What Was the Air Quality Like in Almaty in 2024?

Almaty Air Initiative analysts have compiled the key figures.

The Almaty Air Initiative Foundation analyzed air quality in the city in 2024 and made the findings publicly available. Data from 2023 and 2024 were compared to assess changes over time.

Access to air quality data helps residents assess the situation, track changes, raise awareness, and make informed decisions. It also helps strengthen trust between the public and the government.

More information about the methodology and data sources is provided below.

What Are We Breathing? Pollutant Concentrations

Annual Average Concentrations

The annual average PM2.5 concentration in Almaty in 2024 was 24.08 µg/m³, exceeding the WHO guideline by 4.8 times.

Although this figure decreased by approximately 6 µg/m³ compared with 2023 (30.3 µg/m³, or 6.1 times the WHO guideline), the situation remains critical. The slight improvement in the annual average was driven by better air quality in January, February, May, and July 2024. This was likely due to favorable meteorological conditions. However, pollution levels in December 2024 exceeded those recorded in December 2023.

For reference: PM2.5 refers to fine particulate matter in the air with a diameter of 2.5 micrometers or less. These particles are so small that they can penetrate deep into the lungs and even enter the bloodstream, making them harmful to human health. High concentrations of PM2.5 in the air can cause respiratory and cardiovascular diseases, particularly among children, older adults, and people with chronic health conditions.

The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends that the annual average PM2.5 concentration should not exceed 5 µg/m³ (WHO). Kazakhstan’s maximum permissible concentration (MPC) standard is 35 µg/m³ (Kazakhstan’s Hygienic Standards).

Table 1. Monthly Average PM2.5 Concentrations (µg/m³) in 2023 and 2024

As shown in the table:

• Air quality in Almaty from November through February was classified as “unhealthy” in both 2023 and 2024. Moreover, pollution levels in December 2024 (50.6 µg/m³) were approximately 10% higher than in December 2023 (46.7 µg/m³).
• In 2024, PM2.5 concentrations decreased compared with 2023 in January, February, May, June, and July.
• In March, September, October, and November, concentrations remained approximately at the same level (“moderate”).

How Many Days a Year Do We Breathe Clean Air?

In 2024, the number of days with clean air, when daily average PM2.5 concentrations remained within the WHO guideline (15 µg/m³), increased compared with 2023. While there were only 137 such days in 2023, this number rose to 164 in 2024.

As shown in Table 2, the most significant improvement occurred during the warmer months, from May through August 2024.

Table 2. Number of Days Exceeding the WHO Daily PM2.5 Guideline (15 µg/m³) in 2023 and 2024

Figure 1 presents daily average PM2.5 concentrations using the AQI color scale, where green represents 0–15 µg/m³, orange represents 35.5–55.4 µg/m³, red represents 55.5–150.4 µg/m³, and purple represents 150.5–250.4 µg/m³.

Figure 1. Daily Average PM2.5 Concentrations Using the AQI Color Scale in 2024

According to the AQI scale, in 2024:

• 164 days (~45% of the year) fell into the “Good” (green) air quality category.
• 106 days (~29% of the year) were classified as “Moderate” (yellow).
• 50 days (~13.7% of the year) were classified as “Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups” (orange).
• The remaining 46 days (~12.6% of the year) were classified as “Unhealthy” (red).

Top 3 Most Polluted Days in 2024:

1. February 6 — The daily average PM2.5 concentration reached 114 µg/m³, exceeding the WHO guideline by 7.6 times and Kazakhstan’s national standard by 3.3 times. In some districts, concentrations reached 194 µg/m³. For reference, the WHO daily average guideline is 15 µg/m³.
2. December 25 — The daily average concentration was 106.4 µg/m³, exceeding the WHO guideline by 7.1 times. Peak concentrations in certain districts reached 156.5 µg/m³, or 10.5 times the WHO guideline.
3. December 26 — The daily average concentration was 102.1 µg/m³, exceeding the WHO guideline by 6.8 times. The maximum concentration reached 171 µg/m³ in one of the city’s northeastern districts, or 11.4 times the WHO guideline.

When Is the Air Most Polluted?

PM2.5 concentrations in Almaty vary significantly across seasons. Summer traditionally remains the cleanest season, with an average concentration of 11.5 µg/m³, while in spring, the concentration rises to 17.6 µg/m³.

Air quality begins to deteriorate in autumn, when concentrations reach 25.6 µg/m³, largely due to the beginning of the heating season and atmospheric temperature inversions. Pollution peaks in winter, reaching 49.9 µg/m³ — approximately five times the summer level.

For reference: A temperature inversion is a meteorological phenomenon in which a layer of warm air sits above colder air near the ground, creating a kind of “lid” that prevents pollutants from dispersing. As a result, particularly high PM2.5 concentrations are observed during the winter months.

The pronounced seasonal pattern can be clearly seen in the chart below:

Figure 2. Monthly Average PM2.5 Concentrations in Almaty in 2024

2.2 Where Is the Air Most Polluted in Almaty?

To answer this question, we conducted a cluster analysis and identified four distinct zones (see Figure 3).

For reference: Cluster analysis groups air quality sensors based on similarities in their PM2.5 readings. This helps identify the most polluted and cleanest areas of the city and provides a better understanding of the spatial distribution of pollution.

