According to recent data from AQI.in, South Asian and Middle Eastern countries dominate the list of the most polluted nations of 2024, occupying nine out of the top ten spots.
Bangladesh and Pakistan lead the rankings at positions one and two with AQI levels of 140 and 115 respectively.
India follows closely at number three with an AQI of 111, categorized as poor. Completing the top five are Bahrain with an AQI of 103 and Nepal with an AQI of 100, the latter being in the moderate range.
Egypt ranks sixth as the sole non-Asian nation in the top ten, with an AQI of 91. The United Arab Emirates follows at number seven with an AQI of 90, trailed by Kuwait, Tajikistan, and Kyrgyzstan holding eighth, ninth, and tenth spots with AQIs of 89, 89, and 87 respectively.
Pollution levels in global cities: New Delhi tops the list
On the urban scale, Indian cities dominate the list of the world's most polluted cities for 2024. New Delhi tops this list with an average annual AQI of 169, falling in the "unhealthy" category. It is closely followed by Greater Noida at number two with an AQI of 166, Noida at three with an AQI of 161, Ghaziabad at four with an AQI of 159, and Faridabad at fifth with an AQI of 154. Gurgaon and Bhiwadi also feature prominently in the rankings.
Beyond Asia and Africa, Bosnia and Herzegovina's capital, Sarajevo, appears at number 26, making it the first European city on the list. Other entries include Macedonia at number 39, Peru standing at 40 for South America, with Turkey, sharing Asian and European borders, at 41. Mexico represents North America at position 43, followed by Montenegro, Serbia, and Guatemala within the top 50.
The Air Quality Index (AQI) scale defines levels from good (0-50), moderate (50-100), poor (100-150), unhealthy (150-200), severe (200-250), to hazardous (250-300 and above), delineating a worrying global trend.