World Air Quality Report 2025, India Rank, About, Key Highlights

The World Air Quality Report 2025 findings were recently released by IQAir, presenting a detailed assessment of global air pollution, with a focus on PM2.5. The report highlights air pollution as a major public health and economic risk, emphasizing the need for sustained monitoring and proactive mitigation.

About the World Air Quality Report 2025

• The World Air Quality Report 2025, published by IQAir, presents a comprehensive assessment of air pollution across the globe, with a focus on PM2.5, fine particulate matter that poses significant risks to human health.
• PM2.5 particles are smaller than 2.5 micrometres, penetrate deep into the lungs and bloodstream, and are linked to cardiovascular, respiratory, and developmental diseases, particularly in children.
• The report analyses data from 9,446 cities across 143 countries, sourced from over 40,000 regulatory monitoring stations and low-cost sensors, contributed by governments, research institutions, non-profit organisations, private entities, and citizen scientists.
• PM2.5 concentrations are reported in micrograms per cubic metre (µg/m³), benchmarked against World Health Organization (WHO) annual guidelines, facilitating international comparison and risk assessment.
• Compared to prior editions, the 2025 report expanded geographic coverage, incorporating previously under-monitored regions and cities, thereby enhancing the global understanding of air quality patterns.

Key Highlights of World Air Quality Report 2025

The key findings of the World Air Quality Report 2025 reveal alarming trends in global and Indian air quality, underscoring both the widespread nature of PM2.5 pollution and the urgent need for effective mitigation strategies.

Global Findings of World Air Quality Report 2025

• Only 14% of global cities met the WHO annual PM2.5 guideline of 5 µg/m³ in 2025, down from 17% in 2024, highlighting deteriorating global air quality.
• 130 out of 143 countries and territories failed to meet safe air quality standards.
• Asia remains the worst-affected region, with all of the world’s top 25 most polluted cities located in India, Pakistan, or China.
• Pakistan emerged as the most polluted country, followed by Bangladesh and Tajikistan.
• Wildfires, driven by climate change, and industrial emissions contributed significantly to global PM2.5 pollution, releasing about 1,380 megatonnes of carbon from biomass burning.
• Only 13 countries/territories globally met the WHO guideline, mostly in Latin America, Caribbean, and small islands.
• The report highlights air pollution as a major public health and economic risk, requiring continuous monitoring and coordinated action.

World Air Quality Report 2025 Findings related to India

• India’s population-weighted PM2.5 concentration fell to 48.9 µg/m³ in 2025, a 3% decrease from 2024 and a 10% decrease from 2023.
• Despite improvements, India ranks 6th globally in air pollution.
• New Delhi recorded 82.2 µg/m³, a three-year low, yet remains the most polluted capital in the world.
• The most polluted city in India was Loni (Ghaziabad district, UP) with 112.5 µg/m³, followed by Byrnihat (Meghalaya) and Delhi.
• 66 of the 100 most polluted cities globally are in India, reflecting the severity of the problem.
• India’s National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) directs 64% of funding to control road dust, with less focus on biomass burning, vehicular emissions, and industrial pollution.
• India’s extensive air quality monitoring network (259 cities) provides more comprehensive data than neighboring countries, but also exposes the widespread scale of pollution.

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