Figure 3. Distribution of Air Pollution Clusters Across Almaty’s Districts. Brown represents the northeastern cluster, blue the southern cluster, pink the central cluster, and yellow the northwestern cluster.

The difference is also clearly visible in the monthly average PM2.5 concentrations shown in Figure 4 below:

Figure 4. Monthly Average PM2.5 Concentrations by Area in Almaty in 2024 (µg/m³).

Air pollution levels vary not only in terms of annual average concentrations but also in the number of “clean” and “polluted” days. As shown in Figure 5, the southern cluster experiences more days with PM2.5 concentrations below 15 µg/m³, meeting the WHO daily guideline. In 2024, there were 219 such days (60% of the year).

Figure 5. Daily Average PM2.5 Concentrations by Cluster Using the AQI Color Scale in 2024.

AQI categories and their corresponding colors are defined as follows:

Figure 6. Changes in Air Quality Throughout the Day Across Different Parts of the City.

When Is the Air Cleanest?

The cleanest air is observed in the early morning hours, between 4:00 AM and 6:00 AM, across all parts of the city. This is due to air currents descending from the mountains, which carry pollutants downslope during the night, temporarily improving air quality in the city. This effect is particularly noticeable in the southern part of the city, closer to the mountains.

The Impact of Mountain–Valley Circulation:

Mountain–valley circulation has a significant impact on daily air pollution patterns:

• During the day, solar heating causes warm air to rise along mountain slopes, generating valley-to-mountain winds that transport pollutants from the valley toward mountainous areas and higher atmospheric layers, temporarily limiting their accumulation near the ground.
• At night, as mountain air cools more rapidly, cold air masses descend into the valley, generating mountain-to-valley winds that carry pollutants back into the city. At the same time, temperature inversions, which frequently develop in the evening, and a lowering atmospheric boundary layer prevent pollutants from dispersing vertically, leading to their accumulation near the ground.

Distinctive Characteristics of Different Areas:

• The central and northern parts of the city experience a slower decline in pollution levels after the evening peak due to limited air circulation.
• In the south, closer to the mountains, the air clears significantly faster thanks to more intensive mountain–valley circulation. Here, pollution levels drop to safe levels after 10:00 PM and remain low until 10:00 AM.

Similarities and Differences:

Despite differences in the timing of peak concentrations and the rate at which air quality improves, overall daily patterns are similar across all parts of the city. Air pollution is highest in the evening, while the cleanest conditions occur in the early morning. The charts suggest that pollution peaks are likely associated with traffic flows and other human activities.

6. Key Findings

• The annual average PM2.5 concentration in Almaty in 2024 was 4.8 times higher than the WHO guideline.
• A slight improvement in the annual average was observed, with a decrease of 6 µg/m³ compared with 2023. This was driven by better air quality in January, February, May, and July 2024.
• From November through February, air quality in Almaty remained in the “Unhealthy” category in both 2023 and 2024.
• Pollution levels in December 2024 exceeded those recorded in December 2023.
• Air pollution is five times lower in summer than in winter. Summer 2024 was the cleanest season, with an average PM2.5 concentration of 11.5 µg/m³, while winter (December, January, and February) recorded the highest concentrations, averaging 49.9 µg/m³—approximately five times the summer level.
• In 2024, the number of days meeting the WHO daily air quality guideline (PM2.5 < 15 µg/m³) increased from 137 to 164. The main improvement occurred during the summer period, from May through August, when the number of such days increased by 22. No changes were recorded in other seasons.
• Air quality varies throughout the year. The cleanest months are May, June, July, and August, while the most polluted months are November, December, January, and February.
• Northeastern Almaty is the most polluted area, while air pollution in the southern part of the city is approximately half as high.
• Air quality also varies throughout the day. The cleanest period is between 4:00 AM and 6:00 AM, while the most polluted period is between 7:00 PM and 9:00 PM.

The density of air quality sensors across the city remains insufficient. This is particularly evident within the area bounded by Ryskulov Avenue, Sain Street, Al-Farabi Avenue, and the Eastern Bypass Road (VOAD), where a significant proportion of the population lives (see Figure 3). The shortage of sensors in this area prevents the development of a more detailed district-level pollution map, making it difficult to identify local pollution sources and assess the influence of different factors.

Furthermore, some sensors frequently malfunction, resulting in data gaps over the past several years. This reduces the quality of real-time information available to residents and complicates the analysis needed for an objective assessment of the city’s environmental conditions. A denser and more reliable sensor network would provide a better understanding of pollution trends, help identify major sources, and support the development of effective measures to reduce air pollution.

For reference: This report is based on data collected by Clarity sensors using the Clarity and OpenAQ platforms.

This report analyzes PM2.5 concentrations only. A comprehensive assessment of air quality requires data on other pollutants, including nitrogen dioxide, sulfur dioxide, ozone, carbon monoxide, and others.

Clarity is an international company whose air quality sensors operate in 70 countries worldwide. In Almaty, 50 Clarity sensors were installed in 2022 as part of a joint project between the Asian Development Bank and the Almaty city administration (Akimat).

OpenAQ is a global open-access air quality data platform that brings together information from multiple sources to raise public awareness and support environmental initiatives.