City in Eastern Cape, South Africa
Air quality in Port Elizabeth
14PM2.5 µg/m³, yearly
Moderate
The annual average PM2.5 in Port Elizabeth was 14 µg/m³ in 2021, about 2.8 times the WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³.
Key facts
- PM2.5: 14 µg/m³ yearly average (2021). Measured at Nelson Mandela Bay.
- PM10: 26 µg/m³ (2021).
- Nitrogen dioxide: 8 µg/m³ (2021), mostly from traffic.
- Recent average: 11.7 µg/m³ over the last five years of measurements.
PM2.5 by year
| Year | Annual average |
|---|---|
| 2021 | |
| 2020 | |
| 2019 |
Air quality across South Africa
| Place | PM2.5 | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Port Elizabeth | 14 µg/m³ | Moderate |
| Durban | 17 µg/m³ | Polluted |
| Johannesburg | 22.7 µg/m³ | Polluted |
Quick answers
Is the air in Port Elizabeth bad?
Moderate: 14 µg/m³ of PM2.5 on average, 2.8× the WHO guideline.
How does Port Elizabeth compare with the rest of South Africa?
People in South Africa breathe 28 µg/m³ of PM2.5 on average (2023, World Bank/WHO), against 14 µg/m³ measured here.
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Sources
- WHO Ambient Air Quality Database
- WHO air quality guidelines (2021)
- Live air quality map (WAQI)
- Airports Company South Africa
- Nelson Mandela Bay Tourism
- South African National Parks
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 Spotted something out of date?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.