Pakistan Ranked World’s Most Smog-Affected Country in 2025: Report
Islamabad: Pakistan has been ranked as the most smog-affected country in 2025, according to a new global study, with dangerous fine particulate matter (PM2.5) levels recorded at 13 times higher than the safe limits recommended by the World Health Organization.
The findings were published in the annual report by Swiss air quality monitoring firm IQAir, which analyzed air pollution data worldwide.
According to the report, only 13 countries and regions managed to keep their average PM2.5 levels below the WHO guideline of 5 micrograms per cubic meter. Overall, 130 out of 143 surveyed countries and regions failed to meet the recommended standards.
Pakistan topped the list of the most polluted countries, followed by Bangladesh and Tajikistan in second and third place, respectively. Chad, which was the most polluted country in 2024, ranked fourth in 2025, although the report noted that reduced PM2.5 levels there may be due to gaps in data.
At the city level, Loni in India was identified as the most polluted city globally. The report also highlighted that the 25 most polluted cities in the world were all located in India, Pakistan, and China.
Globally, only 14% of cities met WHO air quality standards in 2025, down from 17% the previous year. The report attributed part of the global increase in pollution to widespread wildfires in Canada, which affected air quality across the United States and Europe.
Countries that met WHO air quality standards in 2025 included Australia, Iceland, Estonia, and Panama.
