Pakistan Named World's Most Polluted Country in 2025 Air Quality Report
The 2025 edition of the World Air Quality Report, published by Swiss air quality technology company IQAir, has identified Pakistan as the most polluted country globally. Bangladesh and Tajikistan follow closely in second and third positions, respectively, while India occupies the sixth spot in the rankings.
Comprehensive Data Analysis Reveals Alarming Trends
This eighth annual report is based on an extensive analysis of data collected from monitoring stations across 9,446 cities in 143 countries, regions, and territories. The information was sourced from more than 40,000 regulatory monitoring stations and low-cost sensors managed by a diverse array of contributors, including government agencies, universities, non-profit organizations, private enterprises, and engaged citizen scientists worldwide.
The findings paint a concerning picture of global air quality: Only 13 countries or territories met the World Health Organization's annual average PM2.5 guideline. These include French Polynesia, Puerto Rico, US Virgin Islands, Barbados, New Caledonia, Iceland, Bermuda, Reunion, Andorra, Australia, Grenada, Panama, and Estonia.
Widespread Exceedance of Safety Standards
According to the report, a staggering 130 out of 143 countries or territories (representing 91 percent) exceeded the WHO annual average PM2.5 guideline value. The five most polluted countries identified were Pakistan, Bangladesh, Tajikistan, Chad, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
"This downward trend serves as a stark reminder that maintaining clean air requires active stewardship and a proactive strategy—regardless of historical performance," the report emphasized.
Urban Pollution Concentrations
The world's 25 most polluted cities were all located in India, Pakistan, and China, with India being home to three of the four most polluted urban centers. Among individual cities, Uttar Pradesh's Loni emerged as the most polluted globally, followed by Hotan in China and Byrnihat in Meghalaya, India. Delhi ranked fourth, with Faisalabad in Pakistan taking the fifth position.
In contrast, Nieuwoudtville, South Africa, was identified as the world's cleanest city, recording an annual average PM2.5 concentration of just 1.0 g/m³.
Comparative Global Positions
The report provides context for other major nations: China ranks 20th among the most polluted countries, while the United States occupies the 120th position and the United Kingdom sits at 110th.
Wildfire Impact and Declining Air Quality
The 2025 report highlighted that wildfire activity severely impacted regions that have historically experienced relatively low PM2.5 levels. Consequently, only 14 percent of global cities met the WHO annual PM2.5 guideline in 2025, compared to 17 percent in 2024.
The report underscored that maintaining clean air represents a long-term commitment to incremental improvement rather than a single policy goal achieved or annual target concentration reached.
Children Bear Disproportionate Health Burden
A particularly concerning aspect highlighted in the report addresses the impact on children: "For children, however, the impact of air pollution exposure can last a lifetime; the respiratory damage sustained during developmental years is often irreversible. As the demographic with the least agency in these environmental shifts, children are left to bear the permanent health costs of air quality they did not choose."
The comprehensive findings of the 2025 World Air Quality Report serve as a critical reminder of the ongoing global challenge in addressing air pollution and protecting public health across nations.
