Worst air pollution Kinshasa, today and tomorrow
Today (16 July): Air quality in Kinshasa is fair. PM10 and HCHO are fair; AQI, PM2.5, NO2, O3, and PM1 are medium; SO2 and CO are good. Pollution peaks around 4:00 PM (O3: 56.9/100).
Tomorrow (17 July 2026): Air quality in Kinshasa is fair. PM10 decreases to good; all other pollutants stay as today. Pollution peaks around 4:00 PM (O3: 48.7/100). 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 - 16 July | Pollution peaks at 16:00
AQI:
Medium
56.9/100
PM2.5 (fine particles):
Medium
46.9/100
PM10 (coarse particles):
Fair
20.9/100
NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):
Medium
44.6/100
O3 (ozone):
Medium
56.9/100
SO2 (sulfur dioxide):
Good
10.4/100
CO (carbon monoxide):
Good
0.0/100
HCHO (formaldehyde):
Fair
29.1/100
PM1 (ultrafine particles):
Medium
50.7/100
Levels show the poorest local air quality during the day
Tomorrow - 17 July | Pollution peaks at 16:00
AQI:
Medium
48.7/100
PM2.5 (fine particles):
Medium
45.2/100
PM10 (coarse particles):
Good
19.0/100
NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):
Medium
41.0/100
O3 (ozone):
Medium
48.7/100
SO2 (sulfur dioxide):
Good
9.3/100
CO (carbon monoxide):
Good
0.0/100
HCHO (formaldehyde):
Fair
30.4/100
PM1 (ultrafine particles):
Medium
48.3/100
Frequently Asked Questions
Is air quality bad in Kinshasa right now?
On 16 July 2026, overall air quality in Kinshasa is fair. HCHO is the main pollutant at 29.1/100. Pollution peaks around 4:00 PM (O3: 56.9/100).
Will air quality be worse tomorrow in Kinshasa?
On 17 July 2026, air quality conditions in Kinshasa will be similar to today, with HCHO forecast at fair at 30.4/100. Pollution peaks around 4:00 PM (O3: 48.7/100).
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.
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Data provided by Airmine — Last update: 16 July 2026 at 10:33 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.
For long term forecasts and maps, see the Airmine app