India is the sixth most polluted country in the world in terms of PM2.5 levels in the air. At the same time, Loni of Uttar Pradesh is the most polluted city in the world. Delhi has been placed fourth in terms of polluted cities in the list.
This has been revealed in the World Air Quality Report 2025. In this, data from 143 countries and 9,446 cities was analyzed. According to the report, five Indian cities Loni, Birnihat, Delhi, Ghaziabad and Ula are among the ten most polluted cities in the world.
The annual average of PM2.5 in Loni was recorded at 112.5 micrograms per cubic metre, which is 22 times higher than the World Health Organization (WHO) standards. The report also revealed that only 14 percent of cities could meet WHO’s pollution standards.
Forest fire affected the air
The report noted that forest fires and industrial activities around the world affected air quality. Forest fires in Canada and the US increased PM2.5 levels, while dust particles from Europe and Africa also mixed into the air.
Experts say it is important to continuously monitor air quality and provide real-time data so that polluters can be held accountable and a healthy environment can be ensured for all.