Air pollution is nowadays one of the most serious environmental and public health crises across the world. The Air Quality Index (AQI) is usually measured to check how polluted the air is. This is based on key pollutants such as PM2.5, PM10, nitrogen dioxide, sulfur dioxide, carbon monoxide, and ozone. Higher AQI values indicate poorer air quality and greater health risks. But which country currently has the highest AQI (worst air quality)?
Which Country Has the Highest AQI?
According to the reports by the latest World Air Quality Report, Bangladesh recorded the highest average AQI levels in 2024. This has surpassed other nations in annual air pollution measurements. But Bangladesh’s AQI consistently exceeded safe limits set by the World Health Organization. This makes its air quality among the worst in the world.
Why South Asia Dominates Poor Air Quality Rankings?
According to this report, South Asia has been identified as the world’s most polluted region. In addition to Bangladesh, two other countries within South Asia – Pakistan and India – rank among the countries with the highest AQIs in the world, with yearly average AQI values much higher than the standard for air pollution for human health.
Which are Worst Cities by AQI?
Bangladesh displays country-level data, yet monitoring at the city level demonstrates that Dhaka, the capital city, frequently achieves world record high AQI results, which reach “very unhealthy” levels on certain days. The AQI in Dhaka has exceeded 200 on some mornings, which creates immediate health threats to the population.
Why is High AQI Important?
People who have high AQI levels experience respiratory problems and heart disease, together with other persistent health issues. Air pollution delivers an estimated 5 million early deaths each year, according to World Health Organization findings, which particularly affect areas that experience continuous low air quality.
The recent data show that Bangladesh has the worst average air pollution levels among countries, which include Pakistan and India as its closest competitors. The city of Dhaka experiences extremely hazardous daily AQI increases, which demonstrate the urgent requirement for international efforts to implement pollution management systems and develop clean air programs.
