In 2024, only seven countries met the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) air quality standards, according to data released by Swiss air quality monitoring firm IQAir.
The findings highlight the global challenge of combating air pollution, particularly as the United States shut down its global air quality monitoring programme, leaving significant data gaps in many regions.
Chad and Bangladesh topped the list as the world’s most polluted countries, with average smog levels more than 15 times higher than WHO guidelines. Meanwhile, only Australia, New Zealand, the Bahamas, Barbados, Grenada, Estonia, and Iceland achieved air quality levels within the WHO’s recommended limit of 5 micrograms per cubic metre (µg/m³) for fine particulate matter (PM2.5).
The US State Department’s global air quality monitoring programme provided critical data for over 17 years. Its termination raised concerns about the ability of countries to monitor and address air pollution effectively.
Christi Chester-Schroeder, IQAir’s air quality science manager, noted that the loss of the data will disproportionately affect Africa, where US monitors were often the only source of publicly available real-time air quality information.
Climate change is exacerbating air pollution, with rising temperatures contributing to more intense and prolonged forest fires. The blaze has significantly impacted regions like Southeast Asia and South America, further worsening air quality.
Air pollution remains one of the leading environmental health risks globally, contributing to respiratory diseases, cardiovascular conditions, and premature deaths. The WHO estimates that 99% of the global population breathes air that exceeds its safety guidelines.
As climate change continues to intensify environmental risks, investing in air quality monitoring and mitigation strategies will be critical to safeguarding public health and achieving sustainable development goals.
