All but one of the world’s top 20 most polluted cities last year were in Asia, a new study shows. The majority of these cities – 13 – are in the world’s most populous country, India, where booming economic growth is fired largely by coal and where hundreds of millions live in traffic-clogged and congested megacities .

Data from more than 40,000 air quality monitoring stations in 138 countries, territories and regions were analyzed for the report, IQAir said.

India, the fifth most polluted country in the world, is home to 13 of the top 20 most polluted cities in the world, according to the latest report by IQAir.

Poor air quality poses serious health risks to humans. Industry, energy, and the transportation sector are all major contributors to poor air quality, and cities across this country breathe some of that air on Earth. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that 99 percent of all people breathe air that “contains high levels of pollutants.”

The World Air Quality Report 2024 reveals India's pollution crisis, with Delhi as the most polluted capital globally.

India ranked as the fifth most polluted country in the world in 2024, with Byrnihat, Meghalaya, recognized as the most polluted metropolitan area globally. Despite a 7% decline in PM2.5 levels, New Delhi remained the most polluted capital.