Countries with the dirtiest air in the world revealed.

Most people in the world live in polluted air

According to research by the Swiss company IQAair, most people on the planet breathe polluted air. In 2024, only seven countries had levels of toxic PM2.5 particles that did not exceed WHO standards. This information was reported by 'Glavkom' referencing IQAair.

The lowest levels of harmful particles in the air were recorded in Iceland, Australia, New Zealand, Estonia, and several small island nations. The level did not exceed 5 µg/m³, which meets WHO recommendations.

The worst conditions regarding air pollution are observed in Chad, Pakistan, Bangladesh, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and India. In these countries, the PM2.5 level in 2024 was at least 10 times higher than the permissible norms, with an 18-fold excess in Chad. Experts also noted that 6 of the 10 dirtiest cities in the world are located in India.

Smog over Punjab in Pakistan was visible even from space, as this province recorded extreme pollution levels. The smog is also spreading to northern regions of India and New Delhi. In Lahore, the capital of Punjab with a population of 14 million people, air quality often exceeds 400, with any value above 300 considered dangerous.

It is worth noting that over 300 passengers have been freed from a train that was hijacked on March 11 in Pakistan.