Data from IQAir shows that Portugal is home to two of Europe’s cleanest cities. In the World Air Quality Report 2025, the country ranks among the continent’s cleaner nations, and Lisbon also performs strongly in the global capital rankings.
The Portuguese cities among Europe’s cleanest
The 15 least polluted regional cities in Europe in the IQAir World Air Quality Report 2025. These are places where average annual concentrations of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) are among the lowest anywhere on the continent.
Portugal claims two spots in this top‑15 list:
- Faro – annual PM2.5 average of 2.7 µg/m³ and previously recognised for having some of the cleanest air in Europe.
- Salão – annual PM2.5 average of 3.1 µg/m³, located on the island of Faial in the Azores.
Both locations sit well below the WHO annual PM2.5 guideline of 5 µg/m³, placing them alongside some of Europe’s cleanest regions. The top three performers in this European regional ranking are all located in Finland, underlining just how rare it is for southern countries to appear near the top.
How Portugal ranks in Europe on air pollution
Looking at the country as a whole, Portugal performs well within the European context, even if it does not yet reach the WHO guideline at national level.
Portugal’s 2025 average PM2.5 concentration is 7.9 µg/m³ in the European dataset. This makes Portugal the 9th cleanest country in Europe, just behind Luxembourg.
At the very top of the European clean‑air table is Iceland, with an annual PM2.5 average of 3.7 µg/m³.
Portugal in the global clean‑air rankings
Portugal’s strong European showing is reflected again in the global figures. On the IQAir list of 143 countries, regions and territories:
- Portugal records a 2025 average PM2.5 concentration of 7.0 µg/m³
- It is ranked the 30th cleanest country in the world.
On this measure, Portugal performs better than several major Western European economies, including Spain, Italy and the United Kingdom.
Country / Territory | Annual PM2.5 (µg/m³) | Position in ranking |
|---|---|---|
French Polynesia | 1.8 | The cleanest |
Portugal | 7.0 | 30th cleanest country |
Pakistan | 67.3 | The most polluted |
Lisbon’s air quality compared with other capitals
The IQAir World Air Quality Report 2025, Lisbon records an annual average of 8.1 µg/m³, making it the 24th cleanest capital city in the world.
Therefore, Lisbon’s air is cleaner than Madrid, Amsterdam and Paris, all of which record higher annual PM2.5 concentrations in the 2025 report.
Capital city | Annual PM2.5 (µg/m³) | Position in ranking |
|---|---|---|
Papeete | 1.5 | Cleanest capital |
Lisbon | 8.1 | 24th cleanest capital |
New Delhi | 82.2 | The most polluted capital |
Understanding PM2.5 in the IQAir World Air Quality Report
PM2.5 refers to fine particulate matter with a diameter of 2.5 micrometres or smaller. These microscopic particles can travel deep into the lungs and enter the bloodstream, and long‑term exposure has been linked to a range of heart and lung conditions.
In the IQAir World Air Quality Report 2025, the results are assessed against the World Health Organization annual PM2.5 air quality guideline and a series of interim targets.
What PM2.5 means in the Portugal air quality rankings
The national averages of 7.9 µg/m³ (Europe dataset) and 7.0 µg/m³ (global ranking) are above the WHO guideline, even though they compare well with many other countries.
Lisbon’s 8.1 µg/m³ is also above the guideline, but cleaner than several large European capitals that many readers may know well. Faro’s 2.7 µg/m³ and Salão’s 3.1 µg/m³ are comfortably below the WHO threshold, placing them among Europe’s least polluted regional cities.
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