Capital city, Mexico
Air quality in Mexico City
Polluted
The annual average PM2.5 in Mexico City was 22 µg/m³ in 2016, about 4.4 times the WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³. Ozone and PM spikes in the dry, hot spring and during thermal inversions; contingency alerts restrict traffic. Check the SINAICA index.
Key facts
- PM2.5: 22 µg/m³ yearly average (2016). Measured at Mexico city.
- PM10: 39 µg/m³ (2016).
- Nitrogen dioxide: 28 µg/m³ (2016), mostly from traffic.
- Worst months: Feb–May.
- Recent average: 23 µg/m³ over the last five years of measurements.
PM2.5 by year
| Year | Annual average |
|---|---|
| 2016 | |
| 2015 | |
| 2014 | |
| 2013 | |
| 2012 | |
| 2011 | |
| 2010 |
Air quality across Mexico
| Place | PM2.5 | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Guanajuato | 11 µg/m³ | Moderate |
| San Miguel de Allende | 12 µg/m³ | Moderate |
| Querétaro | 13 µg/m³ | Moderate |
| Mérida | 14.6 µg/m³ | Moderate |
| Cuernavaca | 15.3 µg/m³ | Polluted |
| Morelia | 16.4 µg/m³ | Polluted |
| Puebla | 19 µg/m³ | Polluted |
| Tijuana | 20 µg/m³ | Polluted |
| Mexico City | 22 µg/m³ | Polluted |
| Oaxaca | 22 µg/m³ | Polluted |
| Monterrey | 23 µg/m³ | Polluted |
| Guadalajara | 25 µg/m³ | Polluted |
Quick answers
Is the air in Mexico City bad?
Polluted: 22 µg/m³ of PM2.5 on average, 4.4× the WHO guideline. It's usually worst in Feb–May.
When is the air worst in Mexico City?
Ozone and PM spikes in the dry, hot spring and during thermal inversions; contingency alerts restrict traffic. Check the SINAICA index.
How does Mexico City compare with the rest of Mexico?
People in Mexico breathe 17 µg/m³ of PM2.5 on average (2023, World Bank/WHO), against 22 µg/m³ measured here.
More about Mexico City
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Sources
- WHO Ambient Air Quality Database
- WHO air quality guidelines (2021)
- Live air quality map (WAQI)
- Metro CDMX
- Mexico City International Airport (AICM)
- Ecobici
- Sistema de Monitoreo Atmosférico CDMX
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 Spotted something out of date?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.