India Ranks Sixth in Global Air Pollution: 2025 Report Highlights

The 2025 World Air Quality Report has unveiled that India ranks as the sixth most polluted country globally, with Loni identified as the most polluted city. The report, published by IQAir, highlights alarming increases in PM2.5 levels and emphasizes the need for enhanced air quality monitoring. With only 14% of cities meeting WHO guidelines, the findings underscore the urgent need for action against pollution and climate change. This report serves as a wake-up call for communities and policymakers to prioritize air quality and public health.

By Narendra Chaudhary Mar 24, 2026, 16:48 IST

Air Quality Report Reveals Alarming Pollution Levels

New Delhi, Mar 24: According to the World Air Quality Report for 2025, India stands as the sixth most polluted nation regarding fine particulate matter. Loni, a city in Uttar Pradesh, has been identified as the most polluted city worldwide, while Delhi ranks fourth.

This report, now in its eighth edition, was released by IQAir, a Swiss company specializing in air quality technology. It evaluated data from monitoring stations located in 9,446 cities across 143 countries and regions.

Among the ten cities with the highest pollution levels globally, five are situated in India: Loni, Byrnihat, Delhi, Ghaziabad, and Ula.

Pakistan tops the list as the most polluted country, followed by Bangladesh, Tajikistan, Chad, and Congo, with India in sixth place.

"The report indicates that all of the world's 25 most polluted cities are found in India, Pakistan, and China, with India housing three of the four worst offenders. Loni recorded an alarming annual average PM2.5 concentration of 112.5 µg/m³, marking a nearly 23% increase from 2024 and exceeding the WHO guideline by over 22 times," the report states.

In comparison to last year, 54 countries saw an increase in their annual average PM2.5 levels, while 75 experienced a decrease. Two countries remained unchanged, and 12 were newly included in this year's dataset.

Only 14% of global cities met the World Health Organization's (WHO) annual PM2.5 guideline of 5 µg/m³, a decline from 17% in the previous year. Just thirteen countries or territories adhered to the WHO's annual average PM2.5 guideline, including French Polynesia, Puerto Rico, and Australia.

Wildfires, exacerbated by climate change, significantly impacted global air quality in 2025, with record biomass emissions from Europe and Canada contributing around 1,380 megatons of carbon.

Frank Hammes, the Global CEO of IQAir, emphasized, "Air quality is a delicate asset that necessitates active management to safeguard public health. The 2025 World Air Quality Report highlights that without monitoring, we cannot fully comprehend the air we breathe. Enhancing access to real-time data empowers communities to take action. By reducing emissions and tackling climate change, we can achieve substantial and lasting improvements in global air quality."

The report stresses the need for expanding air quality monitoring networks, particularly through affordable sensors that provide communities, researchers, and policymakers with actionable insights.

"This open and transparent data is crucial for holding polluters accountable and ensuring a healthy environment for all," he added.