.6 9.3 6.8 7.0 6.6 9.2 9.2 No Data 9.4
Medellin 15.9 17.8 22.8 20.4 14.7 13.7 14.3 12.1 14.9 16.8 14.0 13.2 17.2 15.6
PROGRESS Bogota
The national annual average in Colombia rose this year to 15.5 µg/m3, up from 14.1 μg/m3
in 2021. This increase was in part due to the significant increase in forest fires in the Colom- 2019 2020 2021 2022
100%
bian Amazon during the dry season of 2022. The PM2.5 suspended in the air from the fires 2.7% 3.8% 2.2% 2.3%
can travel long distances and pollute the air of major cities such as Bogotá or Medellin. In 10%
10.9% 10.1% 11.6%
January 2022, nearly 30 times more wildfires were reported compared to the same month in 90%
2021.72 While data from the rainy season months of 2022 recorded lower PM2.5 concentra-
tions relative to 2021, the poor air quality experienced during the dry season offset all gains
80%
incurred during the rainy season resulting in increased overall annual averages in 2022. 20.6%
27.3%
25.2%
Air pollution threats in rural and urban areas come from different sources. Pollution in large
cities results mostly from mobile emission sources such as road transportation and private 60%
12.8%
vehicles. Rural pollution in Colombia often comes from solid fuel use for cooking and heat.73
17.2%
This is amplified by the geographical conditions in mountainous regions that are subject to 50% 18.5%
atmospheric temperature inversions.74 Forest fires were particularly bad in Columbia during
15.6% 19.6%
2022. In February, fires near Bogota triggered an environmental warning from the mayor
40%
due to the high concentration of fire-generated smog and particulate matter that wafted
into the city.75
30% 28.6%
HIGHLIGHT: POWER GRID COMPOSITION 27.5%
22.5%
Colombia continues to create policy shifting away from fossil fuels and investing more in 20% 37%
wind and solar. Although there is a strong policy for the energy transition, clear and viable
projects must be planned for this transition to become a reality. They have historically used
10%
hydro-electric power to supply their energy demands but want to bolster the grid’s stability 14.7% 14.4% 12.2%
by awarding contracts for new wind farms off their coast.76 Combining this with the country’s
announcement at COP 27 to reduce methane extraction can help slow the energy demands 0%
for fossil fuel production and combustion, as well as combat climate change which is known Annual hours spent at different PM2.5 pollution levels
to exacerbate wildfire-prone conditions during the dry season.77

AFRICA
Algeria | Angola | Burkina Faso | Chad | Democratic Republic of the Congo | Egypt | Ethiopia | Gabon | Ghana |
Ivory Coast | Kenya | Madagascar | Nigeria | Rwanda | Senegal | South Africa | Sudan | Uganda | Zambia
PM2.5
(µg/m³)
1. Chad (89.7)
2. Burkina Faso (63.0)
3. Egypt (46.5)
50
4. Sudan (44.6)
5. Rwanda (44.0)
6. Uganda (39.6)
7. Nigeria (36.9)
35 8. Ethiopia (31.3)
9. Ghana (30.2)
10. Gabon (25.0)
11. Zambia (24.6)
25 12. Madagascar (23.7)
13. South Africa (23.4)
14. Ivory Coast (22.5)
15. Senegal (20.4)
15 16. Algeria (17.8)
17. Democratic Republic of the Congo (15.5)
10
18. Kenya (11.5)
5 19. Angola (8.8)
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100
SUMMARY
5.8%
Limited availability of air quality data in Africa is still the most
important issue in tackling air pollution.9 Based on NASA satellite
data, 70 percent of the world’s wildfires take place in Africa.
Most of these fires burn through grasslands and generate a large
amount of ambient PM2.5.
Regional cities that met the
WHO PM2.5 guideline in 2022 Six new cities have been added in Africa this year, bringing
the regional city total to 52 cities. Two of the new cities are
Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso and Cairo, Egypt that recorded
annual PM2.5 concentrations of 63.0 and 47.4 µg/m3, respectively.
0.8 89.7 N’Djamena, the capital of Chad, ranked number one as the most
polluted regional city with an annual average PM2.5 concentration
Oudtshoorn, South Africa N’Djamena, Chad of 89.7 µg/m3, a 12 percent increase from 2021. The 10 most
populous cities in Africa each experienced PM2.5 levels exceeding
the WHO guideline level of 5 μg/m3. Excluding N’Djamena and
5 10 15 25 35 50 Ouagadougou, the annual average PM2.5 concentration in capital
Range of 2022 average PM2.5 (µg/m³) across regional cities cities of Africa ranged from 6 to 46 µg/m3. Such huge variation in
the concentration levels requires more attention and investment on
monitoring and source/area-specific reduction plan development.
Most Polluted Regional Cities Least Polluted Regional Cities MONITORING STATUS
Reliable and accessible air quality data in Africa remains sparse.
Most African countries lack air quality monitoring data, leaving
Oudtshoorn, South
1 N’Djamena, Chad 89.7 1
Africa 0.8 most people on the continent without the information necessary to
Oagadougou, Burkina make important health decisions.
2 63.0 2 Grabouw, South Africa 2.6
Faso
This report includes PM2.5 data from 52 cities and 156 stations
3 Cairo, Egypt 47.4 3 Nieuwoudtville, South 3.4
Africa in the region, where roughly 70 percent of the population is living.
4 Abuja, Nigeria 46.5 4 Knysna, South Africa 5.2 Seven new countries are included in Africa that provide public
data via both government and non-government networks. These
Cape Town, South
5 Khartoum, Sudan 44.6 5
Africa 6.7 new monitoring stations are deployed in cities where roughly 93
million people reside.9
6 Kigali, Rwanda 44.0 6 Luanda, Angola 8.8
Several governments are already investing in resources to expand
7 Thabazimbi, South Africa 42.2 7 Port Elizabeth, South 9.3
Africa air quality monitoring and beginning to implement air quality
management plans. Furthermore, independently funded initiatives,
8 Kampala, Uganda 39.6 8 Hendrina, South Africa 9.7
including Africa Qualité de L’air (AfriqAir), AirQo, and Clean Air
9 Benin City, Nigeria 38.1 9 Pumwani, Kenya 10.9 Monitoring and Solutions Network (CAMS-Net), are also attempting
to fill the data gap using both reference-grade and low-cost air
10 Lagos, Nigeria 36.1 10 Mokopane, South Africa 11.1
quality sensors. There are also project-driven monitoring stations in
11 Kintampo, Ghana 32.9 11 Nairobi, Kenya 11.5 some African countries (e.g., PM2.5 monitors in Ethiopia, Kenya,
Rwanda, and Uganda as part of the Eastern Africa GEOHealth Hub).
12 Osogbo, Nigeria 32.8 12 KwaMbonambi, South 12.2
Africa Most African countries in this report relied on monitoring stations
13 Ekurhuleni, South Africa 32.0 13 Bethlehem, South 13.7 operated by the U.S. State Department, individuals, and non-
Africa
governmental organizations. Almost half of the stations in this
14 Addis Ababa, Ethiopia 31.3 14 Secunda, South Africa 14.4 region are non-government-operated monitors. There is huge
15 Accra, Ghana 30.1 15 Howick, South Africa 15.4 potential to provide more non-government air quality stations in
this sparsely monitored region of the world.

