Smog in Johannesburg — Live Data: AQI, Fine Dust, Wind, UV and Health Advice

Latest air quality data: Johannesburg

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Pollution and air quality forecast for Johannesburg. Today is Thursday, August 27, 2026. The following air pollution values have been recorded for Johannesburg:

particulate matter (PM2.5) dust - 17 (Moderate)
particulate matter (PM10) suspended dust - 18 (Good)
ozone (O3) - 56 (Good)
nitrogen dioxide (NO2) - 15 (Good)
sulfur dioxide (SO2) - 28 (Good)
carbon monoxide (CO) - 218 (Good)

Real-time Air Quality Index (AQI) for Johannesburg, Thursday, August 27, 2026: 2.

AQI 2 Moderate

What is the air quality in Johannesburg today? Is the air polluted in Johannesburg?. Is there smog?

Today (Thursday, August 27, 2026) air quality is moderate in Johannesburg. Some pollutants in Johannesburg may slightly affect very few hypersensitive individuals. Air pollutants in Johannesburg may cause minor breathing discomfort to sensitive people.

What is the current level of PM2.5 in Johannesburg? (particulate matter (PM2.5) dust)
Today's PM2.5 level is: 17 (Moderate) For comparison, the highest level of PM2.5 in Johannesburg in the last 7 days was: 80 (Friday, August 21, 2026) and the lowest: 28 (Sunday, August 23, 2026).

What is the level of PM10 today in Johannesburg? (particulate matter (PM10) suspended dust)
The current level of particulate matter PM10 in Johannesburg is: 18 (Good)

How is the O3 level today in Johannesburg? (ozone (O3))
56 (Good)

How high is the level of NO2? (nitrogen dioxide (NO2))
15 (Good)

What is the level of SO2 pollution? (sulfur dioxide (SO2))
28 (Good)

How high is the CO level? (carbon monoxide (CO))
218 (Good)

Current data Thursday, August 27, 2026 at 3:00 AM

PM2,5 17 (Moderate)

PM10 18 (Good)

O3 56 (Good)

NO2 15 (Good)

SO2 28 (Good)

CO 218 (Good)

Data on air pollution from recent days in Johannesburg

index	2026-08-27	2026-08-26	2026-08-25	2026-08-24	2026-08-23	2026-08-22	2026-08-21	2026-08-20
pm25	31 Moderate	44 Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups	58 Unhealthy	30 Moderate	28 Moderate	40 Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups	80 Very Unhealthy	46 Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups
pm10	31 Moderate	45 Moderate	59 Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups	31 Moderate	29 Moderate	40 Moderate	81 Unhealthy	47 Moderate
o3	89 Moderate	72 Moderate	78 Moderate	72 Moderate	75 Moderate	66 Good	59 Good	80 Moderate
no2	22 Good	41 Moderate	48 Moderate	25 Good	23 Good	33 Good	57 Moderate	36 Good
so2	41 Good	73 Moderate	91 Moderate	44 Good	49 Good	56 Moderate	97 Moderate	69 Moderate
co	399 Good	695 Good	997 Good	651 Good	561 Good	434 Good	658 Good	914 Good

data source »

Quality of life in Johannesburg

Green and Parks in the City

Johannesburg 52%

Lesotho: 64% Namibia: 52% Botswana: 30% Zimbabwe: 41%

particulate matter PM2.5

Johannesburg 41 (Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups)

Pleasure of spending time in the city

Johannesburg 50%

Lesotho: 54% Namibia: 72% Botswana: 67% Zimbabwe: 37%

particulate matter PM10

Johannesburg 85 (Unhealthy)

Air Pollution

Johannesburg 57%

Lesotho: 46% Namibia: 32% Botswana: 36% Zimbabwe: 60%

Garbage Disposal

Johannesburg 51%

Lesotho: 18% Namibia: 65% Botswana: 55% Zimbabwe: 23%

Availability and quality of drinking water

Johannesburg 69%

Lesotho: 64% Namibia: 66% Botswana: 60% Zimbabwe: 28%

Cleanliness and tidiness

Johannesburg 32%

Lesotho: 46% Namibia: 65% Botswana: 51% Zimbabwe: 24%

Noise and Light pollution

Johannesburg 47%

Lesotho: 57% Namibia: 46% Botswana: 26% Zimbabwe: 62%

Water Pollution

Johannesburg 58%

Lesotho: 67% Namibia: 45% Botswana: 39% Zimbabwe: 85%

Source: Numbeo

Johannesburg

Thursday, August 27, 2026 at 3:00 AM

PM2,5 17 (Moderate)

particulate matter (PM2.5) dust

PM10 18 (Good)

particulate matter (PM10) suspended dust

O3 56 (Good)

ozone (O3)

NO2 15 (Good)

nitrogen dioxide (NO2)

SO2 28 (Good)

sulfur dioxide (SO2)

CO 218 (Good)

carbon monoxide (CO)

Johannesburg

index	2026-08-20	2026-08-21	2026-08-22	2026-08-23	2026-08-24	2026-08-25	2026-08-26	2026-08-27
pm25	46	80	40	28	30	58	44	31
pm10	47	81	40	29	31	59	45	31
o3	80	59	66	75	72	78	72	89
no2	36	57	33	23	25	48	41	22
so2	69	97	56	49	44	91	73	41
co	914	658	434	561	651	997	695	399

* Pollution data source: https://openaq.org () The data is licensed under CC-By 4.0

🌦️ Weather · 16-day Forecast — Johannesburg

16-day weather forecast for Johannesburg: today around 23°C (clear sky), lows near 12°C. Daily temperature and conditions, updated every day. A moderate breeze (about 13 km/h) is partially dispersing pollutants today.

☀️ UV Index · 16-day Forecast — Johannesburg

The UV index in Johannesburg today is 6.8 (high) — unprotected fair skin can burn in about 30 minutes.

📍 Air quality in nearby cities

Live PM2.5 around Johannesburg — compare nearby locations.

Soweto 17 µg/m³
Benoni 16 µg/m³
Tembisa 16 µg/m³
Krugersdorp 8 µg/m³
Centurion 11 µg/m³
Pretoria 8 µg/m³
Cape Town 105 µg/m³
Durban 15 µg/m³

Frequently asked questions

Is the air safe to breathe in Johannesburg today?

The current average PM2.5 across Johannesburg is about 17 µg/m³, rated “Moderate”. Air quality is acceptable, but unusually sensitive people should limit prolonged outdoor exertion.

What is the current PM2.5 level in Johannesburg?

Right now PM2.5 in Johannesburg averages about 17 µg/m³ (“Moderate”). PM2.5 are fine particles small enough to reach the lungs and bloodstream.

Which day last week had the worst air in Johannesburg?

Over the past week, the highest daily PM2.5 in Johannesburg was recorded on Friday, August 21 (about 80 µg/m³).

What is the UV index in Johannesburg today?

The UV index in Johannesburg today is 6.8 (high) — unprotected fair skin can burn in about 30 minutes.

Does today's wind help disperse smog in Johannesburg?

A moderate breeze (about 13 km/h) is partially dispersing pollutants today.

How is air quality measured?

Air quality here is based on PM2.5 — the concentration of fine particulate matter in µg/m³. Lower values mean cleaner air. Data is updated daily from Open-Meteo.