In this article, we list the 10 Most Polluted Cities in the World in 2024. If you would like to see the complete list and read our detailed discussion of the topic, you can go to 40 Most Polluted Cities in the World in 2024.
10. Muzaffarpur, India
AQI Ranking: 18
IQAir Ranking: 20
Ranked ten, Muzaffarpur is a city in India best known for its Shahi Lychees. Muzaffarpur’s pollution levels vary significantly every day but mostly stay under the unhealthy domains. In early 2022, the PM2.5 concentration levels in Muzaffarpur’s air were 15.6 times higher than WHO’s set guidelines. Since then, the city’s conditions have not improved much.
9. Rohtak, India
AQI Ranking: 13
IQAir Ranking: 25
Located in the state of Haryana, Rohtak is a city with close proximity to the capital city of New Delhi as well as plenty of industrial areas near its limits. Since Rohtak is near some industrial and highly polluted areas, it suffers from severe bouts of pollution with a PM2.5 concentration of 25 µg/m³ which is 5 times the WHO annual air quality guideline value.
8. Muzaffarnagar, India
AQI Ranking: 17
IQAir Ranking: 15
With an AQI ranking of 17 and IQAir Ranking of 15, Muzaffarnagar is a city in the Uttar Pradesh state of India with high levels of pollution. As of March 2024, Muzaffarnagar has a PM2.5 concentration of 22.9 µg/m³ which is 4.6 times the WHO annual air quality guidelines.
7. Kashgar, China
AQI Ranking: 1
IQAir Ranking: 30
Ranked seven, we have a city in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region of China: Kashgar. According to AQI, as of March 2024, the city’s current PM2.5 concentration is 4.8 times above the WHO’s recommended limit. Kashgar also receives frequent dust storms, which cause a significant rise in particulate matter, which ends up deteriorating air quality further.
6. Faridabad, India
AQI Ranking: 6
IQAir Ranking: 19
With over 4.2 million people, Faridabad is one of the most populous cities in the Indian state of Haryana. As of 2024, the city ranks 6 on AQI’s index and 19 on IQAir’s index, with high concentrations of PM2.5 pollutants in the air, which mainly come from outdated vehicles running on diesel fuels.
5. Noida, India
AQI Ranking: 4
IQAir Ranking: 21
The New Okhla Industrial Development Authority, more commonly known as Noida, is a city in India known for having some of the worst levels of pollution in India, and in the world at large. In 2019, according to IQAir’s data, Noida had a PM2.5 concentration of 829.2 µg/m³ which was more than 80 times the WHO’s recommended level.
4. Patna, India
AQI Ranking: 9
IQAir Ranking: 10
Situated on the south bank of the Ganges river in Bihar, Patna is one of the most highly polluted cities of the world, ranking #9 on AQI’s index and #10 on IQAir’s. In 2019, Patna saw staggering PM2.5 concentration levels of 428 µg/m³. Some of the major reasons behind such high levels of pollution in the city include the burning of garbage, traffic emissions, floods, and the change of River Ganges’s course, which has left large dry sand areas that blow across the city.
3. Ghaziabad, India
AQI Ranking: 3
IQAir Ranking: 11
Best known for its vegetable oil, electroplated items, tapestries, diesel engines, glassware, and pottery, Ghaziabad is a city in India’s Uttar Pradesh. Ghaziabad’s pollution levels are slightly bettering, but still remain sub-par. In December 2019, the city saw PM2.5 concentration levels of 235.9 µg/m³ — the city’s pollution is generally at its worst towards the end of the year.
2. New Delhi, India
AQI Ranking: 2
IQAir Ranking: 9
Being a major capital city of India, New Delhi is one of the country’s biggest commercial and economic powerhouses. New Delhi is second on the list of most polluted cities in the world, with a PM2.5 concentration of 46µg/m³, exceeding the WHO annual air quality guideline value by 9.2 times. The primary reasons for high pollution levels in New Delhi are vehicles with inefficient engines, factories, and industries.
1. Lahore, Pakistan
AQI Ranking: 7
IQAir Ranking: 1
Topping the list, is Pakistan’s second-largest city, Lahore. Known as the cultural heart of Pakistan, Lahore is famous globally for its Mughal architecture and vibrant festivals. Unfortunately, the city also suffers from high levels of air pollution, with an IQAir ranking of 1 and AQI Ranking of 7. The city often sees worsened levels of pollution during Winter, with high levels of smog and trapped pollutants in the air. As of writing this article, Lahore has a PM2.5 concentration of 105µg/m³, which is 21 times higher than the WHO guidelines.
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