Most of the World’s Most Polluted Cities Are in India 🚬

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The 20 most air-polluted cities in 2024, based on fine particulate matter levels (PM2.5).

Data comes from IQAir. The World Health Organization's air quality guideline is for fine particulate matter (PM2.5) is <5.0

India Has The Highest Share of Most Polluted Cities

India is home to some of the world’s most air-polluted cities, accounting for 11 of the top 20 in 2024.

Byrnihat, a city in northeastern India, recorded the worst air pollution globally last year, with a PM2.5 concentration of 128.2 micrograms per cubic meter — over 25 times higher than the World Health Organization’s recommended limit.

Most of the cities on the list were located in India, Pakistan, or Central Asia. N’Djamena, Chad, was the only non-Asian city to rank among the top 20.

Indian cities struggle with severe air pollution due to a mix of industrial emissions, vehicle exhaust, and reliance on fossil fuels, all worsened by weak regulation and seasonal weather patterns.