• Source:JND

The World Air Quality Report 2025, published Tuesday by the Swiss organisation IQAir, reveals a worsening global air crisis with India at its core. According to report, India ranks 6th on the list of the world's most polluted countries while Pakistan is the most polluted country in the world, followed by Bangladesh and Tajikistan. Uttar Pradesh's Loni ranked as most polluted city in India, followed by Hotan in China and Byrnihat in Meghalaya, India. Delhi is at the fourth spot, followed by Faisalabad in Pakistan.

IQair

Loni Ranked As Most Polluted City In World

Loni recorded an average PM2.5 concentration of 112.5 micrograms per cubic meter. These figures highlight a dangerous prevalence of fine particulate matter, which poses significant respiratory risks.

IQair (1)

To put this in perspective, the recorded levels are remarkably higher than international safety standards. The World Health Organisation (WHO) maintains that for air to be considered safe for breathing, PM2.5 levels should remain below a threshold of 5 micrograms per cubic meter.

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Most Polluted Capital City In World

Delhi remains most polluted capital city as report highlights a grim reality, Delhi’s annual average PM2.5 concentration stands at 82.2 µg/m³. To put this in perspective, this is 16 times higher than the threshold recommended by the World Health Organisation (WHO).

The analysis, conducted by the Swiss firm IQ Air, covered over 9,400 cities across 143 nations. It confirms a shift in the nature of India's pollution:

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No longer seasonal: High pollution is no longer a "winter-only" event triggered by crop burning; it has become a permanent, year-round structural issue.

National Rank: India is currently the sixth most polluted country globally, with a national PM2.5 average of 48.9 µg/m³.

Regional Risk: South and Central Asia are seeing a growing "cluster" of toxic cities, creating a massive public health emergency.

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Countries Met WHO Air Quality Standards

The 2025 World Air Quality Report reveals a stark global disparity in air safety. According to the report, only 13 countries or territories, French Polynesia, Puerto Rico, US Virgin Islands, Barbados, New Caledonia, Iceland, Bermuda, Reunion, Andorra, Australia, Grenada, Panama and Estonia met the World Health Organisation's (WHO) annual average PM2.5 guideline.

The report said, "130 out of 143 countries or territories (91 per cent) exceeded the WHO annual average PM2.5 guideline value. The five most polluted countries were Pakistan, Bangladesh, Tajikistan, Chad and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The world's 25 most polluted cities were all located in India, Pakistan and China, with India home to three of the four most polluted."


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