A new study by Swiss air quality measurement company IQAir has found that just seven countries globally achieved the World Health Organization’s (WHO) air quality standards in 2024. They included Australia, New Zealand, the Bahamas, Barbados, Grenada, Estonia, and Iceland. These were the only nations to keep their air pollution below the advised ranges.
But Chad and Bangladesh were ranked the world’s most polluted nations, with their smog averages exceeding WHO recommendations by over 15 times. The report has prompted alarm over global air quality, particularly in the wake of the U.S. government’s recent move to cut its global air pollution monitoring program.
Chad, Bangladesh, and India Among the Most Polluted Nations
Chad had the highest levels of pollution in 2024, with average PM2.5 concentrations of 91.8 micrograms per cubic meter (µg/m³) of air, according to the IQAir report. The WHO guides a safe level of only 5 µg/m³.
Bangladesh stood at second place in the pollution index, followed by Pakistan, Democratic Republic of Congo, and India. The air quality of India had slightly improved as there was a decline of 7% in PM2.5 levels to 50.6 µg/m³. The nation continued to be one of the five most polluted countries and contributed to 12 out of the 20 most polluted cities globally. The industrial town of Byrnihat in northern India had the highest level of PM2.5 at 128 µg/m³.
U.S. Suspends Global Air Quality Monitoring, Sparks Concerns
The research also pointed out glaring gaps in data, especially in Africa and Asia. Most developing countries have depended on air quality monitoring stations installed at U.S. embassies and consulates to track real-time pollution. The U.S. government, however, recently closed down the program citing budgetary reasons.
“Most countries have a few other data sources, but it’s going to impact Africa significantly, because oftentimes these are the only sources of publicly available real-time air quality monitoring data,” said Christi Chester-Schroeder, IQAir’s air quality science manager.
Over 17 years of pollution information, including data from Chad, were deleted from the U.S. government’s official air quality monitoring site, AirNow.gov, last week. Experts indicate that the lack of accurate information could hamper the fight against air pollution in the world.
Climate Change and Air Pollution: A Growing Crisis
Environmental specialists warn that air pollution levels around the globe are being worsened by climate change. Increasing temperatures have fueled forest fires in Southeast Asia and South America, raising PM2.5 levels.
Christa Hasenkopf, director of the Clean Air Program at the University of Chicago’s Energy Policy Institute (EPIC), disapproved of the U.S. government’s cancellation of its monitoring program, claiming it would deprive at least 34 countries of credible pollution data.
The State Department plan bettered the air quality in cities where the monitors were installed, increasing life expectancy and even decreasing hazard allowances to U.S. diplomats, i.e., it paid for itself,” Hasenkopf said. ““(It) is a giant blow to air quality efforts worldwide.”
The Need for Stronger Global Air Quality Monitoring
In the light of persisting threats posed by climate change, as well as rising pollution rates, scientists say that greater observation of air quality worldwide and strict pollution management must be prioritized. In many countries in Asia and Africa, alternative ways must be adopted in order to observe quality as well as respond to threats it poses to people’s health.
The WHO has called for governments across the globe to act quickly to check pollution levels and safeguard public health. But with data sources dwindling, the war against clean air could become increasingly difficult in the coming years.