City in New South Wales, Australia
Air quality in Sydney
Moderate
The annual average PM2.5 in Sydney was 11 µg/m³ in 2019, about 2.2 times the WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³. Mostly clean. Bushfire or hazard-reduction smoke can drift over the city in summer and autumn.
Key facts
- PM2.5: 11 µg/m³ yearly average (2019). Measured at Sydney.
- PM10: 24 µg/m³ (2019).
- Nitrogen dioxide: 15 µg/m³ (2019), mostly from traffic.
- Recent average: 9 µg/m³ over the last five years of measurements.
PM2.5 by year
| Year | Annual average |
|---|---|
| 2019 | |
| 2016 | |
| 2015 | |
| 2014 | |
| 2013 |
Air quality across Australia
| Place | PM2.5 | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Hobart | 4.9 µg/m³ | Meets the WHO guideline |
| Sunshine Coast | 5.5 µg/m³ | Fairly clean |
| Gold Coast | 5.6 µg/m³ | Fairly clean |
| Magnetic Island | 5.6 µg/m³ | Fairly clean |
| Cairns | 5.8 µg/m³ | Fairly clean |
| Fremantle | 5.9 µg/m³ | Fairly clean |
| Adelaide | 6 µg/m³ | Fairly clean |
| Launceston | 6.2 µg/m³ | Fairly clean |
| Perth | 7 µg/m³ | Fairly clean |
| Melbourne | 7.9 µg/m³ | Fairly clean |
| Brisbane | 8 µg/m³ | Fairly clean |
| Darwin | 9 µg/m³ | Fairly clean |
| Sydney | 11 µg/m³ | Moderate |
| Newcastle | 11 µg/m³ | Moderate |
| Canberra | 14 µg/m³ | Moderate |
Quick answers
Is the air in Sydney bad?
Moderate: 11 µg/m³ of PM2.5 on average, 2.2× the WHO guideline.
When is the air worst in Sydney?
Mostly clean. Bushfire or hazard-reduction smoke can drift over the city in summer and autumn.
How does Sydney compare with the rest of Australia?
People in Australia breathe 6 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)
- Transport for NSW
- Sydney Airport
- Destination NSW (Sydney)
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 Spotted something out of date?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.