Is the air quality good in Tashkent?
As of October 26, 2026, at 1:00 PM UZT (GMT+5), air quality in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, is poor, with AQI above 150, classified as "unhealthy," with PM10 as the dominant pollutant and PM2.5 also significantly elevated, currently 12.6 times the WHO annual PM2.5 guideline of 5 µg/m³.
Average PM2.5 concentrations in Tashkent fell 28% and PM10 levels dropped 32% between January and October 19, 2026 compared to the same period in 2025, reflecting improving long-term air quality trends. However, today's readings are significantly elevated above that improving baseline, reflecting an acute autumn dust episode (1).
For real-time conditions, see Tashkent's air quality map.
Tashkent, Uzbekistan, ranked among the most polluted major cities globally, as of 1:00 PM (local time) on October 26, 2026. Source: IQAir.
Air quality map of Tashkent, Uzbekistan, as of 1:00 PM (local time) on October 26, 2026. Source: IQAir.
When will the air quality improve in Tashkent?
The daily forecast indicates that AQI levels will steadily decline into the moderate range by late night as strengthening winds improve atmospheric dispersion. However, high-pressure systems associated with the Siberian anticyclone can maintain stagnant conditions for several days, trapping dust and emissions over the city. Sustained improvement depends on shifting wind patterns that disperse airborne dust, alongside continued reductions in industrial and vehicle emissions.
Hourly air quality forecast for Tashkent, Uzbekistan, as of 1:00 PM (local time) on October 26, 2026. Source: IQAir.
What is causing poor air quality in Tashkent?
Natural dust was the main contributor to PM2.5 pollution in Tashkent from late September through early October, accounting for between 52% and 78% of all pollution, averaging 64%, according to analysis by Uzbekistan's Hydrometeorological Research Institute (2).
Central Asia lies within one of the world's largest dust belts, with dust from the deserts of the Caspian region, Kyzylkum, Aralkum, and southern Balkhash spreading across the region during dry autumn months when soil dust becomes easily airborne. Tashkent's location in a mountain-surrounded basin limits natural air circulation, while sudden dust storms driven by strong westerly winds can lift and transport large volumes of dust from the Kyzylkum Desert and neighboring Kazakhstan, causing sharp spikes in PM2.5 and PM10 levels (3).
Today's very low ozone, NO₂, SO₂, and CO readings confirm that vehicle and industrial emissions are not the primary drivers of this episode, with natural dust accounting for the bulk of today's pollution burden.
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.
