Out of the World’s 100 Most Polluted Cities, Nearly All Are in India !

According to the latest global air quality rankings by AQI.in, India now dominates the list of the world’s most polluted cities. Out of the top 20, 13 cities are in India, with Byrnihat in Meghalaya taking the #1 spot for the highest levels of fine particulate matter (PM2.5). Byrnihat has recorded an alarming PM2.5 concentration of 128.2 μg/m³, over 12 times the safe limit prescribed by the World Health Organization (10 μg/m³). This means that the air residents breathe is not just unhealthy—it’s toxic. Experts warn that long-term exposure at this level can cause chronic respiratory diseases, heart conditions, and shortened life expectancy.
While Byrnihat leads globally, Delhi remains the most polluted national capital in the world with an average PM2.5 level of 108.3 μg/m³. Despite government initiatives such as the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) and odd-even traffic restrictions, Delhi’s air continues to stay in the “hazardous” zone every winter due to vehicle emissions, crop burning, and industrial pollutants. Other cities in India dominating the global pollution list include Mullanpur (102.3 μg/m³), Faridabad (101.2 μg/m³), Lucknow, Gurugram, and Ghaziabad, all registering dangerously high pollution levels. This cluster of polluted urban areas shows how widespread the air crisis has become—extending far beyond the metros into smaller towns and industrial belts. The broader trend reveals that Central and South Asia are at the heart of the global air pollution crisis. Countries like India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh consistently record PM2.5 levels that far exceed WHO’s recommended limits. Even Karaganda in Kazakhstan (104.8 μg/m³) and Lahore in Pakistan (102.1 μg/m³) are among the world’s top polluted cities, underscoring a regional environmental emergency. Doctors across northern India report a rise in asthma, chronic bronchitis, cardiovascular complications, and lung infections, even among children. Studies suggest that residents in highly polluted regions could lose up to 9 years of life expectancy due to sustained exposure to PM2.5 pollutants. The invisible poison in the air has now become the most visible public health threat. Globally, 91% of countries now fail to meet WHO’s air quality standards. While regions like Oceania maintain relatively clean air, nations across Asia and parts of Africa are facing severe deterioration due to unchecked industrial growth, urban expansion, and poor environmental governance.

Cities like Beijing (194 AQI), Karachi (163 AQI), and Wuhan (160 AQI) remain significant contributors to global air pollution, though India’s sheer number of affected cities makes it the epicenter of the crisis. Environmental experts say India’s pollution crisis demands urgent structural reforms — from stricter industrial emission norms to better public transport, cleaner fuels, and agricultural reform to address stubble burning. Without drastic and sustained policy action, India’s “growth story” risks turning into a public health tragedy.