Global Air Quality Report Reveals Only 17% of Cities Met WHO Standards in 2024

The study highlights severe pollution in South Asia, with India home to 6 of the 10 most polluted cities, while only seven countries achieved safe air levels.

The IQAir World Air Quality Report analyzed data from over 40,000 monitoring stations across nearly 9,000 cities worldwide, finding that 83% of cities exceeded WHO PM2.5 air quality guidelines in 2024.
Chad recorded the highest PM2.5 levels globally, followed by Bangladesh, Pakistan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and India, all surpassing WHO guidelines by at least tenfold.
India's capital, Delhi, remained the most polluted capital city globally, while Byrnihat, India, reported PM2.5 levels over 25 times the WHO limit, making it the most polluted metropolitan area.
Only seven countries, including Australia, New Zealand, and Iceland, met WHO air quality standards, with Mayaguez, Puerto Rico, recording the cleanest air at 1.1 µg/m³ PM2.5.
The report calls for stronger global action on emissions, renewable energy investment, and improved air quality monitoring, particularly in regions like Africa and Southeast Asia, where data gaps persist.