Bangladesh had an average PM2.5 concentration of nearly 80 micrograms per cubic meter of air (µg/m3) in 2023, becoming the most polluted country in the world. This was over 25 µg/m³ more than the average PM2.5 concentration in India. The high levels of pollution in Bangladesh can be explained by the country's persistent traffic, construction activities, and industrial fumes – in particular from brick kilns, which are highly reliant on coal.
What are PM2.5 pollutants
PM2.5 refers to fine particles that have a diameter of 2.5 micrometers or less. These tiny, light, and inhalable pollutants can stay in the air for long periods of time and are a major risk to human health when concentrations are high. The World Health Organization advises that annual mean PM2.5 concentrations should not exceed 5 µg/m³. Major sources of PM2.5 include solid waste burning, road vehicles, and power plants.
Pollution in cities
In 2023, New Delhi was the most polluted capital city in the world, with an average PM2.5 concentration of 92.7 µg/m³. This was followed by the Bangladeshi capital, Dhaka. Despite these high PM2.5 levels, the most polluted city worldwide was Begusarai – in northeastern India – with an average PM2.5 concentration of nearly 119 µg/m³.
FAQs
Bangladesh was the most polluted country in the world in 2023, with air pollutant levels more than 15 times higher than the safe annual level recommended.
Where is pollution the worst 2023? ›
A bar chart showing 15 most polluted countries on average in 2023, with Bangladesh at the top.
- Bangladesh. 79.9.
- Pakistan. 73.7.
- 54.4.
- Tajikistan. ...
- Burkina Faso. 46.6.
- Iraq. 43.8.
- United Arab Emirates. ...
- Nepal. 42.4.
Bangladesh, with an average PM2. 5 concentration of 83.3 µg/m³, ranks as the most polluted country. This pollution level is nearly eight times the WHO's annual exposure recommendation, clearly posing severe health risks to its population.
Where is the dirtiest city in the world? ›
List of most-polluted cities by particulate matter concentration
| Position | Country | City/town |
|---|
| 1 | Saudi Arabia | Dammam |
| 2 | India | Kanpur |
| 3 | India | Faridabad |
| 4 | India | Gaya |
50 more rowsChina was the largest climate polluter, making up nearly 30% of global emissions. top 20 global climate polluters — dominated by China, India, the United States and the European Union — were responsible for 83% of emissions in 2022.
Which is the cleanest country? ›
Denmark (EPI Score: 77.9)
With an EPI Score of 77.9, Denmark ranks first in the list of the cleanest countries globally. The country's efforts in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and promoting sustainable practices are the prime reasons for high EPI score.
What country has the cleanest air? ›
Australia topped the list as the least polluted country in the world, with 6 cities in the top 25. Of the 25 least polluted cities in the world with the best air quality, Nordic countries (Finland, Sweden, Norway, Iceland) dominated the rankings with some of the cleanest air in the world in 2024.
Which is the cleanest city in the world? ›
1. Copenhagen, Denmark: The Cleanest Place in the World.
Which is the world's top 1 polluted city? ›
The Top 10 Most Polluted Cities:
| Rank | City | Country |
|---|
| 1 | Dhaka | Bangladesh |
| 2 | Lahore | Pakistan |
| 3 | Begusarai | India |
| 4 | Khujand | Tajikistan |
6 more rowsDec 8, 2023
The top ten list of the world's least polluted countries as of 2021 is:
- New Caledonia – 3.8 µg/m³
- US Virgin Islands – 4.5 µg/m³
- Puerto Rico – 4.8 µg/m³
- Cape Verde – 5.1 µg/m³
- Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba – 5.1 µg/m³
- Finland – 5.5 µg/m³
- Grenada – 5.5 µg/m³
- Bahamas – 5.5 µg/m³
Smog-ridden cities in Bangladesh, Pakistan and India had the poorest air quality last year, says report. In 2023, Bangladesh recorded the worst air quality of 134 countries monitored by the Swiss climate group, IQAir.
Where is the cleanest air? ›
Cleanest air in the world in 2022. The cleanest air in the world is in Zurich. The pollution status is determined on the basis of average levels of PM2.
Where is the cleanest place on Earth? ›
- Denmark. With a total EPI score of 77.9, Denmark is the cleanest and most environmentally friendly country, according to the 2022 EPI Results. ...
- United Kingdom. The United Kingdom is the second-cleanest country in the world, receiving an EPI of 77.7. ...
- Finland. ...
- Malta. ...
- Sweden. ...
- Luxembourg. ...
- Slovenia. ...
- Austria.
Despite washing your hair and lathering your body with soap, there's one place that people often neglect to clean that doctor's say is a breeding ground for bacteria — your belly button.
What is the smoggiest city in the US? ›
1. Los Angeles. Los Angeles has a concerning track record, holding the title of the city with the highest ozone pollution for 23 out of the last 24 years.
Why is Chad's air quality so bad? ›
Efforts to reduce air pollution not only help protect our health but can also contribute to reduce climate change. Chad experience problems. Including oil, textile, meatpacking industries, vehicle, acidic rain, and waste burning, dust storm contributes to poor air quality in Chad.
Is America more polluted than Europe? ›
Another defining characteristic about Europe's pollution is that it is relatively confined to certain areas. In fact, while the overall pollution is worse than in the United States, northern Europe (Scandinavia and the Baltic States) has the same average pollution level as our nation.
Which US city has the worst air pollution? ›
Bakersfield, an industrial city known for agriculture, mining and oil refineries, has been ranked worst for year-round particle pollution five years in a row. According to the report, after Bakersfield, the worst cities for year-round particle pollution between 2020 and 2022 were: Visalia, California.
