New Delhi: The annual 2024 Air Quality Index (AQI) ranking has designated New Delhi, India, as the world’s most polluted city, according to a recent report by AQI.in. The findings are not surprising as its effect can be felt now-a-days which has led to a severe air quality crisis in South Asia, with an overwhelming number of Indian cities occupying the top spots globally.
The Indian capital registered an average annual AQI of 203 in 2024, placing it firmly in the ‘Unhealthy’ category. The situation was particularly acute during winter months, with New Delhi’s January average reaching 373, a level classified as ‘Severe’ on the AQI scale, making significant health risks to the population.
The according to a report from AQI.in shows that the top 12 most polluted cities in the world are all located in India, highlighting the widespread nature of the air pollution challenge across the country’s metropolitan and surrounding areas. The list of highly polluted cities included:
- Greater Noida, India (211)
- Noida, India (202)
- Ghaziabad, India (195)
- Faridabad, India (178)
Other regional capitals also featured prominently in the ranking, with Dhaka, Bangladesh, listed at 13th globally (144 AQI), and Peshawar, Pakistan, at 18th (134 AQI), confirming South Asia as a major hotspot for critically poor air quality.
For basic idea, air quality is typically considered ‘Good’ at levels between 0-50 and ‘Moderate’ between 51-100. The consistently high AQI values reported for these cities indicate chronic exposure to air pollution, which health authorities worldwide link to increased rates of respiratory diseases, cardiovascular issues, and other long-term health complications. The persistent ‘Poor’ (101-150) and ‘Unhealthy’ (151-200) averages call for immediate and sustained efforts to mitigate emission sources and protect public health.