CHAD
PM2.5 N’Djamena
(µg/m³)
100
50
90
80
35
70
25
60
15
10
50
5 2021 2022
N’Djamena 89.7 162.3 163.7 245.6 103.7 74.2 36.6 21.2 21.8 22.1 49.7 59.9 132.4 77.6
PROGRESS N’Djamena
Air quality in Chad worsened in 2022 as PM2.5 concentrations increased to 89.7 μg/m3, an 18
percent increase from 75.9 μg/m3 in 2021. While the monthly average PM2.5 concentrations 2020 2021 2022
from June to December are relatively similar to the previous year, the country experienced 100%
increases during January and March. PM2.5 concentrations increased 75 percent in January,
going from 93 μg/m3 to 162.3 μg/m3, and increased 53 percent in March, increasing from 160
μg/m3 to 245.6 μg/m3. These dramatic increases can be partially attributed to massive dust 90%
25.6%
storms from the Sahara Desert during these months.78
CHALLENGES 80%
47.3%
47.6%
Chad is often buffeted by dust storms which contribute to higher PM2.5 concentrations in
the country. A key contributor to the dust storms in the country is the largest source of dust 70%
12.8%
emissions in the world: the Bodélé Depression.79 Exposure to these increased levels of dust
can pose many threats to human health, including decreased lung function and pregnancy
complications.80 Exposure to particulate matter has been linked to 400,000 preventable infant 60%
deaths per year in Sub-Saharah Africa; this accounts for up to 40 percent of the total number
16%
of infants deaths in the region.81 An additional factor of Chad’s air quality is the use of biomass
fuels and traditional stoves for cooking.82 Combustion of these fuels can cause immediately 50%
12.5% 12.3%
harmful levels of indoor air pollution that can spread outside into surrounding communities.83
HIGHLIGHT: DATA GAPS IN AFRICA 40%

9.7%
24.1% 12.1%
Real-time publicly accessible data in Chad is provided by a single government operated, air
monitoring station in the N’Djamena. Chad’s status as one of the most polluted countries in the 30%
world underlines the lack of comprehensive air quality monitoring in Africa. A sustainable and
informative network is integral to report air quality data and its implications for citizens living 16.4%
in underrepresented areas. Air quality issues in the region have been known to pose human 20% 15.6%
health risks for years, with governments and citizen-led organizations needed as leaders in 12.3%
organizing and maintaining a more robust collection of sensors. Real-time monitoring stations
10% 8.8%
can inform citizens of incoming dust storms and other air quality phenomena so people can 7.2%
5.9%
better prepare and protect themselves. Increased monitoring could also allow people to see 3.8% 4.2%
the air quality in the places where they work or where their children play. Chad, along with 0%
3.3%
other countries in the region, may be the next frontier for global air quality equity. The full extent
of air quality issues in this region may remain unclear until larger networks of air monitoring Annual hours spent at different PM2.5 pollution levels
stations are developed.

