City in Minas Gerais, Brazil
Air quality in Belo Horizonte
Very polluted
The annual average PM2.5 in Belo Horizonte was 30.1 µg/m³ in 2024, about 6.0 times the WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³. Traffic haze and dry-season fires can raise PM2.5 in Aug–Oct; air is usually fine otherwise.
Key facts
- PM2.5: 30.1 µg/m³ yearly average (2024). Measured at Belo Horizonte.
- PM10: 59.5 µg/m³ (2024).
- Nitrogen dioxide: 42.3 µg/m³ (2024), mostly from traffic.
- Recent average: 24.5 µg/m³ over the last five years of measurements.
PM2.5 by year
| Year | Annual average |
|---|---|
| 2024 | |
| 2023 | |
| 2022 | |
| 2021 | |
| 2020 | |
| 2019 | |
| 2018 |
Air quality across Brazil
| Place | PM2.5 | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Rio de Janeiro | 11 µg/m³ | Moderate |
| São Paulo | 17 µg/m³ | Polluted |
| Belo Horizonte | 30.1 µg/m³ | Very polluted |
Quick answers
Is the air in Belo Horizonte bad?
Very polluted: 30.1 µg/m³ of PM2.5 on average, 6.0× the WHO guideline.
When is the air worst in Belo Horizonte?
Traffic haze and dry-season fires can raise PM2.5 in Aug–Oct; air is usually fine otherwise.
How does Belo Horizonte compare with the rest of Brazil?
People in Brazil breathe 13 µg/m³ of PM2.5 on average (2023, World Bank/WHO), against 30.1 µg/m³ measured here.
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Sources
- WHO Ambient Air Quality Database
- WHO air quality guidelines (2021)
- Live air quality map (WAQI)
- Prefeitura de Belo Horizonte
- Metrô BH
- BH Airport (Confins)
- Inhotim
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 Spotted something out of date?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.