City in Queensland, Australia
Air quality in Cairns
Fairly clean
The annual average PM2.5 in Cairns was 5.8 µg/m³ in 2024, about 1.2 times the WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³. Generally clean. Cane burning in the dry season can bring some smoke.
Key facts
- PM2.5: 5.8 µg/m³ yearly average (2024). Measured at Cairns.
- PM10: 16 µg/m³ (2024).
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 Cairns bad?
Fairly clean: 5.8 µg/m³ of PM2.5 on average, 1.2× the WHO guideline.
When is the air worst in Cairns?
Generally clean. Cane burning in the dry season can bring some smoke.
How does Cairns compare with the rest of Australia?
People in Australia breathe 6 µg/m³ of PM2.5 on average (2023, World Bank/WHO), against 5.8 µg/m³ measured here.
More about Cairns
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Sources
- WHO Ambient Air Quality Database
- WHO air quality guidelines (2021)
- Live air quality map (WAQI)
- Cairns Airport
- Tourism Tropical North Queensland
- TransLink Queensland
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 Spotted something out of date?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.