The Federal Environment Agency is presenting a first analysis of the air pollution situation in Germany of the year 2012 (as per 17/01/2013) compared to previous years. The analysis is based on preliminary, not finally validated data from the monitoring networks of the Länder (German federal states) and the Federal Environment Agency. Due to comprehensive quality assurance activities in the monitoring networks of the Länder and the Federal Environment Agency, finally validated data will only be available in the first half of the current year. It may therefore be that the numbers will change. A comparison of the previous years’ preliminary analysis with the respective final analysis shows that the pollution situation is at least not overrated and that the preliminary data thus enable a general evaluation of the situation in the past year. The analysis focuses on the assessment of the pollution situation of particulate matter (PM10), nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and ozone, which still show exceedances of the applicable limit and target values for the protection of human health.