State air quality · 2024

Georgia Air Quality

Across 26 monitored counties, Georgia averages a median AQI of 43 (Good) and 68.7% good-air days, from EPA AQS.

43
Avg median AQI
68.7%
Good-air days
26
Counties monitored
17%
Cleaner than US states

Verify with AirNow → · EPA AQS →

The verdict

According to EPA Air Quality System monitoring data, across 26 monitored counties, Georgia averages a good median AQI of 43, among the more polluted US states, with 68.7% of days in the Good band, but the gap between Dawson and Bibb County is the real story.

43
avg median AQI · Good
68.7%
days in the Good band
8/26
counties ≥75% Good days
17%
cleaner than other states

Cleanest: Dawson County (94.4% Good days). Most polluted: Bibb County (49.5%).

Data updated July 2026

Georgia: 26 monitored counties (2024), avg median AQI 43 (Good), 68.7% good-air days, 4 total unhealthy days (0.1%). Best: Dawson County (94.4%). Worst: Bibb County (49.5%). Worst single reading: AQI 181. EPA AQS methodology + AQI interpretation →

A statewide average smooths over real differences between counties, so it should be read as a starting point rather than a verdict on any one place. Within almost every state, a handful of urban or wildfire-prone counties carry most of the unhealthy days while rural counties sit near the clean end of the scale, and the gap between the best and worst county is often wider than the gap between two neighboring states. Coverage matters too: the Environmental Protection Agency places monitors where population density, emission sources, or attainment status warrant them, so a state with few monitored counties is described by a thinner sample than one blanketed with stations. The figures here count only the days each monitor actually reported, which keeps lightly monitored and heavily monitored counties on comparable footing but cannot speak for the roughly two thousand U.S. counties that have no monitor at all. For a fuller picture, open the individual county profiles below and compare the primary pollutant, the share of Good days, and the five-year trend for the places that matter to you.

Counties Monitored

26

Avg Good Days %

68.7%

Avg Median AQI

43

Total Unhealthy Days

4

Best Air Quality

Dawson County

Worst Air Quality

Bibb County

Which counties in Georgia have the cleanest and most polluted air?

Cleanest counties in Georgia

Share of monitored days rated Good (AQI 0–50)

  1. 1 Dawson County 94.4%
  2. 2 Rockdale County 93.8%
  3. 3 Cobb County 92.5%
  4. 4 Murray County 90.7%
  5. 5 Pike County 88.2%
  6. 6 Glynn County 81.9%
  7. 7 Douglas County 81.6%
  8. 8 Charlton County 79%
  9. 9 Henry County 74.7%
  10. 10 Floyd County 72%
  11. 11 Coffee County 69.1%
  12. 12 Chatham County 66.7%

Good-day share · EPA Air Quality System

County Good % Median AQI
Dawson 94.4% 35
Rockdale 93.8% 36
Cobb 92.5% 36
Murray 90.7% 39
Pike 88.2% 39
Glynn 81.9% 39
Douglas 81.6% 40
Charlton 79.0% 24
Henry 74.7% 41
Floyd 72.0% 38
Coffee 69.1% 44
Chatham 66.7% 44
Clarke 66.7% 44
Gwinnett 64.5% 45
DeKalb 61.8% 46
Houston 61.6% 44
Muscogee 59.6% 46
Washington 57.9% 47
Fulton 55.8% 49
Dougherty 55.6% 46
Walker 55.1% 46
Hall 55.0% 46
Clayton 53.1% 49
Richmond 52.8% 49
Lowndes 51.9% 49
Bibb 49.5% 51

Reading Georgia's air quality

A statewide average is a starting point, not a verdict, what matters is the county you actually breathe in.

  • Open your county's profile for its primary pollutant, Good-day share, and where it sits among 26 monitored counties. County profiles
  • Dawson County (94.4% Good days) and Bibb County (49.5%) bracket the range, compare both before drawing a conclusion. See the cleanest
  • New to the scale? The AQI guide explains what a median of 43 means for sensitive groups. Understand AQI

Figures count only days each EPA monitor reported; roughly two thousand U.S. counties have no monitor and are not represented. Data: EPA AQS annual summaries, 2020–2025.

Explore Georgia air quality

Dig into the cleanest and most-polluted counties, metro areas, and national rankings.

Air Quality Guides

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the air quality in Georgia?
Georgia has 26 counties with EPA air quality monitoring. The average median AQI across all monitored counties is 43, and 68.7% of monitored days have good air quality on average.
Which county in Georgia has the best air quality?
Dawson County has the best air quality in Georgia based on EPA AQS data. Counties are ranked by the percentage of monitored days with "Good" AQI (0-50).
Which county in Georgia has the worst air quality?
Bibb County has the worst air quality in Georgia. The state recorded 4 total unhealthy air days across all 26 monitored counties.
How many counties in Georgia have air quality monitors?
26 counties in Georgia have active EPA Air Quality System (AQS) monitoring stations. Only counties with monitors are included in AQI data. Unmonitored counties are not represented.
How many unhealthy air days does Georgia have?
Georgia recorded 4 total unhealthy air days across all 26 monitored counties. These include days rated Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups, Unhealthy, Very Unhealthy, or Hazardous on the EPA AQI scale.

Data Sources

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

Coverage: 26 counties in Georgia with active monitoring stations. Unmonitored counties are not represented.

Source: U.S. EPA Air Quality System (AQS) Annual AQI by county summary files, aggregated to the state 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.

Informational only, not professional advice. Data from EPA AQS. See our disclaimer.