World Air Quality Report 2024 is out now and the findings are raising the concern over air pollution. Bangladesh, Pakistan and India faced the highest AQI levels in 2024. India facing a major issue in the air quality levels as 94/100 most polluted cities are in India as ranking in the World Air Quality City Ranking 2024. Not just this, New Delhi ranked top for the highest AQI levels in the world among other cities. Know where AQI levels peaked and which cities are breathing the cleanest air in the world.
Top Continents with the Highest AQI Levels in 2024
Out of the six continents in the world, only Oceania recorded 100% “Good” air quality levels in every city. Other continents reported AQI levels ranging from moderate to poor in 2024. Here’s how they rank:
- ASIA: AQI levels in Asia remain the highest among all continents, with only 32% of cities meeting the “Good” AQI level. Since the 94/100 most polluted cities are in India, 68.03% of cities recorded high AQI levels.
- AFRICA: With limited air quality monitoring, 36% of cities reported “Good” AQI, while the rest experienced elevated pollution levels.
Top Countries with the Highest AQI Levels in 2024
The report highlights that Asia dominates the list of continents with the worst air quality with Bangladesh, Pakistan, and India taking the top three spots for the highest AQI levels. Here’s a breakdown:
Bangladesh (AQI: 140)
- Dhaka, the capital, recorded an annual average PM2.5 concentration of 75 µg/m³, equivalent to smoking 1,244 cigarettes per year.
- Only 13 days in 2024 had “Good” air quality in Dhaka.
Pakistan (AQI: 115)
- Peshawar ranked as the most polluted city in Pakistan, with an annual PM2.5 level of 74 µg/m³, equating to 1,228 cigarettes per year.
- Air quality in Pakistan remained in the “Poor” category throughout the year.
India (AQI: 111)
- New Delhi topped the global list of most polluted cities, with an AQI of 169 and PM2.5 levels of 95 µg/m³, equivalent to smoking 1,576 cigarettes annually.
- Out of 365 days, New Delhi experienced only 1 day of “Good” air quality. Moreover, in the World Air Quality City Ranking 2024, 94/100 most polluted cities are in India.
Other countries with high AQI levels include Nepal (AQI: 100), Egypt (AQI: 92), and China (AQI: 86). In China, Kashgar was the most polluted city, with PM2.5 levels of 58 µg/m³, equivalent to smoking 962 cigarettes per year.
Top Countries with the Lowest AQI Levels in 2024
On the brighter side, some countries are leading the way with cleaner air. Oceania emerged as the least polluted continent, with 54.5% of its cities meeting the WHO’s annual PM2.5 guideline of 5 µg/m³. Here are the top performers:
Greenland (AQI: 9)
Greenland boasts the cleanest air globally, with minimal pollution and PM2.5 levels well below WHO guidelines.
Australia (AQI: 21)
Cities like Sydney and Melbourne recorded PM2.5 levels of 7 µg/m³, equivalent to smoking just 116 cigarettes per year.
New Zealand (AQI: 28)
Auckland and Wellington maintained “Good” air quality throughout the year, with PM2.5 levels of 8 µg/m³, equating to 133 cigarettes annually.
Other countries with low AQI levels include Finland (AQI: 21), Canada (AQI: 27), and Sweden (AQI: 25).
WHO Compliance: a harsh reality for the world
The report reveals that only 7.6% of cities worldwide met the WHO’s annual PM2.5 guideline of 5 µg/m³. Here’s the breakdown by continent:
- Asia: Only 2.3% of cities met the guideline, with 97.7% exceeding it.
- Africa: A shocking 0% of cities met the guideline.
- Europe: 7.1% of cities complied with the WHO standard.
- North America: 14.3% of cities met the guidelines.
- Oceania: 54.5% of cities achieved the WHO standard, making it the cleanest continent.
Cigarette Equivalents: How many cigarettes is your country or city breathing without burning one?
The report uses Berkeley Earth’s thumb rule to equate PM2.5 levels to cigarette smoking: 1 cigarette = 22 µg/m³ PM2.5. Here’s how some of the most polluted cities stack up:
- New Delhi, India: 1,576 cigarettes per year.
- Dhaka, Bangladesh: 1,244 cigarettes per year.
- Peshawar, Pakistan: 1,228 cigarettes per year.
- Kashgar, China: 962 cigarettes per year.
- Lahore, Pakistan: 913 cigarettes per year.
In contrast, cities with cleaner air, like Sydney, Australia, equate to just 116 cigarettes per year, while Greenland residents effectively smoke 0 cigarettes annually.
What Can Be Done?
The report underscores the urgent need for global action to reduce air pollution and protect the health of residents. Governments should enforce stricter regulations on emissions and investment in renewable energy by expanding the as hyperlocal air quality monitoring can help in creating the network to know the pollution hotspots. These can support in initiating the policies for reducing carbon footprint and supporting green and clean.
Note: Some cities are not present in the report, you can check the data on AQI.in.
Conclusion
The worldwide air quality report 2024 draws everyone’s attention towards the condition of the air we breathe. Only 7.6% means more than 90% of the world is breathing polluted air. Some cities and countries also set an example that clean air and a healthier environment are possible. It means the air quality of 94/100 most polluted cities of India can also see good air quality levels. But it can only become true with the necessary steps to protect the air for future generations.
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