City in Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, France
Air quality in Marseille
Moderate
The annual average PM2.5 in Marseille was 11 µg/m³ in 2021, about 2.2 times the WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³. Port traffic, shipping and summer ozone can push PM2.5 and ozone up; the mistral usually clears the air.
Key facts
- PM2.5: 11 µg/m³ yearly average (2021). Measured at Marseille.
- PM10: 22 µg/m³ (2021).
- Nitrogen dioxide: 29 µg/m³ (2021), mostly from traffic.
- Worst months: Jul–Aug.
- Recent average: 11.8 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 France
| Place | PM2.5 | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Montpellier | 7 µg/m³ | Fairly clean |
| Provence | 9 µg/m³ | Fairly clean |
| Aix-en-Provence | 9 µg/m³ | Fairly clean |
| Nice | 10 µg/m³ | Fairly clean |
| French Riviera | 10 µg/m³ | Fairly clean |
| Bordeaux | 10 µg/m³ | Fairly clean |
| Annecy | 10 µg/m³ | Fairly clean |
| Toulouse | 10 µg/m³ | Fairly clean |
| Loire Valley | 10 µg/m³ | Fairly clean |
| Normandy | 10 µg/m³ | Fairly clean |
| Avignon | 10 µg/m³ | Fairly clean |
| Antibes | 10 µg/m³ | Fairly clean |
| Nantes | 10 µg/m³ | Fairly clean |
| Brittany | 10 µg/m³ | Fairly clean |
| Lyon | 11 µg/m³ | Moderate |
| Marseille | 11 µg/m³ | Moderate |
| Strasbourg | 11 µg/m³ | Moderate |
| Paris | 13 µg/m³ | Moderate |
| Lille | 13 µg/m³ | Moderate |
| Biarritz | 13.8 µg/m³ | Moderate |
| Cannes | 19.9 µg/m³ | Polluted |
Quick answers
Is the air in Marseille bad?
Moderate: 11 µg/m³ of PM2.5 on average, 2.2× the WHO guideline. It's usually worst in Jul–Aug.
When is the air worst in Marseille?
Port traffic, shipping and summer ozone can push PM2.5 and ozone up; the mistral usually clears the air.
How does Marseille compare with the rest of France?
People in France breathe 8 µg/m³ of PM2.5 on average (2023, World Bank/WHO), against 11 µg/m³ measured here.
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Sources
- WHO Ambient Air Quality Database
- WHO air quality guidelines (2021)
- Live air quality map (WAQI)
- RTM Marseille
- Marseille tourist office
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 Spotted something out of date?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.