Indonesia Air Quality Index (AQI)
Indonesia faces a dual pollution crisis: urban smog from coal power plants and 150+ million vehicles, and seasonal haze from peatland and forest fires that blankets entire islands. Over 96% of Indonesia's 270 million people breathe air exceeding WHO annual guidelines.
Most Polluted Cities
- Palembang (Sumatra)AQI 155
- Jakarta (Java)AQI 148
- Medan (Sumatra)AQI 135
Cleanest Cities
- Makassar (Sulawesi)AQI 88
- Surabaya (Java)AQI 108
- Bandung (Java)AQI 118
Java — Air Quality
Jakarta
DKI Jakarta · Pop. 10.6M
Jakarta is consistently ranked among Southeast Asia's most polluted capitals. 14 million daily commuters, 24+ coal power plants in the Java-Bali grid, and minimal wind in the dry season combine to create severe PM2.5 episodes. The government is relocating the capital to Nusantara in Borneo.
Bandung
West Java · Pop. 2.8M
Surrounded by volcanoes at 768m elevation, Bandung's bowl-shaped geography traps pollution from its massive garment and textile industries. Indonesia's fashion capital produces 40% of the nation's textiles — generating significant industrial emissions.
Surabaya
East Java · Pop. 3M
Indonesia's second-largest city and largest port. Home to major heavy industries including steel, petrochemicals, and shipbuilding. The Gresik industrial complex north of Surabaya is one of Java's largest emission sources.
Sumatra — Air Quality
Medan
North Sumatra · Pop. 2.5M
Sumatra's largest city sits in the heart of Indonesia's palm oil belt. Seasonal peatland fires across Sumatra and Kalimantan send thick haze over Medan from July–October, causing AQI to spike above 200. The 2015 and 2019 fire seasons were particularly severe.
Palembang
South Sumatra · Pop. 1.7M
South Sumatra's capital is ground zero for peatland fire smoke. Surrounded by vast peat swamp forests, Palembang regularly records some of Indonesia's worst air quality during fire season. The city also has coal mining and palm oil refining as year-round pollution sources.
Sulawesi — Air Quality
Makassar
South Sulawesi · Pop. 1.5M
Eastern Indonesia's largest city and gateway to Sulawesi. Makassar's coastal position and consistent sea breezes give it better air quality than Java cities. Infrastructure and construction booms in recent years have raised dust levels.
Indonesia's Peatland Fire Crisis
Indonesia holds 50% of the world's tropical peatlands — organic soils that can be meters deep. When drained for palm oil and pulpwood plantations, peat dries out and becomes extremely flammable. Peat fires burn underground for months and are nearly impossible to extinguish.
- The 2015 fire season: 2.6 million hectares burned, AQI exceeded 500 in parts of Sumatra
- Health cost: estimated 100,000+ premature deaths from fire haze (Harvard study, 2015)
- Transboundary haze: Singapore and Malaysia regularly issue health warnings during Indonesian fire season
- The government's Peat Restoration Agency (BRG) has restored 3.4M ha since 2016, reducing fire risk
Indonesia Seasonal Air Quality Guide
Wet Season (Nov–Mar)
BestMonsoon rains wash out pollutants. Best time to visit Indonesian cities. Peatland fires rare. AQI typically moderate or better.
Dry Season (Jun–Oct)
WorstPeak pollution season. Fire hotspots develop across Sumatra and Kalimantan from July onwards. Java cities see higher urban smog. Check air quality daily.
Jakarta: A City Confronting Its Air Quality Crisis
Jakarta's air quality crisis has become a national political issue. In 2023, residents filed a landmark lawsuit against the government over air pollution — and won. The court ordered improved monitoring, emission standards, and coal plant phase-outs around the capital region.
The Java-Bali electricity grid runs on 60%+ coal power. At least 10 coal-fired plants operate within 100km of Jakarta, contributing roughly 30% of the capital's PM2.5. Indonesia's Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP) with G7 nations targets early coal retirement — but implementation remains slow.
The capital relocation to Nusantara (Borneo) is partly driven by Jakarta's air and environmental crises. As Jakarta transitions to a "special region", air quality policy is expected to remain a priority.