Air quality in City of London
London · ONS code E09000001
What is the air quality and health risk from air pollution in City of London?
City of London has a Gera Air Health Index of 0.0/10 (rank 296 of 296 English local authorities), based on a population-weighted annual mean PM2.5 concentration of 10.96 µg/m3 in 2024 — above the UK 2028 interim target, with 8.1% of local mortality attributable to particulate air pollution (UKHSA Fingertips 2024). DEFRA PCM / UKHSA Fingertips data, OGL v3.0.
Gera Air Health Index — City of London
Rank 296 of 296 English local authorities · 5.9 points below the national average of 5.9/10
Above UK 2028 targetAir quality data — City of London
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Gera Air Health Index (GAH/10) | 0.0/10 | GeraRent (computed) |
| Annual mean PM2.5 (µg/m3) | 10.96 | DEFRA PCM 2024 |
| PM2.5 sub-score (0–10) | 0.0 | GeraRent (normalised) |
| Mortality attributable to particulate air pollution (%) | 8.09% | UKHSA Fingertips 93861, 2024 |
| Health context sub-score (0–10) | 0.0 | GeraRent (normalised) |
| WHO 2021 guideline met? | No (10.96 > 5) | WHO Air Quality Guidelines 2021 |
| UK 2028 interim target met? | No (10.96 > 10) | Environment Act 2021 |
Population-weighted annual mean PM2.5 (2024) from DEFRA Pollution Climate Mapping (PCM) model. Every figure is real official government data — only the composite GAH score is Gera's. Full methodology.
Personal air quality risk estimator
See how City of London's PM2.5 level compares to WHO and UK targets for your health profile. Adjust the sliders to explore other scenarios.
Adjust the inputs below to see how different PM2.5 levels and health profiles affect your personal air quality risk assessment. Based on DEFRA PCM data and WHO risk thresholds.
Above UK interim target. Associated with increased risk of heart disease, stroke, and lung conditions with long-term exposure.
| Benchmark | Level (µg/m3) | Your area vs |
|---|---|---|
| WHO 2021 annual guideline | 5.0 | 119% above |
| UK 2028 interim target | 10.0 | 10% above |
| England average (approx) | 8.1 | 35% higher |
Estimated excess cumulative PM2.5 exposure above WHO guideline
29.8 µg/m3·years
Over 5 years at 11.0 µg/m3, adjusted for your health profile (×1.0 sensitivity factor). This is an illustrative estimate, not a clinical assessment.
PM2.5 values from DEFRA Pollution Climate Mapping (PCM) 2024, population-weighted. Risk thresholds: WHO Air Quality Guidelines 2021. Health-profile sensitivity factors are illustrative multipliers based on published vulnerability evidence (WHO, COMEAP), not personalised clinical advice. Consult a healthcare professional for personal health guidance.
City of London air quality — questions and answers
- What is the Gera Air Health Index for City of London?
- City of London scores 0.0/10 on the Gera Air Health Index as of 2024 (rank 296 of 296 English local authorities). That is 5.9 points below the national average of 5.9/10.
- What is the annual mean PM2.5 concentration in City of London?
- The population-weighted annual mean PM2.5 concentration in City of London is 10.96 µg/m3 (DEFRA Pollution Climate Mapping model, 2024). This is above the WHO 2021 annual guideline of 5 µg/m3 and above the UK 2028 interim target of 10 µg/m3.
- What fraction of deaths in City of London are attributable to air pollution?
- According to UKHSA Fingertips (indicator 93861, 2024), an estimated 8.1% of mortality in City of London is attributable to particulate air pollution. This figure, produced by OHID from DEFRA modelled data, forms the health-context component of the Gera Air Health Index.
- How is the Gera Air Health Index calculated for City of London?
- GAH = 0.6 × PM2.5_score + 0.4 × health_context_score. PM2.5_score is min-max normalised across all 296 LAs (4.20 µg/m3 = 10/10, 10.96 µg/m3 = 0/10); health_context_score is min-max normalised from UKHSA Fingertips mortality fractions (3.2% = 10/10, 8.1% = 0/10). Full methodology at /methodology/gera-air-health-index.
- Where does the air quality data for City of London come from?
- PM2.5 data: DEFRA Pollution Climate Mapping (PCM) model, population-weighted annual mean for 2024, published at uk-air.defra.gov.uk. Health context: UKHSA Fingertips indicator 93861 (fraction of mortality attributable to particulate air pollution), 2024. Both datasets are Open Government Licence v3.0 and reusable with attribution. The Gera Air Health Index is computed by GeraRent from these figures; the inputs are official government data.
- Is the air quality in City of London getting better or worse?
- The 2024 figures reflect the most recent DEFRA PCM modelled annual mean. UK PM2.5 concentrations have fallen substantially since 2010 due to emission reductions, but remain above the WHO 2021 annual guideline of 5 µg/m3 in most English local authorities. City of London (10.96 µg/m3) is working towards the WHO guideline. Gera updates GAH annually when DEFRA publishes new PCM data.
Other London local authorities
- Bromley · 4.2/10
- Hillingdon · 4.1/10
- Sutton · 4.1/10
- Havering · 4.0/10
- Harrow · 4.0/10
- Kingston upon Thames · 4.0/10
See the full national Gera Air Health Index ranking, or explore overall liveability scores including schools, safety, broadband and house prices.
Find clean-air rentals in City of London
Browse verified rental listings in City of London with digital leases and no agency fees — in the areas that score best for air quality and liveability.
Browse rentals in City of LondonPM2.5 source: DEFRA Pollution Climate Mapping (PCM) model, population-weighted annual mean 2024 (popwmpm252024byUKlocalauthority.csv), uk-air.defra.gov.uk/data/pcm-data. Health context: UKHSA Fingertips indicator 93861 (fraction of mortality attributable to particulate air pollution), 2024. Open Government Licence v3.0. The Gera Air Health Index is computed by GeraRent; full methodology at /methodology/gera-air-health-index.