Is the air quality good in Delhi, India?
As of May 13, 2026, at 10:00 AM (local time, GMT+5:30), Delhi, India, is experiencing poor air quality, with the Air Quality Index (AQI) exceeding 150, placing conditions in the unhealthy range.
While the conditions today remain poor, long-term data highlights a persistent problem. In 2025, Delhi recorded an annual average PM2.5 concentration of 99.6 µg/m³, retaining its status as the 4th most polluted city in the world.
India's national average PM2.5 concentration in 2025 was 48.9 µg/m³, equivalent to an AQI of 134, classified as "unhealthy for sensitive groups" and 9.78 times higher than the WHO annual guideline of 5 µg/m³, placing India sixth globally.
For a complete, real-time view of current pollution levels, see Delhi’s air quality map.
Delhi, India, ranked among the most polluted major cities globally, as of May 13, 2026, at 10:00 AM (local time). Source: IQAir.
Air quality map of Delhi, India, as of May 13, 2026, at 10:00 AM (local time). Source: IQAir.
When will the air quality improve in Delhi, India?
For the months of April through June, poor air quality in Delhi is driven by exceptionally prolonged dry spells combined with high-speed winds that cause regional transport of fine dust and particulate matter from adjoining areas and across borders.
May has historically recorded some of the worst average AQI readings of the year for this reason. Short-term improvement depends on weather shifts, with rainfall and stronger winds helping to disperse surface pollutants.
More sustained relief is expected with the arrival of the monsoon season from June through September, which dramatically reduces PM2.5 levels city-wide. Lasting improvement requires structural reforms across all major emission sectors simultaneously (1).
Hourly air quality forecast for Delhi, India, as of May 13, 2026, at 10:00 AM (local time). Source: IQAir.
What is causing poor air quality in Delhi, India?
Vehicular emissions contribute the most to Delhi's local pollution at 51.5% of total PM2.5, while neighboring districts account for approximately 34.97% of the city's pollution burden through regional transport of dust and industrial emissions.
Construction and road dust have emerged as one of Delhi's most persistent pollution sources, with large-scale infrastructure projects including metro expansion, road widening, and residential development generating continuous coarse particulate matter that contributes significantly to PM10 readings year-round.
Industrial pollutants, waste burning, deforestation, and rapid urbanization further compound the problem, with health impacts ranging from respiratory disorders including asthma and COPD to cardiovascular disease and developmental problems in children (2).
How can I protect myself from poor air quality?
- Get a free air quality app for real-time air quality alerts and forecasts.
- Shut doors and windows and set the HVAC to recirculate mode.
- Contribute to your community’s outdoor air quality data.
- Stay indoors when air quality is poor; if you do need to go outdoors, wear a KN95/FFP2 mask.
- Run a high-performance air purifier to filter particles, gases, and other pollutants.
