City in West Bengal, India
Air quality in Kolkata
Severely polluted
The annual average PM2.5 in Kolkata was 48 µg/m³ in 2021, about 9.6 times the WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³. Winter smog from traffic and burning can reach unhealthy levels in Nov–Jan.
Key facts
- PM2.5: 48 µg/m³ yearly average (2021). Measured at Kolkata.
- PM10: 107 µg/m³ (2021).
- Nitrogen dioxide: 36 µg/m³ (2021), mostly from traffic.
- Worst months: Nov–Jan.
- Recent average: 66.4 µg/m³ over the last five years of measurements.
PM2.5 by year
| Year | Annual average |
|---|---|
| 2021 | |
| 2020 | |
| 2019 | |
| 2018 | |
| 2017 | |
| 2016 | |
| 2015 |
Air quality across India
| Place | PM2.5 | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Manali | 13 µg/m³ | Moderate |
| Pondicherry | 20 µg/m³ | Polluted |
| Mysore | 20 µg/m³ | Polluted |
| Dharamshala | 22 µg/m³ | Polluted |
| Shimla | 22 µg/m³ | Polluted |
| Madurai | 25 µg/m³ | Polluted |
| Goa | 26 µg/m³ | Very polluted |
| Chennai | 26 µg/m³ | Very polluted |
| Darjeeling | 28 µg/m³ | Very polluted |
| Kochi | 30 µg/m³ | Very polluted |
| Bangalore | 31 µg/m³ | Very polluted |
| Kovalam | 35 µg/m³ | Very polluted |
| Hyderabad | 39 µg/m³ | Severely polluted |
| Pushkar | 45 µg/m³ | Severely polluted |
| Pune | 45 µg/m³ | Severely polluted |
| Ahmedabad | 46 µg/m³ | Severely polluted |
| Kolkata | 48 µg/m³ | Severely polluted |
| Mumbai | 49.5 µg/m³ | Severely polluted |
| Amritsar | 51 µg/m³ | Severely polluted |
| Bodh Gaya | 52 µg/m³ | Severely polluted |
| Udaipur | 55 µg/m³ | Severely polluted |
| Jaipur | 58 µg/m³ | Severely polluted |
| Varanasi | 60 µg/m³ | Severely polluted |
| Jodhpur | 75 µg/m³ | Severely polluted |
| Agra | 85 µg/m³ | Severely polluted |
| Delhi | 107 µg/m³ | Severely polluted |
| Srinagar | 113 µg/m³ | Severely polluted |
| Gurgaon | 120 µg/m³ | Severely polluted |
Quick answers
Is the air in Kolkata bad?
Severely polluted: 48 µg/m³ of PM2.5 on average, 9.6× the WHO guideline. It's usually worst in Nov–Jan.
When is the air worst in Kolkata?
Winter smog from traffic and burning can reach unhealthy levels in Nov–Jan.
How does Kolkata compare with the rest of India?
People in India breathe 54 µg/m³ of PM2.5 on average (2023, World Bank/WHO), against 48 µg/m³ measured here.
More about Kolkata
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Sources
- WHO Ambient Air Quality Database
- WHO air quality guidelines (2021)
- Live air quality map (WAQI)
- Kolkata Metro Railway
- West Bengal Tourism
- Kolkata Airport (Airports Authority of India)
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.