Jakarta - Post Report Question and Answers
What is the air quality like at post (good/moderate/bad)? Are there seasonal air quality issues? Does the air quality have an impact on health?
Air quality is bad more often than not. Jakarta is hot and dry or hot and wet. After rains, the air quality is usually better. For us it limits outdoor exercising like running. - Apr 2025
Not good, I had pretty significant respiratory issues on arrival. Try to get out of Jakarta as much as possible. - Dec 2023
During the rainy season (oct - march) air quality is not horrible, because it's windy and regularly in the green or yellow AQI. During the dry season, its regularly orange or red AQI unfortunately. - May 2023
Mod - Bad. We have air filters in our homes so that helps. Most houses have mold so be aware your allergies may be exacerbated. - Oct 2021
Air quality is quite bad, however other places are worse. An individual's response is... individual. My family was fine but I often felt sick if it went over a certain number. We used air purifiers in the home, but none at work or at the school. - Sep 2020
During the dry season it can get moderately bad, but certainly much better than New Delhi or Beijing. The U.S. embassy publishes live air quality levels. - Feb 2018
very unhealthy. Indonesians smoke everywhere including indoors. Sinus issues exacerbated. - Jun 2015
The air quality is awful. My husband developed asthma while living there. It is worse downtown near the U.S. Embassy than further south, but pretty much it's a dirty city. - Jan 2015
Jakarta is a congested city with lots of noise pollution and air pollution. - Jan 2013
Poor and unhealthy in Jakarta. Better if you get out of the city. - Jun 2012
fair to poor. - Jan 2012
The air quality in Jakarta is very unhealthy. I think people with asthma and other respiratory illnesses are advised not come here. I knew of many people at the embassy when we were there who repeatedly came down with(usually minor) respiratory illnesses of some sort. - Jul 2011
They say it is bad, the air quality, but it is so much better than so many other places. I would go with "moderate." - Jul 2011
Crazy bad. Much worse if sitting in the notorious traffic breathing the fumes through the car vents. Unavoidable. - Dec 2010
Amongst the worst in the world. - Nov 2010
Jakarta's air quality cannot be considered healthy. The lungs tend to burn after going for a run outside. Smog is visible some days. - Jul 2010
