The thick, contaminated air covering many Indian cities is a daily reality for millions. In some places, the sun is barely visible, and breathing feels unsafe. A new report has revealed that 13 of the world’s 20 most polluted cities are in India,

Despite an improvement in 2024, India again dominated global rankings for the cities with the most dangerous particle smog while Chad was the most polluted country, according to a report published Tuesday.

India, the fifth most polluted country in the world, is home to 13 of the top 20 most polluted cities in the world, according to the latest report by IQAir.

The report said India saw a 7 per cent decline in PM2.5 concentrations in 2024, averaging 50.6 micrograms per cubic metre, compared to 54.4 micrograms per cubic metre in 2023.

Data from more than 40,000 air quality monitoring stations in 138 countries, territories and regions were analyzed for the report, IQAir said.

The cities with the worst air pollution in North America were Ontario, Bloomington and Huntington Park – all in Southern California

India ranked as the fifth most polluted country in the world in 2024, with Byrnihat, Meghalaya, recognized as the most polluted metropolitan area globally. Despite a 7% decline in PM2.5 levels, New Delhi remained the most polluted capital.