Survey shows Pakistan's Lahore city is most polluted in world

In the annual survey conducted by IQAir, it has been found that Chad in central Africa is the most polluted country in the world.

A total of 118 (90%) out of 131 countries and regions exceeded the WHO annual PM2.5 guideline value of 5 µg/m3.

The survey showed the most polluted city in the U.S. was Coffeyville, Kansas.

"The most polluted major U.S. city was Columbus, Ohio," revealed the survey.

For this year’s report, data from more than 30,000 air quality monitoring stations across 7,323 locations in 131 countries, territories, and regions was analyzed by IQAir’s air quality scientists.

“In 2022, more than half of the world’s air quality data was generated by grassroots community efforts. When citizens get involved in air quality monitoring, we see a shift in awareness and the joint effort to improve air quality intensifies. We need governments to monitor air quality, but we cannot wait for them. Air quality monitoring by communities creates transparency and urgency. It leads to collaborative actions that improves air quality,” states Frank Hammes, Global CEO, IQAir.

“Too many people around the world don’t know that they are breathing polluted air. Air pollution monitors provide hard data that can inspire communities to demand change and hold polluters to account, but when monitoring is patchy or unequal, vulnerable communities can be left with no data to act on. Everyone deserves to have their health protected from air pollution,” states Aidan Farrow, Sr. Air Quality Scientist, Greenpeace International.

Interestingly, six countries met the WHO PM2.5 guideline (annual average of 5 µg/m3 or less): Australia, Estonia, Finland, Grenada, Iceland and New Zealand.

The top five most polluted countries in 2022 were:

Chad (89.7 µg/m3) more than 17 times higher than the WHO PM2.5 annual guideline

Iraq (80.1 µg/m3) more than 16 times higher than the WHO PM2.5 annual guideline

Pakistan (70.9 µg/m3) more than 14 times higher than the WHO PM2.5 annual guideline

Bahrain (66.6 µg/m3) more than 13 times higher than the WHO PM2.5 annual guideline

Bangladesh (65.8 µg/m3) more than 13 times higher than the WHO PM2.5 annual guideline