City in Catalonia, Spain
Air quality in Barcelona
Moderate
The annual average PM2.5 in Barcelona was 12 µg/m³ in 2021, about 2.4 times the WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³. Traffic pollution often exceeds WHO limits near main roads, with occasional winter episodes; usually clean on the coast.
Key facts
- PM2.5: 12 µg/m³ yearly average (2021). Measured at Barcelona.
- PM10: 22 µg/m³ (2021).
- Nitrogen dioxide: 23 µg/m³ (2021), mostly from traffic.
- Recent average: 14 µg/m³ over the last five years of measurements.
PM2.5 by year
| Year | Annual average |
|---|---|
| 2021 | |
| 2020 | |
| 2019 | |
| 2018 | |
| 2017 | |
| 2016 | |
| 2015 |
Air quality across Spain
| Place | PM2.5 | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Gran Canaria | 5 µg/m³ | Meets the WHO guideline |
| Lanzarote | 7 µg/m³ | Fairly clean |
| Benidorm | 7.9 µg/m³ | Fairly clean |
| Málaga | 8 µg/m³ | Fairly clean |
| Costa del Sol | 8 µg/m³ | Fairly clean |
| Las Palmas | 8 µg/m³ | Fairly clean |
| Salamanca | 8 µg/m³ | Fairly clean |
| Torremolinos | 8 µg/m³ | Fairly clean |
| Cádiz | 8.5 µg/m³ | Fairly clean |
| Tenerife | 9 µg/m³ | Fairly clean |
| Santiago de Compostela | 9 µg/m³ | Fairly clean |
| Toledo | 9.8 µg/m³ | Fairly clean |
| Madrid | 10 µg/m³ | Fairly clean |
| Bilbao | 10 µg/m³ | Fairly clean |
| Alicante | 10 µg/m³ | Fairly clean |
| Fuerteventura | 10 µg/m³ | Fairly clean |
| Costa Blanca | 10 µg/m³ | Fairly clean |
| Palma | 10.6 µg/m³ | Moderate |
| Seville | 11 µg/m³ | Moderate |
| Valencia | 11 µg/m³ | Moderate |
| Maspalomas | 11.3 µg/m³ | Moderate |
| Barcelona | 12 µg/m³ | Moderate |
| Córdoba | 12 µg/m³ | Moderate |
| Marbella | 12.6 µg/m³ | Moderate |
| Granada | 13 µg/m³ | Moderate |
| Murcia | 13.2 µg/m³ | Moderate |
Quick answers
Is the air in Barcelona bad?
Moderate: 12 µg/m³ of PM2.5 on average, 2.4× the WHO guideline.
When is the air worst in Barcelona?
Traffic pollution often exceeds WHO limits near main roads, with occasional winter episodes; usually clean on the coast.
How does Barcelona compare with the rest of Spain?
People in Spain breathe 10 µg/m³ of PM2.5 on average (2023, World Bank/WHO), against 12 µg/m³ measured here.
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Sources
- WHO Ambient Air Quality Database
- WHO air quality guidelines (2021)
- Live air quality map (WAQI)
- TMB (Barcelona metro and bus)
- Barcelona Turisme
- Hospital Clínic de Barcelona
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.