Capital city in Australian Capital Territory, Australia

Air quality in Canberra

Updated October 2026Sources

14PM2.5 µg/m³, yearly

Moderate

The annual average PM2.5 in Canberra was 14 µg/m³ in 2019, about 2.8 times the WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³. Smoke from regional bushfires can degrade air in some summers; otherwise clean.

Key facts

PM2.5: 14 µg/m³ yearly average (2019). Measured at Canberra.
PM10: 22 µg/m³ (2019).
Nitrogen dioxide: 9 µg/m³ (2019), mostly from traffic.

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 Canberra bad?

Moderate: 14 µg/m³ of PM2.5 on average, 2.8× the WHO guideline.

When is the air worst in Canberra?

Smoke from regional bushfires can degrade air in some summers; otherwise clean.

How does Canberra compare with the rest of Australia?

People in Australia breathe 6 µg/m³ of PM2.5 on average (2023, World Bank/WHO), against 14 µg/m³ measured here.

More about Canberra

Going to Canberra solo?

SoloSquare is where travelers, nomads and locals in Canberra meet up for small plans: coffee, dinners, walks and day trips. Join one, or start your own in a minute.

See plans in Canberra

Sources

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 Spotted something out of date?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.