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?
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
