Pakistan has been ranked as the country with the most polluted air in the world for 2025, according to an annual report published by Swiss air quality monitoring company IQAir. According to the data, levels of hazardous PM2.5 particles in Pakistan have reached up to 13 times the limit recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO), raising the alarm about serious risks to public health.
The report also presents a worrying picture at a global level: 130 of the 143 countries and territories analyzed do not meet WHO air quality standards. Only 13 countries managed to keep PM2.5 levels below the limit of 5 micrograms per cubic meter, a slight improvement compared to 2024. After Pakistan, the most affected countries are Bangladesh and Tajikistan, while Chad, which topped the list a year ago, has fallen to fourth place.
The most polluted cities in the world
The most polluted city for 2025 is Loni in India, with an average of 112.5 micrograms of PM2.5. It is followed by Hotan in China's Xinjiang region. According to the report, the 25 most polluted cities on the planet are located in India, Pakistan and China. The report also highlights the lack of complete data for some countries, following the United States' decision to discontinue an international air quality monitoring program in March 2025 for budgetary reasons. As a result, countries such as Burundi, Turkmenistan and Togo were not included in the report due to a lack of data.
However, some countries such as Laos, Cambodia and Indonesia have seen significant improvements, partly thanks to the La Niña climate phenomenon, which brings more rainfall and stronger winds. In Mongolia, PM2.5 pollution has fallen by 31%, reaching 17.8 micrograms per cubic meter. In total, 75 countries reported a decrease in pollution compared to 2024, while 54 countries saw an increase. Only 14% of the world's cities met the WHO standards in 2025, down from 17% the year before.
The massive fires in Canada also contributed to the deterioration of air quality, affecting areas in the US and Europe. Among the countries that managed to maintain good air quality are Australia, Iceland, Estonia and Panama. The report highlights the urgent need for stronger global measures to combat air pollution, which remains one of the biggest threats to human health worldwide.
