FAQs
Sarajevo was the most polluted capital city in Europe in 2023, with an average PM2. 5 concentration of 28.4 micrograms per cubic meter of air (μg/m³). This level of air pollution was almost six times higher than World Health Organization guidelines.
What city in Europe has the most air pollution? ›
Sarajevo was the most polluted capital city in Europe in 2023, with an average PM2. 5 concentration of 28.4 micrograms per cubic meter of air (μg/m³). This level of air pollution was almost six times higher than World Health Organization guidelines.
Which city is most air polluted in the world 2020? ›
As per the World Air Quality Report, the most polluted city in the world in 2020 was China's Hotan. In India, the most polluted city as per the report was Ghaziabad. It was also declared the second most polluted city in the world. The World Air Quality Report is prepared by Swiss organisation IQAir and aggregates PM2.
What are the top 5 cities with the worst air pollution? ›
According to the report, after Bakersfield, the worst cities for year-round particle pollution between 2020 and 2022 were:
- Visalia, California.
- Fresno-Madera-Hanford, California.
- Eugene-Springfield, Oregon.
- San Jose-San Francisco-Oakland, California.
- Los Angeles-Long Beach, California.
- Sacramento-Roseville, California.
Iceland is one of only seven countries in the world that meet the World Health Organization's criteria for air quality. The other countries are Australia, Estonia, Finland, Grenada, Mauritius and New Zealand. Iceland is the country in Europe with the highest air quality.
What is the biggest air polluter in Europe? ›
Energy consumption and agriculture are the biggest source of air pollution in Europe. The EU has a zero pollution vision for 2050 and is working on a new set of rules to enable it to realise that ambition.
Which city has highest rate of air pollution? ›
Live most polluted major city ranking
| Rank | Major city, country/region | AQI US |
|---|
| 1 | Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo | 187 |
| 2 | Delhi, India | 153 |
| 3 | Dhaka, Bangladesh | 125 |
| 4 | Baghdad, Iraq | 124 |
111 more rowsMay 24, 2024
List (2018−2022)
| Rank | Country/Region | Population |
|---|
| 1 | Chad | 17,179,740 |
| 2 | Iraq | 43,533,592 |
| 3 | Pakistan | 231,402,117 |
| 4 | Bahrain | 1,463,265 |
56 more rowsMost polluted countries based on PM2. 5 concentration globally 2023. Bangladesh had an average PM2. 5 concentration of nearly 80 micrograms per cubic meter of air (µg/m3) in 2023, becoming the most polluted country in the world.
What is the dirtiest city in the US? ›
HOUSTON, TX (KIAH) – LawnStarter has released its 2023 rankings of the dirtiest cities in America and Houston tops their list.
- Denmark. With a total EPI score of 77.9, Denmark is the cleanest and most environmentally friendly country, according to the 2022 EPI Results. ...
- United Kingdom. The United Kingdom is the second-cleanest country in the world, receiving an EPI of 77.7. ...
- Finland. ...
- Malta. ...
- Sweden. ...
- Luxembourg. ...
- Slovenia. ...
- Austria.
Copenhagen, Denmark: The Cleanest Place in the World
The city's extensive network of cycling lanes, efficient public transportation systems, and pedestrian-friendly streets make it a haven for clean transportation. Other initiatives for clean energy are also part of their progressive efforts.
Which is the dirtiest city in the world? ›
Rankings: 25 Most Polluted Cities in the World in 2024
- Dhaka, Bangladesh (114.5 µg/m3)
- Lahore, Pakistan (95.1 µg/m3)
- Patna, India (67.0 µg/m3)
- New Delhi, India (65.9 µg/m3)
- Delhi, India (64.0 µg/m3)
- Urumqi, China (63.4 µg/m3)
- Muzaffarnagar, India (62.4 µg/m3)
- Xi'an, China (57.9 µg/m3)
Rankings: 15 Most Polluted Cities in the EU
- Kraków, Poland (24,1 µg/m3)
- Gliwice, Poland (21,9 µg/m3)
- Zgierz, Poland (21,4 µg/m3)
- Tarnów, Poland (21,3 µg/m3)
- Katowice, Poland (21,1 µg/m3)
- Częstochowa, Poland (21,1 µg/m3)
- Vicenza, Italy (21,0 µg/m3)
- Bielsko-Biała, Poland (20,8 µg/m3)
The Least Polluted Cities in Europe
- Bucharest, Romania.
- Zürich, Switzerland.
- Reykjavik, Iceland.
- London, England.
- Prague, Budapest.
- Paris, France.
- Helsinki, Finland.
- Vienna, Austria.
Fine particulate matter is the air pollutant that causes the greatest negative health impacts across Europe. These particles come mainly from solid fuels used for domestic heating, industrial activities and road transport.
Why is the air quality in Germany so bad? ›
Due to the high negative impact of farms, many different directives have been adopted to protect the environment and improve air quality. A high proportion of air pollution in Germany comes from road traffic. A large proportion of emissions of NOx, CO, and PMx originate primarily from this sector.
Is London most polluted city in Europe? ›
Within Europe London is the largest city, but we have less pollution than some EU cities because we are on the western edge of the continent and often receive fresh air from the Atlantic. From a global perspective, research from the World Bank shows that air pollution is a major health hazard in developing countries.
Why is the air quality in Europe so poor? ›
More than 70% of EU citizens live in urban areas, where high population densities and economic activities cause high levels of air pollution.
