The study shows that dangerous PM2.5 particles in the air were up to 13 times higher than the safe limits set by the World Health Organization.
These tiny particles come from vehicle emissions, industrial activity and fires. They can enter the lungs and bloodstream, causing serious health problems such as heart disease, respiratory issues, and premature deaths. The report was released by IQAir, a Swiss air quality monitoring firm. It found that only 13 countries managed to keep pollution levels within safe limits in 2025.
Major cities in Pakistan are facing severe air quality issues. Karachi recorded very high pollution levels, with an Air Quality Index above 100, which is considered “unhealthy for sensitive groups.”
Other cities like Lahore and Hyderabad are also struggling with worsening smog conditions. Globally, the situation remains alarming. The world’s 25 most polluted cities were all located in India, Pakistan, and China.
India’s Loni was ranked the most polluted city in 2025, followed by Hotan in China. Countries like Bangladesh and Tajikistan also ranked among the most polluted nations.
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Out of 143 monitored countries, 130 failed to meet WHO air quality guidelines. Only 14 percent of cities worldwide met the safe standard, which is lower than last year. Some countries, including Australia, Iceland, Estonia, and Panama, managed to maintain safe air quality levels.
A few countries, such as Laos, Cambodia, and Indonesia, showed improvement due to better weather conditions, including rainfall and strong winds.
Experts also pointed out that global pollution data faced challenges after the United States shut down a key air monitoring programme, which affected data collection in several countries.
Because of missing data, some countries were not included in the report, making it harder to fully understand the global pollution situation.
Overall, 75 countries saw some improvement in air quality, while 54 experienced worsening pollution levels.
