Countries with the Dirtiest Air Revealed: Only 7 Countries Meet Standards!
A recent study has identified the countries with the dirtiest air in the world. Chad ranks first, followed by Bangladesh and Pakistan. Only 7 countries around the world meet the air quality standards set by the World Health Organization. It’s noted that Istanbul ranks 19th among the dirtiest major cities.
Swiss air quality technology company IQAir revealed in its latest report that only 7 countries worldwide meet the set standards.
TOP 5 AIR POLLUTION COUNTRIES According to the company’s 2024 report, the countries with the dirtiest air in the world are Chad, Bangladesh, Pakistan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and India.
In these 5 countries, air pollution exceeds the limit set by the World Health Organization by 10 times. In fact, it is 18 times higher in Chad, which tops the list.
DIRTIEST CAPITAL CITY REVEALED The dirtiest capital city worldwide is New Delhi, India. It is followed by N’Djamena, the capital of Chad, and Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh in third place. Kinshasa, the capital of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, secures the fourth spot, while Islamabad, the capital of Pakistan, ranks fifth.
CHINA AND INDIA IMPROVEMENTS China and India have shown slight improvements in air pollution compared to 2023. With 6 of the top 10 most polluted cities in the world in India, the country saw a 7% decrease in air pollution from 2023 to 2024. In China, pollution decreased by half between 2013 and 2020.
DIRTIEST AIR IN EUROPE The country with the dirtiest air in Europe is Bosnia and Herzegovina, followed by North Macedonia and Serbia. Only 7 countries worldwide have air completely meeting standards, including Estonia, Iceland, Australia, New Zealand, Bahamas, Grenada, and Barbados.
7 MILLION DIE FROM AIR POLLUTION Due to insufficient data, the report did not include Burkina Faso, Iran, and Afghanistan. Air pollution is considered the second-biggest risk factor for mortality globally after high blood pressure. Every year, 7 million people die worldwide due to air pollution. Current data shared by Swiss air quality technology company IQAir’s website places Istanbul at 19th among the dirtiest major cities globally.
