Kuala Lumpur is world’s most polluted city due to haze, Singapore third, index shows

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The readings for Kuala Lumpur at 166 and Singapore at 155 put both cities’ air quality as unhealthy, according to Swiss monitor IQAir

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Buildings in the background past the National Monument seen shrouded by haze in Kuala Lumpur on September 21. Photo: AFP

A cyclist rides along the Marina bay east garden as the city skyline is shrouded with haze in Singapore on Monday. Photo: AFP

Agence France-Presse

Published: 8:43pm, 30 Sep 2026

Malaysia’s capital topped a global pollution ranking on Wednesday and nearby Singapore came in third, with smoke from wildfires in neighbouring Indonesia blamed for the unhealthy conditions.

A milky haze has shrouded the cities for more than a month as smoke drifted from fires on Borneo and Sumatra islands.

Kuala Lumpur was the world’s most polluted major city early on Wednesday, according to Swiss monitor IQAir, with an Air Quality Index (AQI) reading of 166. Singapore ranked third at 155.

The AQI converts measurements of pollutants into a single figure indicating air quality and potential health risks. Readings above 150 are classified as unhealthy, while levels above 300 are considered hazardous.

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Kuala Lumpur is world’s most polluted city due to haze, Singapore third, index shows

Kuala Lumpur is world’s most polluted city due to haze, Singapore third, index shows

Kuala Lumpur is world’s most polluted city due to haze, Singapore third, index shows

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