Metro area air quality · 2025

Oklahoma City, OK

Median AQI 53 (Moderate). 42.0% of monitored days rated Good across this metro's EPA monitoring network.

53
Median AQI
42.0%
Good-air days
1
Unhealthy days
7%
Cleaner than US metros

Aggregated from EPA Air Quality System (2025), 274 monitored days. EPA AQS →

The verdict

The Oklahoma City, OK metro runs moderate on the EPA scale, among the more polluted US metros, a median AQI of 53 with 42.0% of 274 monitored days in the Good band.

53
median AQI · Moderate
42.0%
days rated Good
7%
cleaner than US metros
459
worst single reading

1 day reached Unhealthy or worse across the metro's monitors in 2025.

Insights: Oklahoma City, OK metro. Aggregated EPA AQS monitors across this Core-Based Statistical Area logged a median Air Quality Index of 53 over 274 measured days in 2025, which corresponds to a Moderate band and a Poor metro-wide health grade. The monitored-day split lands at 115 Good days (42%), 151 Moderate (55%), and 7 Unhealthy-for-Sensitive-Groups (3%). The 90th-percentile AQI finished at 77 while the highest single-day reading hit 459 (Hazardous). Metro residents averaged roughly 12.6 clean-air days per 30-day window across the reporting year.

Across the 2020–2025 trend window, good days shifted by -19 and the median AQI moved +0 points, which classifies the multi-year trajectory as improving. The metro recorded 1 unhealthy-or-worse days combined, on those days the EPA recommends that sensitive groups limit prolonged outdoor exertion, and many schools and athletic programs adjust outdoor activity accordingly. Metros with comparable AQI profiles include Austin-Round Rock, TX (41.0% good, AQI 53); Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX (35.4% good, AQI 53); Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI (45.1% good, AQI 53).

Air Quality Summary

Median AQI

53

Moderate

Good Days

42.0%

115 of 274 days

Max AQI

459

Hazardous

Health Grade

Poor

90th pct: 77

AQI Day Breakdown (2025)

Distribution of 274 monitored days across EPA AQI categories.

Good

115

42%

Moderate

151

55%

USG

7

3%

Unhealthy

0

0%

Very Unhealthy

0

0%

Hazardous

1

0%

Health Impact Assessment

Poor

The Oklahoma City, OK metro area's air quality is rated Poor based on 42.0% good air days. There were 1 unhealthy days in 2025 when outdoor activity should be limited.

Air quality posed significant health risk in 2025. Sensitive groups, including people with asthma, COPD, cardiovascular conditions, children, pregnant women, and adults over 65, should monitor AirNow.gov alerts and limit outdoor activity on Unhealthy (AQI 151+) and Very Unhealthy (201+) days. Peak readings reached AQI 459, well into the Hazardous range.

Sensitive group advisory

People with asthma, COPD, heart disease, children, pregnant women, and adults 65+ should follow EPA AQI alerts daily and limit outdoor exertion when AQI exceeds 100. Real-time conditions: airnow.gov.

How does the Oklahoma City, OK metro compare?

How Oklahoma City, OK compares

Good-day share worse than US avg
Oklahoma City, OK 42.0%
Austin-Round Rock, TX 41.0%
US average 71.3%
Median AQI worse than US avg
Oklahoma City, OK 53
Austin-Round Rock, TX 53
US average 41
Unhealthy days / yr about average
Oklahoma City, OK 1
Austin-Round Rock, TX 0
US average 1

5-Year Air Quality Trend

Air quality is improving in the Oklahoma City, OK metro. Best year: 2024 (149 good days).

Year Good Moderate Unhealthy Median AQI
2020 134 227 0 53
2021 110 245 0 56
2022 131 225 0 54
2023 128 222 0 54
2024 149 200 0 53
2025 115 151 0 53

Metros with Similar Air Quality

Metro areas across the US with a similar median AQI to Oklahoma City, OK.

More Air Quality Data

Explore EPA air quality rankings and guides across U.S. metros and counties.

Air Quality Guides

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the air quality in the Oklahoma City, OK metro area?
The Oklahoma City, OK metro area has a median Air Quality Index (AQI) of 53, rated "Moderate." 42.0% of monitored days (115 out of 274) had good air quality in 2025.
How many unhealthy air days does Oklahoma City, OK have?
In 2025, the Oklahoma City, OK metro area recorded 1 unhealthy air days (0 Unhealthy, 0 Very Unhealthy, 1 Hazardous). The maximum AQI reached 459.
Is air quality in Oklahoma City, OK getting better or worse?
Air quality in the Oklahoma City, OK metro is improving based on 5-year trends (2020-2025). Best year: 2024 with 149 good days. Worst year: 2021 with 110 good days.
What does AQI 53 mean for health?
An AQI of 53 is "Moderate", air quality is acceptable, but some pollutants may pose a moderate health concern for a small number of sensitive individuals.
What is the 90th percentile AQI for Oklahoma City, OK?
The 90th percentile AQI for the Oklahoma City, OK metro area is 77, meaning 90% of monitored days had an AQI at or below this level. The maximum AQI recorded was 459 (Hazardous).
How does Oklahoma City, OK compare to other metro areas?
The Oklahoma City, OK metro has 42.0% good air days. Similar metros: Austin-Round Rock, TX (41.0% good), Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX (35.4% good), Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI (45.1% good).

Data Sources

Primary Source: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Air Quality System (AQS), Annual AQI by CBSA dataset, 2020–2025. See our methodology for how AQI, median, and coverage figures are computed.

Source: U.S. EPA Air Quality System (AQS) Annual AQI by CBSA summary files (metro-level) · 2020–2025

Every figure on PlainAir is rendered directly from EPA AQS air-quality monitoring data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on EPA AQS air-quality monitoring data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.