Antara, Jakarta – Jakarta air quality fell into the unhealthy category, ranking third among cities with the worst air quality in the world on Wednesday morning, May 13, 2026.
According to data from the air quality monitoring website IQAir, at 5:00 a.m. Western Indonesian Time (WIB), the air quality index (AQI) in Jakarta was at 158, categorized as unhealthy, with PM2.5 air pollution and a concentration of 65 micrograms per cubic meter.
This figure indicates that the air quality is unhealthy for sensitive groups, as it can harm humans and sensitive animals, or cause damage to plants or aesthetic values.
The website also recommends that people avoid outdoor activities. If outside, wear a mask and close windows to avoid exposure to polluted outdoor air.
Good air quality is defined as air quality that does not impact human or animal health and does not affect plants, buildings, or aesthetic values, with a PM2.5 range of 0-50.
Next, the moderate category is air quality that does not affect human or animal health but does affect sensitive plants and aesthetic value, with a PM2.5 range of 51-100.
Furthermore, the very unhealthy category is a PM2.5 range of 200-299, or air quality that could harm the health of some segments of the exposed population. Finally, the hazardous category (300-500) or air quality generally could seriously harm the health of the population.
The city with the worst air quality is Delhi (India) with a score of 160; second is Lahore (Pakistan) with a score of 159; fourth is Kinshasa (Democratic Republic of the Congo) with a score of 151; and fifth is Beijing (China) with a score of 144.
The Jakarta Provincial Government is preparing a rapid response to address air pollution in the capital during the dry season, which is predicted to occur from early May to August.
Immediate measures to address air pollution during the dry season include improving the quality of air quality monitoring systems and vehicle emission testing.
Furthermore, the Jakarta Provincial Government also has an Air Pollution Control Strategy (SPPU) that is currently being evaluated from various aspects, including PM2.5 trends, emission loads by sector, and its impact on public health.
According to the Jakarta Provincial Government, air pollution control cannot be implemented by one region in isolation, requiring integrated, joint action between regional government agencies and cross-regional collaboration around Jakarta.