Is the air quality good in Dakar?
On February 17, 2026, at 4:30 AM PT, Dakar, Senegal’s air quality reached an Air Quality Index (AQI) of 509, placing it in the “Hazardous” category. At this level, air pollution poses serious health risks to the entire population, and immediate precautions are strongly advised (1).
Air quality is dynamic and, like the weather, can change frequently. Dakar, Senegal is ranked as the most polluted major city in the world on Tuesday morning.
Click here for a real-time air quality map of Dakar.
While air quality conditions today are poor, it is important to note that the average PM2.5 concentration in 2024 for Dakar was 22.3 µg/m³. This corresponds to an AQI of 72, which falls into the “moderate" category and was also 4.4 times the WHO annual guideline of 5 µg/m³.
Dakar, Senegal was the most polluted major city on Feb 17, 2026 at 4:30 AM PT. Source: IQAir.
When will air quality improve in Dakar?
Air quality is forecasted to improve gradually as changing weather conditions help disperse accumulated pollutants.
Hourly air quality forecast for Dakar, Senegal on Feb 17, 2026. Source: IQAir.
Pollution levels are highest during the dry season from November to March, when harmattan winds transport dust from the Sahara into the city. Monitoring data show that pollution peaks most often occur between December and February, while the lowest concentrations are generally observed between July and September (2).
Over the last 30 days, Dakar’s air quality has been mostly moderate, but today it has spiked into the hazardous range.
Daily air quality trends in Dakar, Senegal, over the past 30 days. Source: IQAir.
Air quality map of Dakar, Senegal on Feb 17, 2026. Source: IQAir.
What is causing poor air quality in Dakar?
Poor air quality in Dakar is caused by a combination of natural and human-made sources (3).
Research shows that pollution in the city is largely driven by desert mineral dust, vehicle exhaust from road traffic, industrial emissions, and sea salt mixed with secondary sulfate particles formed in the atmosphere (4).
During the dry season, harmattan winds transport large amounts of dust from the Sahara into Dakar, significantly increasing particulate matter levels. At the same time, emissions from aging and diesel-powered vehicles, industrial fuel combustion, open waste burning, and unmanaged landfills add to the pollution burden.
In addition, inadequate solid waste management and open dumping contribute to localized air pollution and harmful emissions. The combined impact of desert dust and urban sources leads to persistently elevated PM concentrations, particularly during the dry season (5).
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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.
