Worst air pollution Addis Ababa, today and tomorrow

Today (9 August): Air quality in Addis Ababa is fair. PM2.5, O3, and HCHO are fair; AQI, NO2, and PM1 are medium; PM10, SO2, and CO are good. Pollution peaks around 9:00 PM (NO2: 47.0/100).
Tomorrow (10 August 2026): Air quality in Addis Ababa is fair. All pollutants stay as today. Pollution peaks around 11:00 PM (NO2: 56.0/100). 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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Addis Ababa's air quality reflects the Ethiopian Highlands basin at 2,355 metres surrounded by the Entoto and Bole ridgelines, with vehicle traffic on surrounding ring roads and extraordinary construction, residential burning, and emerging industrial operations contributing local sources. The elevated highland position aids dispersal on most days, while dry season dust and vehicle emissions from the rapidly expanding fleet maintain moderate to elevated East African highland capital readings throughout the year.

Today - 9 August | Pollution peaks at 21:00

AQI:

Medium

47.0/100

PM2.5 (fine particles):

Fair

35.1/100

PM10 (coarse particles):

Good

12.5/100

NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):

Medium

47.0/100

O3 (ozone):

Fair

29.3/100

SO2 (sulfur dioxide):

Good

17.1/100

CO (carbon monoxide):

Good

0.0/100

HCHO (formaldehyde):

Fair

34.6/100

PM1 (ultrafine particles):

Medium

40.2/100

Levels show the poorest local air quality during the day

Tomorrow - 10 August | Pollution peaks at 23:00

AQI:

Medium

56.0/100

PM2.5 (fine particles):

Fair

36.0/100

PM10 (coarse particles):

Good

11.8/100

NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):

Medium

56.0/100

O3 (ozone):

Fair

27.1/100

SO2 (sulfur dioxide):

Good

18.5/100

CO (carbon monoxide):

Good

0.0/100

HCHO (formaldehyde):

Fair

33.9/100

PM1 (ultrafine particles):

Medium

41.0/100

Frequently Asked Questions

Is air quality bad in Addis Ababa right now?

On 9 August 2026, overall air quality in Addis Ababa is fair. PM2.5 is the main pollutant at 35.1/100. Pollution peaks around 9:00 PM (NO2: 47.0/100).

Will air quality be worse tomorrow in Addis Ababa?

On 10 August 2026, air quality conditions in Addis Ababa will be similar to today, with PM2.5 forecast at fair at 36.0/100. Pollution peaks around 11:00 PM (NO2: 56.0/100).

When is air pollution at its worst in Addis Ababa?

Air quality in Addis Ababa tends to be worse when vehicle traffic and ongoing construction work build up and dry, windy weather picks up. These wind events can carry dust in from the surrounding arid landscape. These episodes tend to cluster in spring and autumn.

Are air quality levels in Addis Ababa 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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