List of countries with the most polluted air in 2025 released

Pakistan was ranked as the most air-polluted country in the world in 2025, according to a report cited by Reuters.

Research shows that the level of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) in the air exceeded the World Health Organization’s recommended limits by 13 times.

According to the annual report by air quality monitoring platform IQAir, only 13 countries and territories met the WHO guideline for PM2.5 levels (less than 5 micrograms per cubic meter) in 2025. In 2024, this number stood at seven.

Overall, 130 out of 143 countries and territories analyzed did not meet WHO recommendations. Bangladesh ranked second and Tajikistan third in terms of the highest pollution levels, while Chad, which held first place in 2024, dropped to fourth in 2025.

The most polluted city in the world in 2025 was Loni, where the average PM2.5 level reached 112.5 micrograms. Hotan ranked second with 109.6 micrograms.

According to the report, only 14 percent of cities worldwide met WHO standards in 2025, compared to 17 percent in 2024. It also noted that wildfires in Canada contributed to increased levels of harmful particles in the United States and even in Europe.

It is worth noting that, according to the 2024 report, Uzbekistan recorded an average PM2.5 level of 31.4 and ranked 19th among the most polluted regions.