City in Queensland, Australia
Air quality in Brisbane
Fairly clean
The annual average PM2.5 in Brisbane was 8 µg/m³ in 2019, about 1.6 times the WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³. Generally clean. Smoke from controlled burns in winter is occasional.
Key facts
- PM2.5: 8 µg/m³ yearly average (2019). Measured at Brisbane.
- PM10: 20 µg/m³ (2019).
- Nitrogen dioxide: 8 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 | |
| 2016 | |
| 2015 | |
| 2014 |
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 Brisbane bad?
Fairly clean: 8 µg/m³ of PM2.5 on average, 1.6× the WHO guideline.
When is the air worst in Brisbane?
Generally clean. Smoke from controlled burns in winter is occasional.
How does Brisbane compare with the rest of Australia?
People in Australia breathe 6 µg/m³ of PM2.5 on average (2023, World Bank/WHO), against 8 µg/m³ measured here.
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Sources
- WHO Ambient Air Quality Database
- WHO air quality guidelines (2021)
- Live air quality map (WAQI)
- TransLink Queensland
- Brisbane Airport
- Visit Brisbane
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 Spotted something out of date?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.