World Air Quality Report 2025

Why in News?

India was ranked as the sixth most polluted country globally in the World Air Quality Report 2025 released by IQAir.

Global Context

• Report Coverage - 143 countries.
• WHO Guideline - Annual average PM2.5 should be ≤ 5 µg/m³.
• Report Findings - It highlights a severe global air pollution crisis, with 91% of surveyed countries/territories failing to meet World Health Organization (WHO) annual air quality standards.
• Only 14% of cities met the recommended PM2.5 guideline of or less.
• Best Air Quality - Only 13, including Iceland, Australia, Panama, Estonia, French Polynesia.
• Global Ranking (2025) - Top 5 Most Polluted Countries -
  • Pakistan
  • Bangladesh
  • Tajikistan
  • Chad
  • DR Congo
• Regional Trend - 17 of the world’s 20 most polluted cities are in Central & South Asia (majority in India and Pakistan).
• Overall Trend - The report shows that pollution is heavily driven by industrial agriculture, fossil fuels, and wildfires.

Key Findings in India

• Trend Pattern - India ranked 3^rd in 2023, 5^th in 2024 and 6^th in 2025.
• Most polluted city in the world - 2025 – Loni (Ghaziabad) - PM2.5 levels exceeding the WHO guideline by over 22 times.
• Most Polluted metropolitan cities - Begusarai (Bihar) and Guwahati (Assam) emerged as two of the most polluted metropolitan areas in the world.
• Most polluted capital- New Delhi.
• Polluted Cities in India - 74 of the 100 most polluted cities globally were in India (2024), down from 83 in 2023.
• Regional Shifts - Northern Indian cities showed slight improvements due to stricter enforcement of the NCAP (National Clean Air Programme).
• But, Air quality in South Indian cities like Bengaluru and Hyderabad showed a slight decline due to increased vehicular emissions and construction.
• Key Drivers of Pollution - Transport & Industry - Vehicular emissions remain the primary contributor in urban centers.
• Biomass Burning - Stubble burning in North India and the use of solid fuels for cooking in rural areas.
• Climate Factors - El Niño patterns in early 2025 led to stagnant air conditions in South Asia, preventing the dispersal of pollutants.
• Dust Storms - Increased frequency of dust storms from the Thar Desert affecting Rajasthan, Haryana, and Delhi.

References

The Hindu | AQI