World Air Quality Report 2023: India ranks third in global air pollution

World Air Quality Report 2023: In the recently released 'World Air Quality Report 2023' by IQAir, India has been identified as the third-most polluted country in the world, trailing behind Bangladesh and Pakistan. The report highlights concerning statistics regarding air quality, indicating an average annual PM2.5 concentration of 54.4 micrograms per cubic metre in India. This places India among the top three countries with the poorest air quality out of 134 nations surveyed.

Comparing data from the previous year, India's air quality has worsened, as evidenced by its climb from eighth to third place in the global pollution ranking. In 2022, the country recorded an average PM2.5 concentration of 53.3 micrograms per cubic meter, indicating a concerning upward trend.

The report also draws attention to the alarming prevalence of air pollution within Indian cities. Among the top 50 most polluted cities worldwide, a staggering 42 are located in India. Begusarai, situated in Bihar, emerged as the most polluted metropolitan area in 2023, recording a substantial increase in PM2.5 concentration from 19.7 to 118.9 micrograms per cubic meter within a year. Similarly, Guwahati witnessed a doubling of its PM2.5 concentration from 51 to 105.4 micrograms per cubic meter between 2022 and 2023. Even the capital city, Delhi, notorious for its air quality issues, experienced a rise in PM2.5 concentration from 89.1 to 92.7 micrograms per cubic meter during the same period.

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The severity of the situation is further underscored by the prevalence of other Indian cities within the top 50 list of the most polluted cities globally. Cities such as Greater Noida, Muzzafarnagar, Gurgaon, Arrah, Dadri, Patna, Faridabad, Noida, Meerut, Ghaziabad, and Rohtak all featured prominently, reflecting the widespread nature of the air pollution crisis across the country.

The data presented in the report is derived from an extensive network of over 30,000 air quality monitoring stations spanning 7,812 locations worldwide, ensuring a comprehensive and robust assessment of global air quality trends.

In addition to India's concerning performance, the report unveils several other significant findings:

The top five most polluted countries in 2023 were identified as Bangladesh, Pakistan, India, Tajikistan, and Burkina Faso, indicating a broader regional issue of air quality deterioration. Seven countries managed to meet the World Health Organization's (WHO) annual PM2.5 guideline, which recommends an annual average of 5 µg/m3 or less. These countries include Australia, Estonia, Finland, Grenada, Iceland, Mauritius, and New Zealand, setting a benchmark for effective air quality management.

Africa remains significantly underrepresented in terms of air quality data availability, with a third of the continent's population lacking access to essential air quality information, highlighting the need for improved monitoring infrastructure and data dissemination initiatives.

Nine out of the top 10 most polluted cities globally are located in India, emphasising the magnitude of the air pollution crisis within the country. China also experienced a concerning rise in PM2.5 concentration, marking a 6.3% increase to 32.5 micrograms last year, following five consecutive years of decline.

Notably, Canada emerged as the most polluted country in Northern America for the first time in the report's history, with all 13 of the region's most polluted cities situated within its borders, signaling a shifting trend in regional air quality dynamics.

(With inputs from agencies) 

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