India has become the third most polluted country in the world. In 2023, India’s air quality, with an annual average PM2.5 concentration of 54.4 micrograms per cubic meter, was better than only two countries – Bangladesh and Pakistan, according to the World Air Quality Report 2023 by the Swiss organization IQAir.
Bangladesh had 9.9 micrograms per cubic meter, while Pakistan had 73.7 micrograms per cubic meter. These two countries, among 134 countries, beat India to become the most polluted and second most polluted countries in the world.
The previous year, India was ranked much lower at eighth position. In 2022, India had an average PM2.5 concentration of 53.3 micrograms per cubic meter.
Meanwhile, Bihar’s Begusarai has been named the world’s most polluted metropolitan area. It had an average PM2.5 concentration of 118.9 micrograms per cubic meter. Interestingly, the financial capital of the state did not make the list for 2022.
Delhi, on the other hand, has emerged as the capital city with the worst air quality, according to the IQAir report. Delhi’s PM2.5 levels have deteriorated to 92.7 micrograms per cubic meter in 2023. In 2022, it was 89.1 micrograms per cubic meter. This is the fourth time in a row that Delhi has become the world’s most polluted capital.
Ten of the 11 most polluted cities in the world are from India, the second being Pakistan’s Lahore.
WHO recommended levels
About 136 Indian citizens face PM2.5 concentrations higher than the recommended levels indicated by the World Health Organization (WHO). The WHO has set an annual guideline level of 5 micrograms per cubic meter, the report added.
About 96% of India’s population faces PM2.5 levels that are seven times higher than the recommended levels. More than 66% of Indian cities reported annual averages higher than 35 micrograms per cubic meter.
