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As wildfire season intensifies in the Northern Hemisphere, air quality has become a critical issue. In early June 2023, over 400 wildfires burned across Canada, sending smoke across the eastern United States. IQAir, a Swiss air quality monitoring firm, reports that New York City now ranks among the world’s most polluted major cities, with particulate levels 14.5 times higher than the World Health Organization’s guidelines. For a look at the most air-polluted cities globally under typical conditions, explore the list below.
This ranking, sourced from Elements.VisualCapitalist.com, is based on IQAir’s 2022 World Air Quality Report. Cities were evaluated based on fine particulate matter (PM2.5) levels, which, when inhaled, can severely affect the lungs and other vital organs.
Lahore, Pakistan, recorded the highest air pollution levels in 2022, with an average PM2.5 concentration of 97.4 μg/m³. In contrast, the WHO recommends PM2.5 levels remain below 10 μg/m³ for safe and healthy air.
Hotan, China, ranks second, with Bhiwadi, India, coming in third. India dominates the top 10, claiming six spots. Similar to other nations on this list, India's industrial growth has severely impacted its air quality.
Explore the complete ranking below. To monitor fine particulate matter levels in your area, check out the interactive map provided by AirNow.
Top 20 Most Air-Polluted Cities Worldwide
- Lahore, Pakistan
- Hotan, China
- Bhiwadi, India
- Delhi, India
- Peshawar, Pakistan
- Darbhanga, India
- Asopur, India
- N’Djamena, Chad
- New Delhi, India
- Patna, India
- Ghaziabad, India
- Dharuhera, India
- Baghdad, Iraq
- Chapra, India
- Muzaffarnagar, India
- Faisalabad, Pakistan
- Greater Noida, India
- Bahadurgarh, India
- Faridabad, India
- Muzaffarpur, India
