Praia - 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?
Most of the year it's fine, but winter can be bad because of the sandstorms that blow in from the Sahara. - Feb 2024
Air quality is quite good by global standards with low car pollution and no trash-burning. The Harmattan from West Africa reaches Cabo Verde weakened, and Praia is more protected than sites further east. - Aug 2023
Sometimes it gets dusty outside. - Jan 2023
The only time air quality is bad is when dust blows from the Sahara. It's a couple months during the year. Even having 2 with allergies and breathing issues, it hasn't been a huge deal. We do limit our time outdoors, but inside is fine. We have a couple air purifiers we use in bedrooms at night. Overall, air quality is great! - Sep 2018
From November to March, Cabo Verde gets nasty dust storms blown over from the Sahara (300+ miles away). Many people suffer from respiratory ailments during this time. Not a good place for someone with asthma. The dust storms can last more than a week and will ground domestic flights, but it's not constant and usually the sun peeks through each day. For most of the year, it's very sunny, dry and breezy. - Dec 2017
Air quality here is very good though it does tend to get quite dusty here especially in the winter and spring months. People with allergies should bring the necessary medication with them if they have issues with dust. - Oct 2016
Great. There is no manufacturing and few cars. The air is clean. It does get quite dusty in the late winter months and that can make cleaning difficult but no problems breathing. - May 2014
In the city there are many old cars and buses with terrible exhaust. Outside of Praia the air is cleaner. - Feb 2011
Good to moderate. The brumaseca (sand storms) in the winter can aggravate allergies. Most cars spew black smoke but it's a small city so there isn't too much air pollution from cars. - Sep 2012
Pretty good except for the dusty season. People with allergies can suffer. - May 2012
