India accounts for 13 of the world’s 20 most polluted cities, with Bernihat in Assam topping the list as the most polluted city globally. Delhi remains the most polluted capital city in the world. These findings were revealed in a report on global air quality released on Tuesday.
India ranks fifth among the world’s most polluted countries, dropping from the third position in 2023. The list also includes four cities from Pakistan and one from China, according to the swiss firm IQAir Report 2024. It also says only 17% of global cities meet WHO air pollution guideline.
35% of Indian Cities Face Severe Pollution
Air pollution in Delhi has worsened, with the annual average concentration of PM2.5 particles increasing from 102.4 µg/m³ in 2023 to 108.3 µg/m³ in 2024.
The 20 most polluted cities in the world include Bernihat, Delhi, Mallanpur (Punjab), Faridabad, Loni, Gurugram, Ganganagar, Greater Noida, Bhiwadi, Hanumangarh, and Noida. In India, 35% of cities have annual PM2.5 levels more than ten times the WHO recommended limit of 5 µg/m³.
Although India’s overall PM2.5 levels saw a 7% decline in 2024, air pollution continues to pose significant health risks.
India Rank Fifth in Most Polluted Countries in 2024
The most polluted countries in 2024 include Chad, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Congo and India, all of which are grappling with severe air quality issues and high levels of pollution.
Whereas the least polluted places in the world include The Bahamas, Bermuda, French Polynesia, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico, where air quality remains exceptionally clean and well below harmful pollution levels.
Air Pollution Caused 1.5 million Deaths in India
Air pollution remains a significant health burden in India, reducing life expectancy by an estimated 5.2 years. A study by The Lancet Planetary Health revealed that between 2009 and 2019, air pollution contributed to 1.5 million deaths in the country.
The primary sources of pollution include biomass burning, industrial emissions, and vehicular pollution. PM2.5 particles, small enough to penetrate deep into the lungs and bloodstream, significantly increase the risk of respiratory illnesses and heart disease.
WHO Chief Scientist and advisor to India’s Health Ministry, Soumya Swaminathan, stated that while India has improved air pollution data collection, it has yet to take effective steps to reduce pollution.
