Air Quality and Pollution Index Map
Check live air quality anywhere in the world. Search any city, see real-time AQI values, pollutant concentrations, health risk categories, and personalised guidance for outdoor activity — all in one free tool.
Search Location
Map shows approximate location. AQI data provided by Open-Meteo. For precise station-level readings, consult your local environmental agency.
Air Quality Report
Search a city above to see live air quality data.
Introduction: What Is an Air Quality and Pollution Index Map?
An Air Quality and Pollution Index Map is a visual tool that shows the current air quality in locations around the world. It translates complex pollutant measurements — fine particulate matter (PM2.5), coarse particulates (PM10), ground-level ozone (O₃), nitrogen dioxide (NO₂), sulphur dioxide (SO₂), and carbon monoxide (CO) — into a single, colour-coded number called the Air Quality Index (AQI).
The AQI was developed by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and has been adopted or adapted by environmental agencies worldwide. It runs from 0 to 500, divided into six categories: Good (0–50), Moderate (51–100), Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups (101–150), Unhealthy (151–200), Very Unhealthy (201–300), and Hazardous (301–500)[reference:0].
Air pollution is one of the largest environmental health risks globally. The World Health Organization estimates that outdoor air pollution causes millions of premature deaths each year, primarily through cardiovascular and respiratory disease. Knowing the AQI in your area — and understanding what it means for your health — is one of the most practical, immediate steps you can take to protect yourself and your family.
This free AQI map pulls live data from Open-Meteo's air quality API, covering thousands of locations worldwide. Search any city, see the current AQI, get a breakdown of individual pollutants, and receive health guidance tailored to the current conditions[reference:1].
Key Takeaways
- The Air Quality Index (AQI) translates pollutant concentrations into a single 0–500 scale with six health risk categories.
- PM2.5 — fine particles under 2.5 micrometres — is the pollutant most consistently linked to serious health effects.
- AQI values are colour-coded: green (good), yellow (moderate), orange (unhealthy for sensitive groups), red (unhealthy), purple (very unhealthy), and maroon (hazardous).
- When AQI is elevated, reduce outdoor exertion, keep windows closed, and use air filtration indoors.
- Sensitive groups — children, elderly adults, pregnant women, and people with asthma or heart disease — should take extra precautions at lower AQI levels.
Features of This Air Quality and Pollution Index Map
1. Live Global AQI Data
Search any city or location worldwide and get real-time air quality data. The tool pulls from Open-Meteo's air quality API, which aggregates data from multiple sources and provides hourly AQI values for PM2.5, PM10, ozone, NO₂, SO₂, and CO[reference:2].
2. Colour-Coded AQI Display
The current AQI is displayed prominently with the standard EPA colour coding — green, yellow, orange, red, purple, or maroon — so you can assess the health risk at a glance. The colour scheme follows the official EPA AQI categories[reference:3].
3. Six-Pollutant Breakdown
See individual concentrations for PM2.5, PM10, ozone, NO₂, SO₂, and CO. Each pollutant is measured in its standard unit (µg/m³ for particulates, ppb or µg/m³ for gases), giving you a complete picture of what's driving the AQI.
4. Health Risk Categories
Each AQI value is mapped to its corresponding health category with a plain-English description of what the level means for different groups — from "air quality is satisfactory" at Good levels to "everyone should avoid outdoor exertion" at Hazardous levels.
5. Sensitive Group Guidance
If the AQI is elevated, the tool provides specific guidance for sensitive groups: children, elderly adults, pregnant women, and people with asthma, COPD, or cardiovascular disease. These groups may need to take precautions at AQI levels that are safe for the general population.
6. Quick-City Presets
One-tap buttons for major cities — London, New York, Delhi, Beijing, Los Angeles, Sydney, Paris, and Tokyo — let you check the most commonly monitored locations instantly.
7. Interactive Location Map
An embedded map shows the approximate location of the searched city, so you can verify you're looking at the right place and get a sense of the geographic context.
8. Activity Recommendations
Based on the current AQI, the tool offers practical recommendations: whether it's safe to exercise outdoors, run, cycle, or walk; whether to keep windows closed; and whether to use an indoor air purifier.
9. Fully Private and Free
No account, no API key, no tracking. The tool runs entirely in your browser and uses a free, open API with no rate limits for reasonable usage[reference:4].
How to Use the Air Quality and Pollution Index Map
- Enter a city name in the search box. You can type any major city or location worldwide.
- Or click a quick-city button for instant access to a commonly monitored location.
- Press "Check AQI" or hit Enter to load live data.
- Read the AQI value — the large number is the current Air Quality Index, colour-coded by health risk category.
- Review the level description. The text below the number explains what the current AQI means for health, and any precautions recommended.
- Check individual pollutants. The grid below shows PM2.5, PM10, ozone, NO₂, SO₂, and CO concentrations. PM2.5 is usually the most important figure for health.
- Note the health bar. The coloured bar shows where the current AQI falls across the six categories, with the active category highlighted.
- Follow the activity guidance. The tool suggests whether outdoor exercise is advisable and what precautions to take.
- Use the map to verify the location and see the surrounding geography.
- Check back regularly. AQI changes throughout the day, especially in areas with traffic-related pollution, wildfire smoke, or industrial emissions.
Pro tip: If you're planning outdoor exercise, check the AQI first. Early morning is often the best time in urban areas because ozone levels are lower before the sun drives photochemical reactions.
Who Can Use This AQI Map?
This air quality map is valuable for anyone who spends time outdoors or wants to protect their respiratory and cardiovascular health:
- Runners, cyclists and outdoor athletes who need to know whether it's safe to train outside.