SOUTH AFRICA
PM2.5 Bloemfontein Johannesburg Pretoria
(µg/m³)
eMbalenhle Hartbeespoort Cape Town
60
50 50
40
35
30
25
20
15 10
10
0
5 2019 2020 2021 2022
Cape Town 6.7 6.9 7.9 6.4 5.8 9.1 12.5 8.6 7.3 6.3 4.0 2.9 2.8 7.6
Bloemfontein 16.2 8.8 11.2 10.3 11.6 21.0 22.3 23.2 18.8 24.4 24.0 10.4 9.3 42.2
eMbalenhle 17.4 10.4 8.7 15.1 12.2 20.6 24.7 29.2 22.2 22.4 22.4 9.8 10.1 17.1
Hartbeespoort 16.3 8.1 10.4 8.7 8.6 19.4 27.7 25.1 23.0 24.5 20.0 10.3 9.4 17.0
Johannesburg 21.7 12.4 16.4 17.2 14.4 25.5 27.5 31.8 26.7 31.7 28.1 15.9 13.4 27.3
Pretoria 21.7 10.1 14.8 16.5 13.1 27.4 24.5 32.1 30.1 31.9 29.0 15.5 12.0 21.6
PROGRESS Pretoria
South Africa’s constitution guarantees a clean environment free of pollution: a right enshrined within the
country’s Bill of Rights. But poor air quality in many cities means that right remains unrealized for far too 2019 2020 2021 2022
many South Africans. 100%
3.1% 4.7%
8.1% 7.9%
Air quality in most of South African cities showed continued improvement in 2022, building on previous
improvements in air quality measured in 2021. The country’s overall PM2.5 concentrations showed a 90% 14.3%
slight increase from 22.7 μg/m3 in 2020 to 23.4 μg/m3 in 2022. 14.6%
15.1%
15.9%
This year, Nieuwoudtville in the Northern Cape province recorded an average PM2.5 concentration that
met the WHO recommended air quality guidelines. In Cape Town, the annual PM2.5 concentration 80%
dropped to 6.7 μg/m3 with a 12% decrease in comparison to 2021 and closer to achieving the 5 µg/
19%
m3 guideline level. Thabazimbi, which experienced several fire breakouts and a shortage of operational 19.3%
70%
firefighting in 202284 observed annual PM2.5 levels around 42.2 μg/m3, a 50% increase in comparison to 17.8%
2021. All the other cities included in the report from South Africa are meeting the interim WHO guideline 21%
target of 35 μg/m3 in 2022. 60%
CHALLENGES
50% 26% 22.5%
Air pollution in South Africa is driven by a variety of factors that compound as the country develops 23.7%
and the population increases. Transportation, energy generation and consumption, and industrial
growth each feed into the country’s outdoor air quality, while the burning of waste and the use of 23.6%
40%
solid cooking fuels contributes to indoor air pollution.85 South Africans living especially close to the
country’s coal-fired power plants are exposed to higher levels of SO2, CO2, NOx, and particulate
12.8%
matter, and are more susceptible to experiencing negative health impacts related to air pollution. 14.4%
30%
Air pollution monitoring and efforts to reduce pollutants at the source will continue to be important 14.4%
in risk reduction. 13.7%
HIGHLIGHT: CONSTITUTIONAL CLEAN AIR

20% 15.8%
14.3%
13.7%
In March 2022, South Africa’s Pretoria High Court ruled on a case brought against the government by two 11.2%
10%
environmental justice groups regarding poor ambient air quality in the Highveld Priority Area.86 The province
of Mpumalanga accounts for more than 80% of the country’s coal production, a significant contributor to 7.4% 8.8% 10.4%
6.4%
regional air pollution. The Mpumalanga Highveld was recognized as a priority area in 2007 under the Air
0%
Quality Act. The environmental justice group advocating for the community argued that the air quality in
the area violated the constitutional right to “an environment not harmful to their health or wellbeing”, an Annual hours spent at different PM2.5 pollution levels
argument which was upheld in the official court ruling. The South African government has been given one
year to implement and enforce the previously established Highveld Plan under the Air Quality Act.87

