City in Uttar Pradesh, India
Air quality in Varanasi
Severely polluted
The annual average PM2.5 in Varanasi was 60 µg/m³ in 2021, about 12.0 times the WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³. Winter smog from burning and traffic; Dec–Jan can be unhealthy and foggy.
Key facts
- PM2.5: 60 µg/m³ yearly average (2021). Measured at Varanasi.
- PM10: 133 µg/m³ (2021).
- Nitrogen dioxide: 34 µg/m³ (2021), mostly from traffic.
- Worst months: Nov–Jan.
- Recent average: 83 µg/m³ over the last five years of measurements.
PM2.5 by year
| Year | Annual average |
|---|---|
| 2021 | |
| 2017 | |
| 2016 | |
| 2015 |
Air quality across India
| Place | PM2.5 | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Manali | 13 µg/m³ | Moderate |
| Pondicherry | 20 µg/m³ | Polluted |
| Mysore | 20 µg/m³ | Polluted |
| Dharamshala | 22 µg/m³ | Polluted |
| Shimla | 22 µg/m³ | Polluted |
| Madurai | 25 µg/m³ | Polluted |
| Goa | 26 µg/m³ | Very polluted |
| Chennai | 26 µg/m³ | Very polluted |
| Darjeeling | 28 µg/m³ | Very polluted |
| Kochi | 30 µg/m³ | Very polluted |
| Bangalore | 31 µg/m³ | Very polluted |
| Kovalam | 35 µg/m³ | Very polluted |
| Hyderabad | 39 µg/m³ | Severely polluted |
| Pushkar | 45 µg/m³ | Severely polluted |
| Pune | 45 µg/m³ | Severely polluted |
| Ahmedabad | 46 µg/m³ | Severely polluted |
| Kolkata | 48 µg/m³ | Severely polluted |
| Mumbai | 49.5 µg/m³ | Severely polluted |
| Amritsar | 51 µg/m³ | Severely polluted |
| Bodh Gaya | 52 µg/m³ | Severely polluted |
| Udaipur | 55 µg/m³ | Severely polluted |
| Jaipur | 58 µg/m³ | Severely polluted |
| Varanasi | 60 µg/m³ | Severely polluted |
| Jodhpur | 75 µg/m³ | Severely polluted |
| Agra | 85 µg/m³ | Severely polluted |
| Delhi | 107 µg/m³ | Severely polluted |
| Srinagar | 113 µg/m³ | Severely polluted |
| Gurgaon | 120 µg/m³ | Severely polluted |
Quick answers
Is the air in Varanasi bad?
Severely polluted: 60 µg/m³ of PM2.5 on average, 12.0× the WHO guideline. It's usually worst in Nov–Jan.
When is the air worst in Varanasi?
Winter smog from burning and traffic; Dec–Jan can be unhealthy and foggy.
How does Varanasi compare with the rest of India?
People in India breathe 54 µg/m³ of PM2.5 on average (2023, World Bank/WHO), against 60 µg/m³ measured here.
More about Varanasi
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Sources
- WHO Ambient Air Quality Database
- WHO air quality guidelines (2021)
- Live air quality map (WAQI)
- Uttar Pradesh Tourism
- Indian Railways (IRCTC)
- Varanasi Airport (Airports Authority of India)
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.