By Priyanka Roshan | March 11, 2025
Air pollution has become a global crisis, with smog-choked cities in South Asia and dust storms sweeping across Africa. The 2024 World Air Quality Report by IQAir paints a worrying picture—only seven countries worldwide met the WHO’s PM2.5 safety guidelines last year. Here’s a look at the 10 most polluted nations in 2024, ranked by their annual PM2.5 concentration levels.
(Image: Canva)
(Image: Canva)
Chad ranks as the most polluted country, with air quality 18 times worse than WHO guidelines. Widespread wood and charcoal burning, extreme drought, and frequent dust storms create hazardous conditions, making clean air nearly impossible to find.
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Dhaka remains one of the world’s most polluted cities, with brick kilns, industrial waste, and vehicle emissions worsening air quality. With PM2.5 levels 15 times above WHO limits, Bangladesh faces a severe public health crisis.
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Pakistan’s air pollution is fueled by crop burning, industrial emissions, and heavy traffic congestion. Cities like Lahore and Karachi experience thick winter smog, turning the sky gray and pushing PM2.5 levels 14 times above WHO safety standards.
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This pollution hotspot faces severe air quality issues due to mining, deforestation, and biomass burning. With pollution 11 times WHO limits, urban areas struggle to cope.
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Despite a 7% drop in pollution from 2023, India still dominates the list, with 13 of the world’s 20 most polluted cities. Delhi, Noida, and Bhiwadi suffer from heavy vehicular emissions, industrial waste, and crop burning, making air pollution a year-round problem.
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Coal-powered plants, industrial waste, and poor urban planning have pushed Dushanbe, Tajikistan’s capital, into an air pollution crisis. With PM2.5 levels nine times WHO limits, clean air remains a luxury.
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Surrounded by the Himalayas, Nepal is experiencing worsening air pollution. Kathmandu’s smog, caused by construction dust, vehicle emissions, and wildfire smoke, traps toxic air within the valley, making it one of the world’s most polluted capitals.
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Uganda’s rapid urbanization, deforestation, and unregulated vehicle emissions have turned cities like Kampala into pollution hotspots. With PM2.5 levels eight times WHO’s safety standard, air pollution is now a major health threat.
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Despite its eco-friendly policies, Rwanda’s urban expansion, increasing traffic, and deforestation have worsened air pollution. Even Kigali, the capital, struggles to maintain breathable air, pushing PM2.5 levels dangerously high.
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One of the world’s poorest nations, Burundi heavily relies on wood and charcoal for cooking, causing both indoor and outdoor air pollution. The capital Bujumbura faces worsening dust, smoke, and vehicle fumes, ranking it among the most polluted cities globally.