OCEANIA
Australia | French Polynesia | Guam | New Caledonia | New Zealand
PM2.5
(µg/m³)
50
1. New Zealand (4.8)
2. Australia (4.2)
35
3. New Caledonia (3.5)
25
4. French Polynesia (2.5)
15 5. Guam (1.3)
10
5
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100
66%
SUMMARY
Oceania continues to have the cleanest overall air quality
in the world. The capital cities of Canberra, Australia
and Noumea, New Caledonia both decreased their
Regional cities that met the pollution levels from last year and had annual average
WHO PM2.5 guideline in 2022 concentrations under the WHO guidelines at 2.8 μg/m3
and 3.5 μg/m3, respectively. Of the 202 cities included
in this year’s report, this region had both the highest
number of cities below the WHO guidelines (133) and
1.1 12.4 the highest percentage of cities below the guidelines
Geraldton, Blenheim, with 65 percent. This is coupled with 155 cities reducing
Australia New Zealand
their annual average PM2.5 concentrations. The
improvement to regional air quality is due to most cities
5 10 15 25 35 50
having year-round, consistently low levels of pollution
Range of 2022 average PM2.5 (µg/m³) across regional cities and the cities with higher PM2.5 concentrations showing
spikes during the summer bushfire season. Bushfires are
the primary threat to air quality in this area which are
exacerbated by droughts and atmospheric conditions
Most Polluted Regional Cities Least Polluted Regional Cities such as inversion layers.88
Rank City 2022 Rank City 2022 There is still progress to be made in the region. There are
1 Blenheim, New Zealand 12.4 1 Geraldton, Australia 1.1 still 69 cities that show annual concentrations above the
WHO guidelines. This represents millions of people who
2 Ludmilla, Australia 12.3 2 Turangi, New Zealand 1.2
may be affected by adverse air quality conditions.
3 Nelson South, New 10.5 3 Tamuning, Guam 1.3
Zealand
4 Richmond, New
Zealand
10.0 4 Broken Hill, Australia 1.5 MONITORING STATUS
5 Tokoroa, New Zealand 10.0 5 Roxby Downs, Australia 1.5 Oceania continues to have an air quality monitoring
network that is heavily bolstered by non-government
6 Collie, Australia 9.9 6 Seville Grove, Australia 1.5
sources. Australia has more non-government operated
Greymouth, New
7
Zealand
9.3 7 Carnarvon, Australia 1.6 than government-operated monitoring stations. This
8 Taupo, New Zealand 9.1 8 Tailem Bend, Australia 1.7
has allowed smaller cities and municipalities in the five
countries and territories in this region to be represented
9 Kaiapoi, New Zealand 9.0 9 Emu River, Australia 1.7 in the report. Two new locations in this region added to
10 Timaru, New Zealand 8.8 10 Mandurah, Australia 1.7 the report in 2022 are Guam and French Polynesia. This
brings the total number of represented countries and
Otorohanga, New
11 8.7 11 Brewarrina, Australia 1.8
Zealand territories up to five, and all of them have annual average
12 Hastings, New Zealand 8.3 12 Hillston, Australia 1.8 PM2.5 concentrations at or below 4.8 μg/m3.
13 Masterton, New 8.3 13 Renmark, Australia 1.8
Zealand
14 New Norfolk, Australia 8.0 14 St Helens, Australia 1.8
15 Manilla, Australia 7.8 15 Griffith, Australia 1.9

Next Steps
What can governments do?
Decrease air pollution emissions
• Incorporate WHO air quality guidelines into future air quality standards
• Invest in renewable energy projects
• Expand the use of clean and renewable energy in public transportation
• Establish incentive programs to promote clean air vehicles for personal and
commercial use
• Utilize trade-in programs and other financial incentive programs to support
divestment from internal combustion engines
• Subsidize battery-powered and human-powered transportation methods
• Support infrastructure projects that support pedestrian traffic
• Fortify air pollutant emission limits for vehicles and industrial activities
• Engage in responsible forest management practices to prevent wildfires
• Ban agricultural and biomass burning
• Encourage innovative and critical thinking for addressing local air quality issues
and improving air quality
Expand the air quality monitoring framework

• Increase the coverage and accessibility of government-run air quality monitoring
stations
• Offer financial incentives to community-based organizations, university groups,
and individuals who install their own air quality monitoring stations
What can I do?

• Advocate for local and national air quality projects, including initiatives,
propositions, and measures that target air pollution
• Support organizations, community leaders, and politicians who value air quality
improvement
• Voice air quality concerns to local representatives

Limit your exposure to air pollution
• Download the free IQAir AirVisual app to stay informed
on real-time air quality conditions
• Limit outdoor activities when air quality is at unhealthy
levels
• Wear a high-quality face mask outdoors when air quality
is at unhealthy levels
• Monitor outdoor air quality using real-time reports and forecasted air pollution levels
• Use environmentally conscious alternatives to wood-burning stoves for heating and
cooking.
• Use air filtration devices and air purification systems to improve indoor air quality
• When outdoor air quality is at unhealthy levels, set A/C systems to recirculation mode
and close doors and windows to prevent polluted air from entering buildings
• When outdoor air quality is at healthy levels, set A/C systems to fresh air intake and
open doors and windows to ventilate indoor areas
Lower your personal air pollution footprint