- Parents deciding whether children should play outside or whether outdoor school activities are safe.
- People with asthma, COPD or allergies who need to manage exposure to triggers.
- Elderly adults who are more susceptible to cardiovascular effects of air pollution.
- Pregnant women — air pollution exposure during pregnancy is associated with adverse birth outcomes.
- People with heart conditions — fine particulate matter can trigger cardiac events.
- Commuters deciding whether to walk, cycle, or take public transport based on air quality.
- Travellers checking air quality at their destination before a trip.
- People living in wildfire-prone areas monitoring smoke impact.
- Anyone with a smart home or air purifier who wants to know when to run it.
Important note: This tool provides general air quality information from public data sources. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice. If you have a respiratory or cardiovascular condition and are unsure whether it's safe to go outside, consult your doctor and follow local health authority guidance.
How Air Quality Index Maps Matter
They Make an Invisible Threat Visible
Air pollution is often invisible — you can't see PM2.5 particles, and haze that looks "clear" may still carry elevated particulate levels. An AQI map converts invisible pollution into a visible number with a clear colour code, making it possible to make informed decisions about when and where to spend time outdoors.
They Protect Vulnerable Groups
The same AQI that is "Moderate" for a healthy adult may be "Unhealthy" for a child with asthma or an elderly person with heart disease. AQI categories are specifically designed to flag when sensitive groups need to take precautions, and an AQI map makes that information accessible to everyone in the household.
They Inform Exercise and Activity Decisions
Exercise increases breathing rate and depth, which means more pollutants are inhaled during physical activity. On high-AQI days, exercising outdoors can do more harm than good for cardiovascular health. An AQI map lets you decide whether to move your run indoors, postpone it, or choose a less-polluted route or time.
They Support Longer-Term Awareness
Checking air quality regularly builds awareness of patterns — which days of the week are worst, which seasons bring elevated pollution, and whether local air quality is trending better or worse. That awareness is the foundation for personal decisions (where to live, when to travel) and community action.
Conclusion
Air quality is one of the most important environmental factors affecting your daily health, and it changes constantly. A morning run that's perfectly safe on a clear day could expose you to harmful PM2.5 levels if wildfire smoke drifts in or if traffic emissions spike during rush hour.
Use this free Air Quality and Pollution Index Map to check conditions before you go outside, especially if you or someone in your household is in a sensitive group. Bookmark it, check it alongside your weather app, and let the data guide your decisions. Clean air is not something to take for granted — and knowing the number is the first step to protecting yourself from it.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Air Quality Index (AQI)?
The AQI is a standardized scale from 0 to 500 that translates concentrations of major air pollutants into a single number representing health risk. It is divided into six categories: Good (0–50), Moderate (51–100), Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups (101–150), Unhealthy (151–200), Very Unhealthy (201–300), and Hazardous (301–500). The AQI is calculated from the pollutant with the highest relative concentration at any given time[reference:5].
What does PM2.5 mean and why is it important?
PM2.5 refers to fine particulate matter with a diameter of 2.5 micrometres or less — about 1/30th the width of a human hair. These particles are small enough to penetrate deep into the lungs and enter the bloodstream. PM2.5 is the pollutant most consistently linked to serious health effects including heart attacks, strokes, lung cancer, and premature death. It comes from combustion sources: vehicle exhaust, power plants, wood burning, wildfires, and industrial processes.
What is a safe AQI level for outdoor exercise?
For most healthy adults, AQI values up to 100 (Good to Moderate) are generally considered safe for outdoor exercise. At AQI 101–150 (Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups), sensitive individuals should reduce prolonged or intense outdoor exertion, while healthy adults can usually continue but may notice mild symptoms. Above AQI 150, everyone should consider moving exercise indoors or reducing intensity and duration.
Who is considered a "sensitive group" for air pollution?
Sensitive groups include children under 18 (especially those with asthma), elderly adults (65+), pregnant women, and people with pre-existing respiratory conditions (asthma, COPD, emphysema) or cardiovascular disease (heart disease, high blood pressure, previous heart attack or stroke). These groups may experience health effects at AQI levels that are acceptable for the general population.
How accurate is the AQI data in this tool?
The data comes from Open-Meteo's air quality API, which aggregates information from multiple sources including the Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service (CAMS) and local monitoring networks. It provides modelled data at approximately 11 km resolution. This is accurate for understanding regional air quality trends but may not capture hyperlocal variations (e.g., a single busy street versus a nearby park). For regulatory-grade measurements, consult your local environmental agency.
What can I do to protect myself on high pollution days?
On days with elevated AQI: reduce outdoor exertion and time spent outside; keep windows and doors closed; run an indoor air purifier with a HEPA filter; avoid burning candles, incense, or wood indoors; use recirculated air in your car rather than outside air; and consider wearing an N95 or KN95 mask outdoors if you must be outside for extended periods. If you have a respiratory or heart condition, follow your doctor's advice and your action plan.
Does the AQI map work for any city in the world?
The tool covers major cities and many smaller locations worldwide through Open-Meteo's global air quality data. Coverage is best in North America, Europe, and East Asia where monitoring networks are dense. Remote areas may rely more heavily on modelled data with lower spatial resolution. If a specific location does not return data, try a nearby larger city.
Is this AQI map free to use?
Yes. The tool is completely free, requires no sign-up or API key, and runs entirely in your browser. The underlying data comes from Open-Meteo's free, open API which has no rate limits for reasonable usage[reference:6].
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