Capital city in Beirut Governorate, Lebanon
Air quality in Beirut
Polluted
The annual average PM2.5 in Beirut was 19 µg/m³ in 2016, about 3.8 times the WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³. Generator exhaust and traffic haze can be heavy in summer; dust storms from the desert occasionally blow in.
Key facts
- PM2.5: 19 µg/m³ yearly average (2016). Measured at Beirut.
- PM10: 55 µg/m³ (2016).
- Worst months: Jul–Aug.
- Recent average: 23.2 µg/m³ over the last five years of measurements.
PM2.5 by year
| Year | Annual average |
|---|---|
| 2016 | |
| 2015 | |
| 2014 | |
| 2012 |
Quick answers
Is the air in Beirut bad?
Polluted: 19 µg/m³ of PM2.5 on average, 3.8× the WHO guideline. It's usually worst in Jul–Aug.
When is the air worst in Beirut?
Generator exhaust and traffic haze can be heavy in summer; dust storms from the desert occasionally blow in.
How does Beirut compare with the rest of Lebanon?
People in Lebanon breathe 27 µg/m³ of PM2.5 on average (2023, World Bank/WHO), against 19 µg/m³ measured here.
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Sources
- WHO Ambient Air Quality Database
- WHO air quality guidelines (2021)
- Live air quality map (WAQI)
- Beirut–Rafic Hariri International Airport
- Lebanon General Security
- AUBMC
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 Spotted something out of date?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.