India Fails to Meet WHO Air Quality Standards, According to IQAir Report: 13 of the World's 20 Most Polluted Cities are in India, with Barnihat Topping the List.
Air Pollution: The World Air Quality Report 2024, released by Swiss air quality monitoring firm IQAir, reveals that Delhi has become the world's most polluted capital city. Furthermore, 13 of the world's 20 most polluted cities are located in India. However, Barnihat in Meghalaya, not Delhi or Noida, is ranked as the most polluted city on this list.
13 Indian Cities Among the World's Top 20 Most Polluted
According to the IQAir report, India continues to dominate the list of the world's most polluted cities, with 13 of the top 20 located within its borders.
List of India's Most Polluted Cities
Barnihat (Meghalaya) – Most Polluted
Delhi
Mullanpur (Punjab)
Faridabad (Haryana)
Loni (Ghaziabad, UP)
New Delhi (Delhi)
Gurugram (Haryana)
Ganganagar (Rajasthan)
Greater Noida (Uttar Pradesh)
Bhiwadi (Rajasthan)
Muzaffarnagar (Uttar Pradesh)
Hanumangarh (Rajasthan)
Noida (Uttar Pradesh)
Air Pollution Situation in India
The report indicates a 7% decrease in PM2.5 concentration in India during 2024. The average was 54.4 micrograms per cubic meter in 2023, decreasing to 50.6 micrograms per cubic meter in 2024. Despite this reduction, India remains among the world's most polluted countries.
India Ranked Fifth Most Polluted Country Globally
According to the IQAir report, India ranked as the fifth most polluted country in the world in 2024, down from third place in 2023. This year's list of the most polluted countries includes:
Chad (Africa) – First Place
Bangladesh – Second Place
Pakistan – Third Place
Congo (Africa) – Fourth Place
India – Fifth Place
Neighboring Countries' Situation
The report includes four cities from Pakistan and one from China among the world's 20 most polluted cities.
Dangers of Rising Pollution
- The consistently high pollution levels are severely impacting public health.
- Respiratory illnesses, asthma, and heart attacks are on the rise.
- The government needs to take immediate and stringent action to improve air quality.