• Walk, bike, or ride public transportation when possible
• Save money and lessen energy demand by reducing energy consumption
• Moderate personal waste by purchasing less and recycling, upcycling, and reusing
existing goods
Become an air quality data contributor

Increasing global awareness of air pollution issues, knowledge of the related consequences
on human health, and the availability of air quality data are crucial advancements in
confronting the shared challenge of poor air quality. Access to air quality information on a
local level can empower citizens to advocate for clean air initiatives in their communities.
Although the quantity of air quality monitoring stations and number of represented
communities continues to increase, many areas around the world still lack real-time air
quality data. Local efforts to bolster air quality monitoring are essential in this regard, whether
they are spearheaded by governments, community organizations, educational institutions,
or concerned citizens.
Low-cost sensor technology advancements have enhanced the world’s ability to collect
accurate air quality information using devices that can be installed without specific training
or experience. As more stations are deployed, more data becomes available for researchers,
legislators, corporations, and community members to understand the status of global air
quality, prompt thoughtful discussion, and inform decision-making that can lead to cleaner
air and healthier communities.
To learn more about becoming an individual contributor or larger community contributor,
visit our website.

Methodology
Data sources
The PM2.5 data used in the 2022 World Air Quality Report was collected exclusively by ground-level air quality
monitoring stations. Of these monitoring stations, 39 percent were operated by governmental agencies, with the
remaining 61 percent operated by non-profit community organizations, educational institutions, and individual citizens
using low-cost sensors.
Most of the air quality data used in the report was collected in real-time, with supplementary air quality information
obtained from year-end data sets. The integration of historically sourced data with real-time PM2.5 measurements
contributes to the most complete global data set for analysis.
Data validation
Regulatory-grade air quality monitors and low-cost sensors alike may experience data anomalies caused by defects or
short-term disturbances in the immediate environment. To counter these irregularities, IQAir’s cloud-based data platform
performs quality control measures on reported air quality measurements. Abnormal measurements from individual
sensors are flagged and quarantined before the data is integrated into the IQAir platform. These measurements are
cross-referenced using other data collected by the sensor in addition to the reported pollutant concentrations from
nearby sensors. Data points that fail to satisfy quality control criteria are excluded from the IQAir platform and from this
report.
Data calibration
Low-cost air quality sensor data included in this report measure airborne PM2.5 concentrations using laser scattering
technology. Correction factors calibrate data from low-cost sensors to account for environmental factors that can bias
the concentration data.
Data calculation
The annual average PM2.5 concentrations presented in this report are a function of the data accumulated by individual
air quality monitoring stations within the geographic boundaries of a given area. Stations periodically record and time
stamp PM2.5 concentration measurements of ambient air. The data from each station is consolidated hourly using the
average value of all validated data points from the past 60 minutes. This value is the hourly average PM2.5 concentration
of the immediate area around each specific station. When collected over the course of a year, the resulting series of
hourly average PM2.5 concentrations can be used to calculate annual average PM2.5 concentrations for cities. This
data is then weighted by population statistics to create the annual averages for countries, territories, and regions.
City level data

City level data in this report is listed using annual and monthly average PM2.5 concentrations. Monthly average PM2.5
concentrations are calculated using the average of all hourly average PM2.5 concentrations collected within the city’s
boundaries during a given month. This method assures consistent weighting of data from different monitoring stations
at different hours. Annual average PM2.5 concentrations are calculated in a similar manner, using the average of all
hourly average PM2.5 concentrations collected within the city’s boundaries for that year.
Country/region data
Annual average PM2.5 concentrations for countries, territories, and regions are determined based on the city-level
annual average PM2.5 concentration and the total population of all represented cities within a country, territory, or
region. Cities with insufficient PM2.5 data do not have their populations represented in these population aggregations.
Throughout the remainder of this section, “area” will be used in place of “country, territory and region.”
IQAir aims to present an overview of the global state of air quality in a way that is conducive for meaningful comparisons
of ambient air quality conditions in different locations with an emphasis on airborne pollutant exposure and the effects
on human health. Consequently, a simple average calculation of all city-level PM2.5 concentrations within an area
would fail to offer meaningful insight into the relative air quality experienced by individuals across the area.
As such, population data for cities reporting PM2.5 concentrations is utilized to provide a more accurate representation
of the human experience of air quality in an area. Population weighting as a normalization factor can more appropriately

