City in Sabah, Malaysia
Air quality in Kota Kinabalu
Moderate
The annual average PM2.5 in Kota Kinabalu was 15 µg/m³ in 2012, about 3.0 times the WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³. Occasional haze from regional fires in Aug–Oct; otherwise air is clean.
Key facts
- PM2.5: 15 µg/m³ yearly average (2012). Measured at Kota Kinabalu.
Air quality across Malaysia
| Place | PM2.5 | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Kota Kinabalu | 15 µg/m³ | Moderate |
| Penang | 21 µg/m³ | Polluted |
| Malacca | 25 µg/m³ | Polluted |
| Kuala Lumpur | 28.3 µg/m³ | Very polluted |
Quick answers
Is the air in Kota Kinabalu bad?
Moderate: 15 µg/m³ of PM2.5 on average, 3.0× the WHO guideline.
When is the air worst in Kota Kinabalu?
Occasional haze from regional fires in Aug–Oct; otherwise air is clean.
How does Kota Kinabalu compare with the rest of Malaysia?
People in Malaysia breathe 16 µg/m³ of PM2.5 on average (2023, World Bank/WHO), against 15 µg/m³ measured here.
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Sources
- WHO Ambient Air Quality Database
- WHO air quality guidelines (2021)
- Live air quality map (WAQI)
- Kota Kinabalu International Airport (Malaysia Airports)
- Sabah Parks (Mount Kinabalu)
- Gleneagles Hospital Kota Kinabalu
- Grab Malaysia
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 Spotted something out of date?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.