Only seven countries in the world have good air quality and most of the world breathes in dirty air, a report has found.
Switzerland-based air quality monitoring database IQAir analyzed data from 40,000 air quality monitoring stations in 138 countries and found that Chad, Congo, Bangladesh, Pakistan and India had the dirtiest air. India had six of the nine most polluted cities with the industrial town of Byrnihat in northeastern India the worst.
2024 IQAir World Air Quality Report
“Seven countries met the WHO annual average PM2.5 guideline of 5 µg/m3: Australia, Bahamas, Barbados, Estonia, Grenada, Iceland, and New Zealand,” the report said.
The five most polluted countries in 2024 were:
- Chad (91.8 µg/m3): More than 18 times higher than the WHO PM2.5 annual guideline.
- Bangladesh (78.0 µg/m3): More than 15 times higher than the WHO PM2.5 annual guideline.
- Pakistan (73.7 µg/m3): More than 14 times higher than the WHO PM2.5 annual guideline.
- Democratic Republic of the Congo (58.2 µg/m3): More than 11 times higher than the WHO PM2.5 annual guideline.
- India (50.6 µg/m3): More than 10 times higher than the WHO PM2.5 annual guideline.
Byrnihat, India was the most polluted metropolitan area of 2024, with an annual average PM2.5 concentration of 128.2 µg/m3.
“Air pollution remains a critical threat to both human health and environmental stability, yet vast populations remain unaware of their exposure levels,” says Frank Hammes, Global CEO of IQAir. “Air quality data saves lives. It creates much needed awareness, informs policy decisions, guiding public health interventions, and empowers communities to take action to reduce air pollution and protect future generations.”
The unseen health impact poor air quality has
Poor air quality is a significant environmental and public health concern, affecting millions worldwide. Long-term exposure to polluted air can lead to severe respiratory, cardiovascular, and neurological conditions. Children, the elderly, and individuals with preexisting health conditions are particularly vulnerable.
Air pollution, especially fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and nitrogen dioxide (NO₂), can cause respiratory diseases such as asthma, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) and lung infections. It can also lead to heart related issues like high blood pressure, heart attack, stroke and irregular heart beat.
Poor air quality can cause low birth weight, premature births, and developmental disorders in infants. Children exposed to pollutants from an early age may suffer from weakened lungs and impaired cognitive abilities.
