5 Most Polluted Cities in the World

In this article we are going to list the 5 most polluted cities in the world. For a detailed coverage of this topic and a more comprehensive list please take a look at the 25 most polluted cities in the world.

5. Jaunpur, India

Annual average PM2.5 concentration (μg/m³): 95.3

Jaunpur is a city in Utter Pradesh and while its the 5th most polluted city in the world, its not even the most polluted city in its own province, showing the massive issue that India is facing right now.

4. Delhi, India

Annual average PM2.5 concentration (μg/m³): 96.4

In November 2017, an event occurred which is now known as the Great Smog of Delhi, where air pollution levels far exceeded acceptable levels. The air pollution in Delhi is significant enough to irreversibly damage the lungs of 50% of all children, a number going in the millions.

3. Hotan, China

Annual average PM2.5 concentration (μg/m³): 101.5

Hotan has improved from its 2020 peak as the world’s most polluted city when it had an air quality of PM 2.5 of 110.2 μg/m³; this means that the particles in the air are of a size sufficient to enter one’s bloodstream.

2. Ghaziabad, India

Annual average PM2.5 concentration (μg/m³): 102

The second most polluted city in the world is also the second most polluted city in India. Ghaziabad, located in Utter Pradesh, still has something to cheer about as its PM2.5 concentration is decreasing year on year, albeit perhaps not fast enough.

1. Bhiwadi, India

Annual average PM2.5 concentration (μg/m³): 106.2

Topping the list of the 25 most polluted cities in the world is Bhiwadi, an Indian city in Rajasthan. Bhiwadi ranked fourth in 2020 but pollution in the city seems to have increased. The desert city hosts more than 2,000 factories of which at least 300 generate pollution. In addition, smoke because of traffic load and dust due to broken roads has added to the misery faced by those living in the city.

See also: 9 states that banned plastic bags or likely to ban in the next 5 years and 11 least polluted countries in the world