City in South Australia, Australia
Air quality in Adelaide
Fairly clean
The annual average PM2.5 in Adelaide was 6 µg/m³ in 2019, about 1.2 times the WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³. Usually clean. Bushfire smoke can drift in during summer.
Key facts
- PM2.5: 6 µg/m³ yearly average (2019). Measured at Adelaide.
- PM10: 21 µg/m³ (2019).
- Nitrogen dioxide: 12 µg/m³ (2019), mostly from traffic.
- Recent average: 7 µg/m³ over the last five years of measurements.
PM2.5 by year
| Year | Annual average |
|---|---|
| 2019 | |
| 2018 | |
| 2017 | |
| 2016 | |
| 2015 | |
| 2014 | |
| 2013 |
Air quality across Australia
| Place | PM2.5 | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Hobart | 4.9 µg/m³ | Meets the WHO guideline |
| Sunshine Coast | 5.5 µg/m³ | Fairly clean |
| Gold Coast | 5.6 µg/m³ | Fairly clean |
| Magnetic Island | 5.6 µg/m³ | Fairly clean |
| Cairns | 5.8 µg/m³ | Fairly clean |
| Fremantle | 5.9 µg/m³ | Fairly clean |
| Adelaide | 6 µg/m³ | Fairly clean |
| Launceston | 6.2 µg/m³ | Fairly clean |
| Perth | 7 µg/m³ | Fairly clean |
| Melbourne | 7.9 µg/m³ | Fairly clean |
| Brisbane | 8 µg/m³ | Fairly clean |
| Darwin | 9 µg/m³ | Fairly clean |
| Sydney | 11 µg/m³ | Moderate |
| Newcastle | 11 µg/m³ | Moderate |
| Canberra | 14 µg/m³ | Moderate |
Quick answers
Is the air in Adelaide bad?
Fairly clean: 6 µg/m³ of PM2.5 on average, 1.2× the WHO guideline.
When is the air worst in Adelaide?
Usually clean. Bushfire smoke can drift in during summer.
How does Adelaide compare with the rest of Australia?
People in Australia breathe 6 µg/m³ of PM2.5 on average (2023, World Bank/WHO), against 6 µg/m³ measured here.
More about Adelaide
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Sources
- WHO Ambient Air Quality Database
- WHO air quality guidelines (2021)
- Live air quality map (WAQI)
- Adelaide Metro
- Adelaide Airport
- South Australian Tourism Commission
Annual averages are measured values reported to the WHO; check a live map for today's air. Compiled and reviewed by SoloSquare. How we compile and score this. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.