📰 India 6th Most Polluted Country in 2025; Loni Tops Global Pollution List

India has been ranked the sixth most polluted country in the world in 2025, according to the latest World Air Quality Report released by IQAir. The report highlights persistent air quality challenges across the country, with several Indian cities featuring among the world’s most polluted.

🌍 India’s Global Ranking

As per the report, India recorded an average PM2.5 concentration of 48.9 µg/m³ in 2025—far exceeding the World Health Organization’s (WHO) safe limit of 5 µg/m³. While this marks a slight improvement from 2024 levels, experts say the decline is not significant enough to indicate real progress.

India ranked behind countries like Pakistan, Bangladesh, Tajikistan, Chad, and the Democratic Republic of Congo in overall pollution levels.

🏭 Loni Emerges as World’s Most Polluted City

The report identified Loni, located in Uttar Pradesh’s Ghaziabad district, as the most polluted city in the world in 2025.

• Annual PM2.5 level: 112.5 µg/m³

• Over 22 times higher than WHO guidelines

• Nearly 23% increase compared to 2024

This alarming rise underscores worsening air quality in the National Capital Region (NCR), driven by industrial emissions, vehicular pollution, construction dust, and seasonal factors.

🏙️ Multiple Indian Cities in Global Top 10

India continues to dominate global pollution rankings, with several cities among the worst affected. Apart from Loni, cities like:

• New Delhi

• Ghaziabad

• Byrnihat

featured prominently in the list of most polluted urban areas. In fact, five Indian cities were among the top 10 globally, reflecting a widespread environmental crisis.

New Delhi also retained its position as the most polluted capital city in the world, with extremely high PM2.5 levels.

⚠️ Regional and Global Trends

The report reveals that South Asia remains the most polluted region globally, with a majority of the worst-affected cities located in India, Pakistan, and China.

Globally:

• Only 14% of cities met WHO air quality standards in 2025

• Climate factors like wildfires and dust storms further worsened pollution levels

🔍 Key Takeaways

The findings highlight a growing environmental and public health challenge for India. Despite policy efforts, high pollution levels continue to impact millions, especially in urban and industrial regions. Experts stress the need for stronger emission controls, cleaner energy adoption, and improved urban planning to tackle the crisis effectively.