Only 13 nations breathe safe air amid global pollution rise

A new global assessment by IQAir has found that air pollution remains a widespread and worsening problem, with only a small fraction of the world’s cities meeting international safety standards.

According to the company’s 2025 World Air Quality Report, cited by Euronews, India is home to the most polluted city globally, while just 14% of cities worldwide meet safe air quality levels—down from 17% the previous year. The report is based on data collected from 9,446 cities across 143 countries, regions and territories, offering one of the most comprehensive snapshots of global air pollution.

The findings point to a broader deterioration in air quality, driven largely by human-induced climate change. Researchers highlight wildfire smoke as a major contributing factor in 2025, alongside dust storms and other extreme weather events intensified by fossil fuel use. Europe experienced its worst wildfire season on record, with blazes peaking in August and causing widespread destruction to farmland, forests and homes. Extreme weather events—including heatwaves, floods and droughts—resulted in at least €43 billion in economic losses across the continent.

The report uses guidelines set by the World Health Organisation for PM2.5—fine particulate matter small enough to penetrate deep into the lungs and bloodstream. These particles, measuring less than 2.5 micrometres, are linked to respiratory diseases, cardiovascular conditions and long-term illnesses such as cancer. The WHO’s recommended safe limit is 5 micrograms per cubic metre (µg/m³), yet 91% of countries analysed exceeded this threshold.

Globally, only 13 countries and territories met the WHO standard in 2025. In Europe, just three—Andorra, Estonia and Iceland—remained within safe limits. Other regions meeting the guideline included Australia, Barbados, Bermuda, French Polynesia, Grenada, New Caledonia, Panama, Puerto Rico, Réunion and the US Virgin Islands.

The most polluted countries were Pakistan, Bangladesh, Tajikistan, Chad and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Meanwhile, the 25 most polluted cities were concentrated in India, Pakistan and China. The most polluted city was Loni, where average PM2.5 levels reached 112.5 µg/m³—more than 22 times the WHO guideline and significantly higher than in 2024. Pollution sources there include traffic, industrial emissions, road dust and waste dumping.

At the other end of the scale, Nieuwoudtville recorded the cleanest air, with PM2.5 levels of just 1.0 µg/m³.

Across Europe, air quality trends were mixed. In 2025, 23 countries recorded rising pollution levels, while 18 saw improvements. Switzerland and Greece experienced increases of more than 30%, largely due to wildfire smoke and Saharan dust. By contrast, Malta recorded the largest decrease—nearly 24%—helped by a shift away from heavy fuel oil and policies targeting vehicle emissions.

Real-time monitoring data shows ongoing volatility. At one point, Paris ranked among the world’s most polluted cities, alongside Beijing, Dhaka, Wuhan and Seoul, while London also entered the top 10. The EU’s Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service recently warned of elevated pollution levels linked to agricultural emissions, pollen and stagnant weather conditions, with several European countries expected to be affected.

Despite some improvements in parts of the world—75 countries recorded reductions in pollution—significant data gaps remain. Many regions lack access to real-time monitoring, and recent policy changes have further limited coverage. The Finland-based Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air reported weakened monitoring in dozens of countries.

“Without monitoring, we cannot fully understand what’s in the air we breathe,” said IQAir CEO Frank Hammes. “Expanding access to real-time data empowers communities to act. By reducing emissions and addressing climate change, we can drive meaningful, lasting improvements in global air quality.”

By Tamilla Hasanova