Jakarta's air improves on Friday morning, but still 13th most polluted city in the world

Jakarta’s air quality on Friday morning (22 May 2026) was in the moderate category. At 06:00 WIB, the Air Quality Index (AQI) for Jakarta stood at 98. This placed Jakarta as the 13th worst city in the world at that monitoring time. The three worst cities at that period were Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, with an AQI of 185; Santiago, Chile, 154; and Kolkata, India, 152. IQAir advised residents, especially vulnerable groups, to reduce outdoor activities, close windows, and wear a mask when outdoors. Earlier on Thursday (21 May 2026), Jakarta’s air quality worsened and was among the world’s worst with an ‘unhealthy’ rating. In recent weeks, Jakarta has frequently appeared on IQAir’s list of cities with the poorest air quality, indicating persistent fluctuations in air conditions.