ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has been ranked the most polluted country in the world in 2025, with fine particulate matter (PM2.5) levels reaching up to 13 times higher than the safety limits set by the World Health Organization, according to a report by IQAir.
The report revealed that only 13 countries managed to meet the WHO’s recommended annual PM2.5 limit of 5 micrograms per cubic metre, an improvement from seven countries in 2024. However, 130 out of 143 monitored countries failed to meet the standard.
Following Pakistan, Bangladesh and Tajikistan ranked as the second and third most polluted nations, respectively. Chad, which topped the list in 2024, fell to fourth place, though analysts attribute this shift partly to data gaps.
Globally, air quality monitoring faced setbacks after the United States Government discontinued a key pollution data programme in March 2025, affecting data collection in several high-risk countries.
At the city level, Loni was identified as the world’s most polluted city, followed by Hotan in China. Notably, all of the world’s 25 most polluted cities were located in India, Pakistan, and China.
The report highlighted that only 14% of global cities met WHO air quality standards in 2025, down from 17% the previous year. Environmental factors such as Canadian wildfires also contributed to deteriorating air quality across regions including the United States and Europe.
On a positive note, countries like Australia, Iceland, Estonia, and Panama successfully met WHO standards.
While 75 countries recorded improvements in PM2.5 levels, 54 experienced worsening air quality, underscoring the persistent global challenge of pollution and the urgent need for coordinated climate and environmental action.
