Worst air pollution Kinshasa, today and tomorrow
Today (9 August): Air quality in Kinshasa is fair. NO2, O3, and HCHO are fair; AQI, PM2.5, and PM1 are medium; PM10, SO2, and CO are good. Pollution peaks around 7:00 AM (PM1: 47.6/100).
Tomorrow (10 August 2026): Air quality in Kinshasa is fair. PM2.5 increases to fair; all other pollutants stay as today. Pollution peaks around 4:00 PM (PM1: 40.5/100). Airmine updates local air quality forecasts four times daily.
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Developed with support from the European Space Agency (ESA)’s Business Applications and Space Solutions (BASS) team
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Kinshasa's air quality reflects the flat Congo River basin position at 310 metres, with vehicle traffic on surrounding roads and the extraordinary vehicle density, charcoal burning, and informal industrial corridor generating elevated PM2.5 and black carbon. The equatorial climate's frequent convective rain provides periodic cleansing, while dry season biomass burning from the Congo Basin contributes regional background and Kinshasa generally maintains moderate to elevated Central African capital readings throughout most of the year.
Today - 9 August | Pollution peaks at 07:00
AQI:
Medium
47.6/100
PM2.5 (fine particles):
Medium
44.1/100
PM10 (coarse particles):
Good
17.0/100
NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):
Fair
30.8/100
O3 (ozone):
Fair
34.9/100
SO2 (sulfur dioxide):
Good
4.7/100
CO (carbon monoxide):
Good
0.0/100
HCHO (formaldehyde):
Fair
31.6/100
PM1 (ultrafine particles):
Medium
47.6/100
Levels show the poorest local air quality during the day
Tomorrow - 10 August | Pollution peaks at 16:00
AQI:
Medium
40.5/100
PM2.5 (fine particles):
Fair
35.2/100
PM10 (coarse particles):
Good
10.3/100
NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):
Fair
29.3/100
O3 (ozone):
Fair
33.5/100
SO2 (sulfur dioxide):
Good
4.3/100
CO (carbon monoxide):
Good
0.0/100
HCHO (formaldehyde):
Fair
24.7/100
PM1 (ultrafine particles):
Medium
40.5/100
Frequently Asked Questions
Is air quality bad in Kinshasa right now?
On 9 August 2026, overall air quality in Kinshasa is fair. O3 is the main pollutant at 34.9/100. Pollution peaks around 7:00 AM (PM1: 47.6/100).
Will air quality be worse tomorrow in Kinshasa?
On 10 August 2026, air quality conditions in Kinshasa will be similar to today, with PM2.5 forecast at fair at 35.2/100. Pollution peaks around 4:00 PM (PM1: 40.5/100).
When is air pollution at its worst in Kinshasa?
Kinshasa usually sees its poorest air quality when road traffic together with small-scale charcoal production coincide with periods when dry, windy weather picks up. Strong seasonal winds can lift dust from the surrounding dry terrain and push particulate levels sharply higher. Coal and wood used for winter heating add substantially to particulate levels.
Are air quality levels in Kinshasa based on measurements or forecasts?
It is forecasts derived by downscaling forecasts provided by EU’s Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service (CAMS) by taking into account local conditions such as traffic patterns. CAMS bases its forecast on satellite measurements of particles and chemical compounds in the atmosphere. Airmine’s services were developed with support from the European Space Agency (ESA)’s Business Applications and Space Solutions (BASS) team.
Why doesn’t the forecast always reflect wildfire impacts?
Airmine’s forecast uses CAMS (Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service) as its background atmospheric model. While CAMS includes wildfire emissions, these are derived from satellite observations and are not available in real time. During rapidly evolving wildfire events, there may therefore be a delay before increased emissions are incorporated into the model. As a result, the forecast may temporarily underestimate PM₂.₅ and other pollutants associated with wildfire smoke.
During rapidly evolving wildfire events, CAMS may lag by approximately 1–2 days before increased wildfire emissions are fully represented, which can lead to temporary underestimation of PM₂.₅ concentrations in Airmine’s forecast.
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Data provided by Airmine — Last update: 9 August 2026 at 20:27 CEST (Data is updated four times daily.)
This forecast is produced independently using Airmine's own atmospheric data and models.
Unless explicitly made clear, the content on this site has not been paid for by external organisations and is Airmine's sole responsibility.
Disclaimer: Forecasts are provided for informational purposes only and should not be relied upon as medical advice. Actual pollen and air quality conditions may vary from the forecast. If you have allergies, asthma, or another medical condition, consult a healthcare professional. Please see our Terms of Service for important information about limitations of liability.
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