The city of Byrnihat in Meghalaya, India was the most polluted city in the world in 2024, with average annual PM2.5 concentration of nearly *** micrograms per cubic meter of air (μg/m³). This was roughly ** times above the WHO PM2.5 recommended guideline. More than half of the ** most polluted cities in the world in 2024 were located in India, including New Delhi, which was the most polluted capital city in the world that year.

Santa María – a Peruvian city located to the west of the Andes mountain range – was the most polluted city in Latin America in 2024, based on fine air particulate matter concentration (PM2.5). That year, the city reported an average PM2.5 concentration of 53.4 micrograms per cubic meter. This was followed by Coyhaique, located in Chile, with an estimated PM2.5 concentration of around 40.5 μg/m³. Pollution in Latin American capitals The Chilean capital, Santiago, registered an average PM2.5 concentration of 21.3 μg/m³ in 2023. Lima, the Peruvian capital, had an estimated PM2.5 concentration of around 19.7 μg/m³, while in the capital of Mexico (Mexico City), air pollution amounted to 22.3 μg/m³. The World Health Organization's air quality standards recommend a maximum annual average concentration of 10 μg/m³. The burden of pollution on health Air particulate pollution has been associated with an increase in mortality from cardiovascular and respiratory diseases, as well as development of lung cancer. This is specially concerning considering that nearly 2.8 billion people worldwide are exposed to hazardous levels of air pollution. In particular, South Asia was home to the countries with the highest exposure to hazardous concentrations of air pollution in 2022.

Ajaplan was the most polluted city in Mexico in 2024, based on fine air particulate matter concentration (PM2.5). Throughout the year, the city had an average particulate matter concentration of 24.3 micrograms per cubic meter. The average particulate matter pollution in the national capital Mexico City stood at 19.5 micrograms per cubic meter that year. How bad is fine air pollution in Mexico? Fine air particulate pollution (PM2.5) refers to particles with a diameter smaller than 2.5 micrometers. Due to their small size, once inhaled they can penetrate body tissue, and trigger respiratory issues such as asthma and allergies, in addition to being associated with an increase in mortality from cardiovascular and respiratory diseases. The World Health Organization's air quality standards recommend a maximum annual average concentration of 10 µg/m³. Nevertheless, Mexico's PM2.5 levels in 2024 averaged over 17 µg/m³. This positioned Mexico in 55th place amongst the countries with the highest PM2.5 concentration that year, far below Chad, which ranked first in the list with pollution levels reaching over 90 µg/m³. Mexico also had some of the cities with the highest air pollution across Latin America, together with Chile and Peru. Where are the world’s most polluted cities? Despite pollution levels above those recommended by the World Health Organization, Mexico City didn’t even make it to the top 25 most polluted capital cities in 2024. That year, the ranking was topped by Indian capital New Delhi, with an average PM2.5 concentration of nearly 108.3 µg/m³. In fact, the majority of the most air polluted cities worldwide in 2024 were located in India, with the average PM2.5 concentration reaching as high as 128.2 µg/m³. Pakistan also had some of the world’s most polluted cities.

Novi Pasar in Serbia had the highest average ***** concentration recorded in Europe in 2024, at roughly ** µg/m³. According to the World Health Organization, annual average ***** concentrations should not exceed **** µg/m³. Several of the most polluted cities in Europe in 2024 were in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The Balkan country's capital, Sarajevo, was also the most polluted European capital city that year. Cities in Bosnia and Herzegovina are often affected by high levels of air pollution due to the country's reliance on coal for heating and electricity generation. Every year, there are thousands of premature deaths linked to air pollution exposure in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The India Air Purifier Market size was valued at USD 458.73 Million in 2024 and is projected to reach USD 1,327.62 Billion by 2032, growing at a CAGR of 14.2% from 2025 to 2032. Key Market Drivers:Rising Air Pollution Levels: Rising air pollution levels in major Indian cities are driving the demand for air purifiers. According to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), in 2023, 22 of the 30 most polluted cities in the world were located in India. This alarming pollution level is prompting consumers to invest in air purifiers for healthier indoor environments. Companies like Philips and Dyson are seeing increased sales, catering to the growing awareness of air quality and its impact on health. With air pollution continuing to rise, the demand for air purifiers is expected to grow significantly.Growing Health Awareness: The growing awareness about the health impacts of air pollution is a key driver of the air purifier market in India. A 2023 report from the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare stated that respiratory diseases in India have seen a significant rise, with over 1.5 million new cases of asthma reported annually. This health crisis has made consumers more conscious about indoor air quality.

New Delhi was the most polluted city in India in 2024, based on an average air quality index (AQI) of ***. The seven most polluted cities in India in 2024 all had AQI levels above ***. An AQI between 151 and 200 is classified as unhealthy. Air pollution in India India was the third most polluted country in the world in 2023, behind only Bangladesh and Pakistan. The South Asian country recorded an average annual fine particulate matter (PM2.5) concentration of ** micrograms per cubic meter of air (µg/m3) that year, more than ** times above the World Health Organization’s recommended limit. Health effects of air pollution Exposure to air pollution can lead to a range of health issues, such as strokes, respiratory conditions, and cardiovascular disease. Air pollution is attributable to millions of premature deaths every year around the world, with India one of the most affected countries.

In 2023, people in Nottingham were exposed to annual average particulate matter (PM2.5) concentrations of *** micrograms per cubic meter of air (μg/m³). This was almost double the average PM2.5 concentration observed in Edinburgh, that year. The UK capital – London – had an average PM2.5 concentration of *** μg/m³ in 2023. While this was considerably lower than PM2.5 concentrations in the most polluted capital cities in Europe, levels in London were still above World Health Organization guidelines of five μg/m³.

Air pollution levels in cities vary greatly around the world, though they are typically higher in developing regions. In 2024, the cities of Jakarta and Cairo had an average PM2.5 concentrations of **** and **** micrograms per cubic meter (μg/m³) respectively. By comparison, PM2.5 levels in London and New York were less than ***** μg/m³. Nevertheless, pollution levels in these four major cities are all higher than the World Health Organization's healthy limit, which are set at an annual average of less than **** μg/m³. There are many sources of air pollution, such as energy production, transportation, and agricultural activities.

Sri Ganganagar in Jajasthan was India's most polluted city in 2024, based on average annual PM10 concentrations of *** micrograms per cubic meter of air (µg/m³). This was roughly four times higher than India's National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for PM10, and more than ** times above World Health Organization air quality guidelines.PM10 is suspended coarse particulate matter with a diameter of ** micrometers or less. It can come from various sources, including dust from roads and agriculture, smoke from wildfires, and industrial sources. Long-term exposure to PM10 can result in serious health impacts, such as asthma, heart failure, and cancer, as well as premature death.