According to the latest data from IQAir, a global air quality information platform, Lahore in Pakistan is the most polluted city in the world with an annual average PM2.5 concentration of 97.4 μg/m³. PM2.5 are fine particles that can penetrate deep into the lungs and cause serious health problems.
New Delhi, the capital of India, ranks fourth in the list with an average PM2.5 level of 92.6 μg/m³. Delhi is notorious for its smoggy winters, when crop burning, vehicle emissions, and construction activities create a toxic haze over the city.
The fifth most polluted city in the world is Peshawar in Pakistan, with an average PM2.5 concentration of 91.8 μg/m³. Peshawar is located near the border with Afghanistan, where political instability and conflict have hampered environmental regulation and enforcement.
The top 10 most polluted cities in the world are completed by Darbhanga, Asopur, and Patna in India, N’Djamena in Chad, and New Delhi in India.