convey air quality conditions, such that densely populated cities are proportionately represented in an area’s reported
annual average. This method allows the air quality information collected in cities with larger populations to have a
greater influence on the annual average PM2.5 concentration of an area. This more accurately reflects individual human
experiences in the local area and provides context to air quality information, facilitating global comparisons.
The calculation below is used to determine the annual average PM2.5 concentration in an area based on the city-level
PM2.5 data and weighed using city populations to add global context.
Σ city mean PM2.5 (µg/m³) X city population

Total regional population covered by available city data
Data availability
Annual data availability was the primary metric used to determine whether a city’s reported average annual PM2.5
concentration was representative of the city’s actual air quality conditions. The threshold for inclusion in the 2022 World
Air Quality Report was 60 percent, meaning that cities must have hourly average PM2.5 data for at least 60 percent of
the year (at minimum 5,256 hours out of a possible 8,760 hours) for their data to be included in the report.
The 2022 data availability for PM2.5 data used in this report is summarized below.
Number of reported cities

grouped by annual data availability
> 95% 996

cities
90% - 95%
3,761 cities 1,556 cities
75% - 90%
1,010
cities
60% - 75%
The pie chart shows the distribution of the total number

of reported cities (7,323) by annual data availability.
Disclaimer
The PM2.5 data presented in this report is derived from ground-level air quality monitoring stations that include both
regulatory-grade monitors and low-cost sensors. All data was collected in the 2022 calendar year.
IQAir is a politically independent organization. Maps, graphs, and other content included in this report are intended to
provide insight into the global data set and are not indicative of any political stance. Regional maps were created with
a data visualization tool.

FAQ
Why are some locations (city/country/region) not included in this ranking?
Locations without sufficient PM2.5 data availability, those not meeting the 60% inclusion criteria,
are excluded from the 2022 World Air Quality Report. The report seeks to accurately represent
the status of air quality around the world using data collected by ground-based PM2.5 monitoring
stations, and therefore does not include air quality data derived from satellites.
hy does the data provided within this report differ from the data provided by
W
my government?
City-based averages for PM2.5 can be calculated on an hourly, daily, monthly, or annual basis.
IQAir uses station hourly averages to generate a comprehensive city average, a method which
helps prevent outliers in the data from affecting the accuracy of city averaging calculations.
The PM2.5 data included in this report is aggregated from a broad range of sources, including
both government and privately operated air quality monitors. Data collected by independent
citizens using low-cost monitors is often excluded from government data sets and reports. The
inclusion of this data can yield a more comprehensive and accurate representation of the status
of air quality on a local and global level.
Why is the report missing some locations that are available on the IQAir website?
Data inclusion criteria require annual data availability of at least 60% of the total number of hours
in a year. The report only includes data from cities that meet this availability criteria to ensure a
representative presentation of air quality.
The IQAir AirVisual platform includes satellite data for locations without real-time ground-level
PM2.5 monitoring, denoting the PM2.5 values in these locations with an asterisk (*). The modeled
and satellite data on the AirVisual platform contribute to a more extensive look at real-time PM2.5
concentrations, but this data is not included in the 2022 World Air Quality Report.
Where can I find the complete city ranking of all locations included in the report?
Compete global rankings of the most polluted cities are published on the IQAir website. The
interactive set of rankings also includes monthly PM2.5 concentration averages and historical
annual PM2.5 concentration averages.
What is adequate data availability?

With many developing nations and regions still expanding and improving their air quality monitoring
capabilities, a data availability threshold of 60 percent is required for inclusion in the 2022 World
Air Quality Report. Cities represented in the report must possess at minimum, hourly PM2.5 data
from 60 percent of the total number of hours in 2022. The 60 percent data availability inclusion
criterion ensures a sufficient level of scientific rigor while also providing enough lenience to include
PM2.5 data from developing regions and budding air quality networks.

