City in Lombardy, Italy
Air quality in Milan
Polluted
The annual average PM2.5 in Milan was 20 µg/m³ in 2021, about 4.0 times the WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³. The Po Valley traps pollution; PM2.5 and PM10 are often unhealthy in cold, still winter weather.
Key facts
- PM2.5: 20 µg/m³ yearly average (2021). Measured at Milano.
- PM10: 30 µg/m³ (2021).
- Nitrogen dioxide: 35 µg/m³ (2021), mostly from traffic.
- Worst months: Nov–Feb.
- Recent average: 22.4 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 Italy
| Place | PM2.5 | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Cinque Terre | 9 µg/m³ | Fairly clean |
| Syracuse | 10 µg/m³ | Fairly clean |
| Calabria | 10 µg/m³ | Fairly clean |
| Lake Maggiore | 10.2 µg/m³ | Moderate |
| Genoa | 11 µg/m³ | Moderate |
| Umbria | 11 µg/m³ | Moderate |
| Rome | 12 µg/m³ | Moderate |
| Florence | 12 µg/m³ | Moderate |
| Tuscany | 12 µg/m³ | Moderate |
| Puglia | 12 µg/m³ | Moderate |
| Bari | 12 µg/m³ | Moderate |
| Amalfi Coast | 12.8 µg/m³ | Moderate |
| Sicily | 13 µg/m³ | Moderate |
| Pisa | 13 µg/m³ | Moderate |
| Palermo | 13 µg/m³ | Moderate |
| Catania | 13 µg/m³ | Moderate |
| Lecce | 13 µg/m³ | Moderate |
| Abruzzo | 13 µg/m³ | Moderate |
| Sardinia | 13.1 µg/m³ | Moderate |
| Cagliari | 13.1 µg/m³ | Moderate |
| Lake Como | 14.8 µg/m³ | Moderate |
| Naples | 15 µg/m³ | Moderate |
| Bologna | 15 µg/m³ | Moderate |
| Rimini | 15 µg/m³ | Moderate |
| Lake Garda | 18.4 µg/m³ | Polluted |
| Bergamo | 19 µg/m³ | Polluted |
| Milan | 20 µg/m³ | Polluted |
| Verona | 20 µg/m³ | Polluted |
| Turin | 20 µg/m³ | Polluted |
| Venice | 22 µg/m³ | Polluted |
Quick answers
Is the air in Milan bad?
Polluted: 20 µg/m³ of PM2.5 on average, 4.0× the WHO guideline. It's usually worst in Nov–Feb.
When is the air worst in Milan?
The Po Valley traps pollution; PM2.5 and PM10 are often unhealthy in cold, still winter weather.
How does Milan compare with the rest of Italy?
People in Italy breathe 14 µg/m³ of PM2.5 on average (2023, World Bank/WHO), against 20 µg/m³ measured here.
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Sources
- WHO Ambient Air Quality Database
- WHO air quality guidelines (2021)
- Live air quality map (WAQI)
- ATM Milano
- Milan Airports (SEA)
- Trenord
- Comune di Milano
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.