Pakistan Tops Global Pollution Rankings in 2025, data shows
The report found that 130 out of 143 countries failed to meet WHO air quality standards, with Bangladesh and Tajikistan ranking second and third. India’s city Loni was the most polluted globally, while all top 25 cities were located in India, Pakistan and China.
Globally, only 14% of cities met WHO standards in 2025, down from 17% a year earlier, highlighting worsening air quality trends. Wildfires in Canada also contributed to rising pollution levels across the United States and parts of Europe.
The report noted that some countries, including Australia, Iceland, Estonia and Panama, managed to meet WHO air quality guidelines in 2025.
However, data gaps impacted global rankings after the United States shut down a key air monitoring programme, making it harder to accurately assess pollution levels in several countries. Meanwhile, some improvement was seen in parts of Asia, with countries like Laos, Cambodia and Indonesia reporting lower PM2.5 levels due to favorable weather conditions.