City in British Columbia, Canada
Air quality in Vancouver
Fairly clean
The annual average PM2.5 in Vancouver was 6 µg/m³ in 2023, about 1.2 times the WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³. Usually clean; wildfire smoke from BC interior fires can make Jul–Sep air unhealthy for days.
Key facts
- PM2.5: 6 µg/m³ yearly average (2023). Measured at Vancouver.
- Nitrogen dioxide: 30 µg/m³ (2023), mostly from traffic.
- Worst months: Jul–Sep.
- Recent average: 6.8 µg/m³ over the last five years of measurements.
PM2.5 by year
| Year | Annual average |
|---|---|
| 2023 | |
| 2022 | |
| 2021 | |
| 2020 | |
| 2019 | |
| 2018 | |
| 2017 |
Air quality across Canada
| Place | PM2.5 | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Prince Edward Island | 4 µg/m³ | Meets the WHO guideline |
| Whistler | 5 µg/m³ | Meets the WHO guideline |
| Vancouver | 6 µg/m³ | Fairly clean |
| Victoria | 6 µg/m³ | Fairly clean |
| Halifax | 6 µg/m³ | Fairly clean |
| Edmonton | 6 µg/m³ | Fairly clean |
| Toronto | 7 µg/m³ | Fairly clean |
| Montreal | 7 µg/m³ | Fairly clean |
| Calgary | 7 µg/m³ | Fairly clean |
| Niagara Falls | 8 µg/m³ | Fairly clean |
| Quebec City | 8 µg/m³ | Fairly clean |
| Ottawa | 9 µg/m³ | Fairly clean |
| Kelowna | 10 µg/m³ | Fairly clean |
| Yellowknife | 25 µg/m³ | Polluted |
Quick answers
Is the air in Vancouver bad?
Fairly clean: 6 µg/m³ of PM2.5 on average, 1.2× the WHO guideline. It's usually worst in Jul–Sep.
When is the air worst in Vancouver?
Usually clean; wildfire smoke from BC interior fires can make Jul–Sep air unhealthy for days.
How does Vancouver compare with the rest of Canada?
People in Canada breathe 7 µg/m³ of PM2.5 on average (2023, World Bank/WHO), against 6 µg/m³ measured here.
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Sources
- WHO Ambient Air Quality Database
- WHO air quality guidelines (2021)
- Live air quality map (WAQI)
- TransLink
- Vancouver Airport (YVR)
- Vancouver Coastal Health
- Mobi Bike Share
- City of Vancouver
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 Spotted something out of date?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.