In this article, we look at the 10 most air polluted cities in the world. You can read about corporations that have committed themselves to combating pollution and are making investments in technologies that reduce carbon from the atmosphere by heading over to the 30 Most Air Polluted Cities In The World.
10. Shenyang, China
AQI US: 169
According to IQAir, the air quality in the Chinese city Shenyang is unhealthy for all groups of people, due to a high concentration of PM2.5 pollutant in the air of 72µg/m³ – which is more than 14 times higher than WHO’s guidelines.
9. Kampala, Uganda
AQI US: 170
Uganda’s capital Kampala is among the most air polluted cities in the world due to carbon emissions from vehicles, factories, and waste burning.
8. Mumbai, India
AQI US: 170
Mumbai suffers from high air pollution. According to experts, much of the dust and smog in the atmosphere during winter is due to winds from ‘western ghats’ mixing up with warmer air along the seaside.
7. Jakarta, Indonesia
AQI US: 171
Next on the list is Indonesia’s capital, Jakarta, where air quality is deemed unhealthy for people of all groups according to IQAir. Vehicle emissions, coal power plants, and forest fires are the main sources of air pollution in the city.
6. Phnom Penh, Cambodia
AQI US: 171
Phnom Penh, the capital city of Cambodia, is one of the most air polluted cities in the world, where pollution is on the rise to an increasing number of private vehicles in the city to cater to a large and growing population.
5. Accra, Ghana
AQI US: 197
Ghana’s capital Accra’s air quality is close to the ‘very unhealthy’ range, with its AQI score approaching 200. According to IQAir, the city’s concentration of PM2.5 air pollutants is nearly 35 times higher than the acceptable standards as per WHO.
4. Kolkata, India
AQI US: 226
Kolkata in India’s West Bengal state is one of the most polluted cities in the world in terms of air quality. Home to nearly 15 million residents, the major cause of pollution in the city is emissions from transportation.
3. Delhi, India
AQI US: 231
Air pollution levels in Delhi are over 40 times higher than WHO guidelines, and in November 2023, air pollutants in India’s capital spiked to 100 times the limit. According to a report, residents in the city are likely to see their life expectancy drop by 12 years if the current pollution levels persist.
2. Lahore, Pakistan
AQI US: 232
Lahore is one of the most air polluted cities in the world, with the air quality being ‘very unhealthy’ according to IQAir. Health experts advise people in Lahore to use air purifiers inside, and use a mask when outside to protect themselves from air pollutants. The city faces dense smog in winters that reduces visibility and leads to numerous health issues for residents, such as respiratory illnesses.
1. Dhaka, Bangladesh
AQI US: 323
Bangladesh’s capital, Dhaka, is the most air polluted city in the world, where air quality has been deemed as hazardous by the IQAir as its PM2.5 concentration levels are more than 60 times higher than WHO’s guidelines.
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