The AQI ‘2024 World’s most polluted countries’ list is here, and the data reveals that the list of top 10 has nine spots occupied by South Asian and Middle Eastern countries. Along with this, the list of most polluted cities also include names of Asian and African countries.
Among the countries the first two spots are occupied by Bangladesh and Pakistan with AQI levels of 140 and 115 respectively. And India is giving them company at No.3 with average AQI levels of 111 falling in the poor category.
Notably, an Air Quality Index (AQI) of 0-50 is good, AQI between 51-100 is moderate and between 100-150 is poor, according to the data by AQI.in website. Moreover, AQI between 150-200 is unhealthy, 200-250 as severe and when it is between 250 to 300 then it is hazardous.
The top 4th spot is occupied by Bahrain, with Nepal making it to 5th. Bahrain recorded an AQI of 103 and Nepal at 100 in the year 2024. The only non-Asian country in the list of top 10 is Egypt, at the 6th spot with an AQI of 91. United Arab Emirates (UAE) stood at no.7 (AQI 90), followed by Kuwait and Tajikistan at no.8 (with an AQI of 89 each) and Kyrgyzstan at 10 with its annual average AQI at 87.
World’s most polluted cities of 2024
This is not shocking as India’s capital city New Delhi is ranking at the top in the world’s most polluted cities of 2024. And it is not poor, it has unhealthy levels of AQI reported at 169, now being declared as the Global Capital of toxic air or Pollution. And it is not New Delhi alone, many other cities are a part of the list, the second in the ranks is Greater Noida with an average AQI of 166, Noida at 3rd with its AQI 161, Ghaziabad at no.4 with AQI 159, and Faridabad at 5th with AQI 154.
The last five spots of Top 10 are also occupied with Indian cities only. These include Gurgaon at no.6 with AQI 154, Bhiwadi at no.7 with AQI 153, followed by Patna at no.8 with AQI 145 marked in poor category, Sonipat at no.9 with AQI 145 and Muzaffarnagar at no.10 with AQI 144.
The top 50 list is dominated with Indian cities from North India. As per a report by Reuters, the states of North India like Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh have severe pollution levels, especially during the winter season when temperatures fall, cold air traps down emissions, construction dust and the farm fires are set off by the farmers. As per a report in aqi(dot)in, the air was so toxic that the PM2.5 levels were equal to residents breathing in over 1,400 cigarettes over an year.
Dhaka is the only non- Indian city in the list upto Top 17, ranking at 13th spot with an AQI of 140. Other cities in the Top 50 apart from the ones of India are Peshawar (Pakistan), Tachov (Czech Republic), Kashgar (China), and Lahore (Pakistan).
This reflects upon how India’s struggle with air pollution is worsening with time, being at the 3rd spot country wise and getting most of its cities listed, we are collapsing gradually. Out of the 145 cities of the world with worst air quality, 125 are from India, a figure shocking as well as worrying. The declining air quality is alarming for the country now. Growth and development aren’t supposed to come this way, ultimately it is the air that you breathe which will slowly kill you. It is concerning and demands attention of the authorities, the governments, the organizations as well as the people at large.
The figures are prompting enough for a serious action, at the same time throwing light upon the fact that till now, there are no real signs of any improvement. It is a crisis now, posing serious threat to public health and might worsen if delayed. The tiny particles easily make their way to the lungs and bloodstream causing problems with breathing and heart disease as well.
At present, we are rated poor, soon it will be unhealthy and then unbearable. Therefore, until we are not able to breathe anymore, it’s time for action…sustained efforts from all can only do the needful!