Asia Dominates List of World's Most Polluted Cities in 2024

A new report reveals that 19 of the 20 most polluted cities globally are in Asia, with India leading the rankings, while only seven countries met WHO air quality standards.

India accounts for 13 of the top 20 most polluted cities, including Byrnihat, which recorded the highest PM2.5 concentration of 128 micrograms per cubic meter in 2024.
Chad and Bangladesh were identified as the world's most polluted countries, with PM2.5 levels more than 15 times higher than WHO guidelines.
The U.S. State Department has ceased sharing global air quality data from its embassies, raising concerns about monitoring gaps, particularly in Africa and Asia.
Only 17% of cities worldwide met WHO air quality standards, with just seven countries including Australia, New Zealand, and Iceland achieving compliance.
Air pollution remains a significant health threat, reducing life expectancy, causing millions of deaths annually, and exacerbating climate change-related issues.