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Acknowledgments
IQAir would like to acknowledge the government agencies, researchers, educational
institutions, non-governmental organizations, and citizen scientists that operate and host air
quality monitoring stations around the globe. Their passion for air quality monitoring provides
the data basis for this report.
IQAir would like to thank the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the United
Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-HABITAT) for their collaboration, and continued
support to governments around the world to monitor air quality and engage with communities
in a collaborative spirit.
A special thanks to Greenpeace Colombia, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Türkiye, South
Korea, South Africa, and the U.S. for providing valuable insight and serving as a high-level
collaborator of this report every year.
About IQAir
IQAir is a Swiss-based air quality technology company that seeks to empower individuals,
organizations and communities to breathe cleaner air through information, collaboration and
technology solutions.
IQAir’s AirVisual global air quality information platform aggregates, validates and calibrates
air quality data from a wide variety of sources, including governments, private citizens and
organizations. The AirVisual platform supports the free integration of air quality data from a
wide variety of data sources and monitoring devices.
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Contents

About this report ............................................................................................................. 3

2 | 2022 World Air Quality Report

3 | 2022 World Air Quality Report

4 | 2022 World Air Quality Report

5 | 2022 World Air Quality Report

6 | 2022 World Air Quality Report

2022 World Air Quality Report visualization framework

7 | 2022 World Air Quality Report

2022 global map color coded by annual average PM2.5 concentration

8 | 2022 World Air Quality Report

Kyiv’s Department of Ecology and Natural Resources

9 | 2022 World Air Quality Report

Community air quality monitoring in Chile

10 | 2022 World Air Quality Report

1 Chad 89.7 45 Türkiye 21.1 89 Spain 10.9

11 | 2022 World Air Quality Report

12 | 2022 World Air Quality Report

13 | 2022 World Air Quality Report

3. South Korea (18.3)

4. Macau SAR (15.4)

25 5. Hong Kong SAR (14.5)

7 Wujiaqu, China 53.3 7 Naha, Japan 5.8 MONITORING STATUS

14 | 2022 World Air Quality Report

Shanghai Shenzhen Chongqing

met the WHO annual guideline of 5 μg/m3. 80%

Annual hours spent at different PM2.5 pollution levels

15 | 2022 World Air Quality Report

Daegu Daejeon Ulsan

16 | 2022 World Air Quality Report

9 Pak Nam, Thailand 30.4 9 Tra Vinh, Vietnam 5.5

17 | 2022 World Air Quality Report

HIGHLIGHT: RETIRING COAL-FIRED POWER PLANTS 13%

Annual hours spent at different PM2.5 pollution levels

18 | 2022 World Air Quality Report

PROGRESS Kuala Lumpur

picture of the air breathed by its citizens. 33.4%

HIGHLIGHT: PUNISHING POLLUTERS 20%

19 | 2022 World Air Quality Report

zero of which met the WHO guidelines of 5 μg/m3. 16.4%

HIGHLIGHT: AIR QUALITY IN THE CAPITAL 22.1%

20 | 2022 World Air Quality Report

CHALLENGES 21.5% 22.6%

HIGHLIGHT: REDUCING POLLUTION

Annual hours spent at different PM2.5 pollution levels

21 | 2022 World Air Quality Report

15 10. Turkmenistan (21.6)

10 11. Sri Lanka (20.7)

12. Maldives (10.9)

22 | 2022 World Air Quality Report

PROGRESS New Delhi

HIGHLIGHT: LACK OF A NATIONAL EMISSION INVENTORY

23 | 2022 World Air Quality Report

HIGHLIGHT: AIR QUALITY MONITORING AND POLLUTION 28%

REDUCTION EFFORTS 30%

24 | 2022 World Air Quality Report

4. United Arab Emirates (45.9)

6. Saudi Arabia (41.5)