With air pollution levels rising, India and Pakistan have once again emerged as key hotspots in a new global report. A new air quality report has revealed alarming levels of pollution across the region, highlighting the urgent need for stronger action

Pakistan ranked most polluted country

Pakistan was identified as the most polluted country in the world in 2025, according to a new report. Levels of fine particulate matter, known as PM2.5, were recorded at up to 13 times higher than the limits recommended by the World Health Organization.

The findings come from Swiss air quality monitoring firm IQAir, which released its annual global report on Tuesday.

Most countries fail to meet WHO standards

The report noted that only 13 countries and territories managed to maintain average PM2.5 levels within the WHO guideline of less than 5 micrograms per cubic metre in 2025. This is an increase from seven countries in 2024.

However, the broader picture remains concerning. Out of 143 monitored countries and territories, 130 failed to meet the recommended air quality standards.

Other highly polluted countries

Bangladesh and Tajikistan were ranked second and third among the most polluted countries.

Chad, which was previously considered the most polluted country in 2024, dropped to fourth place in 2025. However, experts suggest that this change may not reflect actual improvement.

The lead author of the IQAir report explained that missing data made it appear as though PM2.5 levels had fallen in Chad, but in reality, the lack of information means the situation remains unclear.

Data gaps affect global monitoring

A key reason for missing data is the shutdown of a major air quality monitoring programme by the United States in March. The programme had collected pollution data from embassies and consulates around the world.

The decision was made due to budget constraints and removed an important source of information for several pollution-prone regions.

As a result, countries such as Burundi, Turkmenistan and Togo were excluded from the 2025 report due to insufficient data.

India’s Loni tops most polluted cities list

At the city level, Loni in India was ranked as the most polluted city in the world in 2025, with average PM2.5 levels reaching 112.5 micrograms per cubic metre.

Hotan, located in China’s Xinjiang region, followed closely with levels of 109.6 micrograms.

The report highlighted that all of the world’s top 25 most polluted cities were located in India, Pakistan and China.

Fewer cities meet air quality standards

Only 14 percent of cities globally met the WHO air quality standard in 2025, a decline from 17 percent in the previous year.

Factors such as large-scale wildfires in Canada contributed to rising PM2.5 levels, with pollution spreading across the United States and even reaching parts of Europe.

Countries showing improvement

Despite the overall challenges, some countries managed to maintain safe air quality levels. These included Australia, Iceland, Estonia and Panama.

Several countries also recorded improvements. Laos, Cambodia and Indonesia reported noticeable reductions in PM2.5 levels, largely due to wetter and windier La Niña weather conditions.

Mongolia also saw a significant improvement, with average pollution levels dropping by 31 percent to 17.8 micrograms per cubic metre.

Mixed global trends

The report found that 75 countries experienced a decrease in PM2.5 levels in 2025 compared to the previous year. At the same time, 54 countries recorded an increase in pollution levels.

These mixed trends indicate that while some progress is being made, air pollution continues to remain a major global challenge that requires consistent monitoring and action.