India’s top 10 most polluted cities in 2024: Know the global cities AQI rankings

The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that air pollution causes around seven million premature deaths per year worldwide, making it one of the greatest environmental risks to human health.

Must Read: Amid Delhi Smog Crisis, Check India’s Top 10 Cleanest Cities with the Best Air Quality (AQI) in December 2024

Exposure to PM2.5 can lead to health issues such as asthma, cancer, stroke, and lung disease.

Additionally, it can impair children’s cognitive development, exacerbate mental health problems, and worsen pre-existing diseases such as diabetes.

India is currently grappling with significant air pollution, with the third-most polluted country globally.

According to the World Air Quality Report, the country’s annual average PM2.5 concentrations have increased to 54.4µg/m3, up from 53.3µg/m3.

Realme time AQI monitoring is now available in over 40 countries. (Image credit: Google)

The yearly agricultural stubble burning, regular car emissions, and emissions from construction and industry have severely degraded the Air Quality Index (AQI) across the country.

Owing to technological advancements, AQI collects and utilises vast amounts of data on ambient air quality to assess air quality in various regions of the country.

Top 10 most polluted Indian cities, with the worst Air Quality Index (AQI), as of 2024:

Following Diwali, as winter sets in, North India is grappling with severe air pollution, with numerous cities reporting alarming levels categorized as ‘severe’ and ‘very poor.’

Notably, the air quality in New Delhi and surrounding areas reached the ‘severe‘ category for the first time this season, spiking to 429, and rose to a concerning 481 in the month of November.

As winter tightens its hold, major cities around the country report air quality in the “poor” and “moderate” categories, suggesting possible health risks for people residing.

Check the video below: The dense haze covering Noida above reduced visibility, and the Air Quality Index (AQI) surpassed 400. (Express Video)

As of December 10, 2024, at 4 PM, India’s top 10 most polluted cities were identified by their worst AQI and recorded by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).

Source: Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB)

Here’s the table listing the AQI levels for the National Capital Region (NCR), as of December 2024:

The health statements for AQI categories (category, ranges and their associated health risk) by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB)

Top 10 global cities with the worst Air Quality Index (AQI) as of 2024

In recent years, air pollution has been associated with one in ten deaths worldwide, according to Our World in Data.

Exposure to unsafe air quality increases mortality rates, with a 4% rise in risk for individuals exposed to moderate pollution and a 24% rise for those facing hazardous levels (over 35 µg/m³).

The historical Badshahi Mosque in Lahore was engulfed by smog. (Photo: AP)

Pakistan’s Lahore has the worst air quality in the world. In November, the city reported an AQI nearing 1,600, while average AQI readings in some areas exceeded 600—double the threshold of 300, which is already considered dangerous to health.

Over 15,000 respiratory and viral infections were reported, leading the Punjab province government to declare smog a “health crisis” and impose a “health emergency” in Lahore and Multan districts to combat the dense smog blanketing the region.

Here are the top 10 cities worldwide with the worst AQI, as recorded by IQAir Live Rankings for December 11, 2024: