City in Costa del Sol, Spain
Air quality in Málaga
Fairly clean
The annual average PM2.5 in Málaga was 8 µg/m³ in 2021, about 1.6 times the WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³. Saharan dust (calima) and summer haze can reduce air quality; usually clean with sea breezes.
Key facts
- PM2.5: 8 µg/m³ yearly average (2021). Measured at Málaga.
- Nitrogen dioxide: 17 µg/m³ (2021), mostly from traffic.
Air quality across Spain
| Place | PM2.5 | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Gran Canaria | 5 µg/m³ | Meets the WHO guideline |
| Lanzarote | 7 µg/m³ | Fairly clean |
| Benidorm | 7.9 µg/m³ | Fairly clean |
| Málaga | 8 µg/m³ | Fairly clean |
| Costa del Sol | 8 µg/m³ | Fairly clean |
| Las Palmas | 8 µg/m³ | Fairly clean |
| Salamanca | 8 µg/m³ | Fairly clean |
| Torremolinos | 8 µg/m³ | Fairly clean |
| Cádiz | 8.5 µg/m³ | Fairly clean |
| Tenerife | 9 µg/m³ | Fairly clean |
| Santiago de Compostela | 9 µg/m³ | Fairly clean |
| Toledo | 9.8 µg/m³ | Fairly clean |
| Madrid | 10 µg/m³ | Fairly clean |
| Bilbao | 10 µg/m³ | Fairly clean |
| Alicante | 10 µg/m³ | Fairly clean |
| Fuerteventura | 10 µg/m³ | Fairly clean |
| Costa Blanca | 10 µg/m³ | Fairly clean |
| Palma | 10.6 µg/m³ | Moderate |
| Seville | 11 µg/m³ | Moderate |
| Valencia | 11 µg/m³ | Moderate |
| Maspalomas | 11.3 µg/m³ | Moderate |
| Barcelona | 12 µg/m³ | Moderate |
| Córdoba | 12 µg/m³ | Moderate |
| Marbella | 12.6 µg/m³ | Moderate |
| Granada | 13 µg/m³ | Moderate |
| Murcia | 13.2 µg/m³ | Moderate |
Quick answers
Is the air in Málaga bad?
Fairly clean: 8 µg/m³ of PM2.5 on average, 1.6× the WHO guideline.
When is the air worst in Málaga?
Saharan dust (calima) and summer haze can reduce air quality; usually clean with sea breezes.
How does Málaga compare with the rest of Spain?
People in Spain breathe 10 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)
- EMT Málaga
- Metro Málaga
- Málaga Airport (Aena)
- Visit Málaga
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 Spotted something out of date?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.