Only Seven Countries Meet WHO Air Quality Standards as Global Pollution Worsens
A new report has revealed that only seven countries met the World Health Organization’s (WHO) air quality standards in 2024, highlighting the growing severity of global air pollution and the widening data gap following the United States’ decision to discontinue its international monitoring programme.
Most Polluted and Cleanest Countries in 2024
According to IQAir’s annual air quality report, Chad and Bangladesh ranked as the world’s most polluted countries, with smog levels exceeding WHO’s recommended limit by more than 15 times.
Read More: Dhaka Leads Global Chart Again for Worst Air Quality
Conversely, only the following seven nations met WHO’s air quality benchmark:
- Australia
- New Zealand
- The Bahamas
- Barbados
- Grenada
- Estonia
- Iceland
Impact of the U.S. Air Quality Monitoring Shutdown
A major challenge highlighted in the report is the lack of real-time pollution data, particularly in Asia and Africa, where many nations previously relied on U.S. air quality sensors stationed at embassies and consulates. However, the U.S. State Department recently shut down this programme, citing budget constraints, and also removed 17 years of air quality data from its official monitoring site, airnow.gov.
This move is expected to severely impact global air quality tracking, particularly in Africa, where alternative pollution monitoring systems remain limited.
Christi Chester-Schroeder, IQAir’s air quality science manager, noted:
“Many countries have alternative sources, but the loss of U.S. air quality data will be acutely felt across the continent.”
Chad Named World’s Most Polluted Country
Chad, which was excluded from IQAir’s 2023 report due to data concerns, returned as the most polluted country in 2024, with an average PM2.5 concentration of 91.8 µg/m³—slightly higher than its 2022 level.
The country’s pollution levels are largely driven by:
- Sahara Desert dust storms
- Widespread crop burning
For context, the WHO recommends PM2.5 levels of no more than 5 µg/m³, yet only 17% of global cities managed to stay within this limit in 2023.
South Asia: A Major Pollution Hotspot
South Asia remains one of the most polluted regions globally, with Pakistan ranking fourth among the world’s most polluted countries, following:
- Chad
- Bangladesh
- Democratic Republic of Congo
Meanwhile, India ranked fifth, despite a 7% decline in annual PM2.5 levels, still recording an average of 50.6 µg/m³—ten times above WHO’s safe limit.
India also had 12 of the world’s 20 most polluted cities, with Byrnihat, an industrial town in the northeast, being the worst-affected with an average PM2.5 level of 128 µg/m³.
Climate Change and Rising Pollution Levels
Experts warn that climate change is exacerbating air pollution worldwide, with rising temperatures contributing to longer and more intense wildfires. Last year, forest fires in Southeast Asia and South America played a major role in deteriorating air quality.
Christa Hasenkopf, Director of the Clean Air Program at the University of Chicago’s Energy Policy Institute (EPIC), criticized the U.S. monitoring programme’s closure, warning that:
“At least 34 countries will now be deprived of reliable air pollution data, which had helped improve air quality in cities where monitors were installed.”
She further emphasized that the programme had also led to reduced hazard allowances for U.S. diplomats stationed in high-pollution areas.
Conclusion
The 2024 IQAir report paints a grim picture of global air quality, with few nations meeting WHO’s safety standards and a significant data gap emerging due to the loss of U.S. air quality monitoring.
With climate change worsening pollution trends, experts stress the urgent need for stronger international efforts to combat air pollution and improve global monitoring systems.
