The Almaty Air Initiative (AAI) Foundation has presented its annual analytical report, the findings of which indicate a deterioration of the environmental situation in the metropolis. According to monitoring data, in 2025 the average city resident involuntarily “smoked” 518 cigarettes (almost 26 packs) simply by living in Almaty.

According to the published data, the annual average concentration of fine particulate matter PM2.5 reached 31.2 μg/m³, which is six times higher than the recommendations of the World Health Organization (WHO). Compared to 2024, air quality worsened by nearly 30%.

Urban smog is a mixture of various pollutants. In addition to PM2.5 and PM10 particles, the air contains nitrogen dioxide (NO₂), sulfur dioxide (SO₂), carbon monoxide (CO), ozone (O₃), and other substances. In its study, the Foundation focuses on PM2.5 as the most dangerous and representative indicator of air pollution.

The study shows that for more than 60% of the year, city residents breathed air that did not meet international safety standards. The number of “clean” days decreased to 148 per year, which is 16 fewer than in 2024. Over the past year, PM2.5 concentrations exceeded the more lenient national maximum permissible concentration (MPC) standard on 124 days. The most severe situation was recorded during the winter months.

In December, the average PM2.5 level reached 62.4 μg/m³, and on December 7 the dirtiest day of the year was recorded — 145 μg/m³, which is more than four times higher than the permissible limit in Kazakhstan and almost ten times higher than the WHO annual guideline.

The increase in pollution is directly linked to the start of the heating season. As early as October, after heating systems were turned on, PM2.5 concentrations rose sharply across all districts of the city, especially in areas dominated by private housing. At the same time, the Foundation’s experts observe clear environmental inequality: residents of the lower parts of the city breathe more polluted air than those living closer to the foothills.

District Risk Ranking (Annual Average PM2.5 Concentration):

  1. Turksib District: 46.8 μg/m³
  2. Zhetysu District: 37.9 μg/m³
  3. Alatau District: 37.7 μg/m³
  4. Almaly District: 30.9 μg/m³
  5. Nauryzbay District: 27.1 μg/m³
  6. Auezov and Medeu Districts: 25.8 μg/m³
  7. Bostandyk District: 22.1 μg/m³

Turksib District was identified as the most polluted, with PM2.5 levels more than twice as high as those in Bostandyk District. The northern and north-western parts of the city experience the highest pollution burden due to a combination of coal-based heating, industrial activity, transport emissions, and local topography.

For clarity, the Foundation’s experts translated pollution levels into a “cigarette equivalent.” Thus, in 2025 the average resident of Almaty experienced a toxic load comparable to smoking 518 cigarettes per year. In the most polluted districts, this figure may reach 700–800 cigarettes.

The study also notes that even during summer — traditionally considered the “clean” season — exceedances of air quality standards were recorded in 2025 due to dry weather, dust, and weak winds. This challenges the myth that smog in Almaty is exclusively a winter problem.

Zhuldys Saulebekova, Executive Director of the Almaty Air Initiative Foundation, commented:

“With the start of the heating season, there were practically no ‘clean’ zones left on the map of Almaty. Thanks to our dense sensor network, we were able to see what had previously remained a blind spot in monitoring. These data show that winter sources of pollution are seriously underestimated. We need a comprehensive inventory of data on private households using coal and burning waste. Without an honest assessment of the real contribution of each source, the city will not be able to effectively manage air quality. We hope to discuss this issue in detail together with the Akimat. Next, concrete measures must be taken to limit coal use and waste burning in households. Without a systemic solution for private housing and proper inventory of these sources, winter smog will remain our reality even after the modernization of thermal power plants.”

The full version of the analytical report is available on the Foundation’s website.

The Foundation’s annual activity report can be accessed here: