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Pakistan Tops World's Most Polluted Nations List in 2025, PM2.5 Levels Soar

Pakistan has been ranked as the world's most polluted nation in 2025, with dangerous PM2.5 concentrations reaching up to thirteen times the World Health Organization's recommended limit. The annual report by Swiss firm IQAir found that a vast majority of monitored countries failed to meet the WHO air quality standard. Bangladesh and Tajikistan followed Pakistan on the list of most polluted nations, while countries like Australia and Iceland were among the few that met the guideline. The smog crisis poses a severe health threat in Pakistani cities like Lahore and Karachi, where industrial emissions and weather conditions severely deteriorate air quality.

Key Points: Pakistan Ranked World's Most Polluted Nation in 2025

  • Pakistan ranked most polluted
  • PM2.5 levels 13x WHO limit
  • Only 14% of global cities met standard
  • Bangladesh and Tajikistan follow on list
2 min read

Pakistan ranked world's most polluted nation in 2025: Report

Pakistan tops global pollution rankings with PM2.5 levels 13x WHO limits. Bangladesh, Tajikistan, and Chad also among most polluted nations.

"130 out of 143 monitored countries and territories did not meet the WHO guideline. - IQAir Report"

Islamabad, March 24

Pakistan has been ranked as the world's smoggiest nation in 2025, with concentrations of hazardous small particles known as PM2.5 up to 13 times higher than the recommended World Health Organisation level, a research revealed on Tuesday, local media reported.

In its annual report, Swiss air quality monitoring firm IQAir said that 13 nations and territories kept average PM2.5 levels at the WHO standard of less than 5 microgrammes per cubic metre last year, witnessing a rise from seven in 2024, Pakistan's leading daily Dawn reported.

The report revealed that 130 out of 143 monitored countries and territories did not meet the WHO guideline. Bangladesh and Tajikistan have been ranked at the second and third spot on the world's most polluted list. Chad, which was ranked as the smoggiest nation in 2024, has been ranked fourth in 2025.

Only 14 per cent of the cities in the world met the WHO standard in 2025. The nations that met the WHO standard in 2025 included Australia, Iceland, Estonia and Panama. Laos, Cambodia and Indonesia witnessed decline in PM2.5 in comparison to the previous year due to the wetter and windier La Nina weather, Dawn reported. According to the report released by IQAir, 75 countries had lower PM2.5 levels in 2025 compared to 2024, with 54 reporting higher average concentrations.

In 2024, Pakistan was ranked among the top most polluted nations in the world. The average PM2.5 concentration in Pakistan was high, more than the safe limit of 5 micrograms per cubic metre set by WHO. Only 17 per cent of global cities in 2024 kept average PM2.5 levels at the WHO standard, Pakistan's another leading daily The Express Tribune reported.

The smog crisis in Pakistan is not only a health concern but also a setback in the nation's efforts to improve air quality. Cities like Lahore and Karachi face intense pollution, even during winter, when fog an industrial emissions together deteriorate air quality.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

P
Priya S
While the report is about Pakistan, we in India should not feel complacent. Our own cities are not far behind on such lists. This is a wake-up call for all of South Asia to tackle pollution seriously.
A
Aman W
It's sad to see any country suffering like this. The health impact on common people, especially children and the elderly, must be devastating. Hope their government takes strong measures soon.
S
Sarah B
The article mentions weather patterns helped some nations. It shows how much climate change mitigation is linked to air quality. A global effort is needed, not just national.
V
Vikram M
Respectfully, I think the focus of our media should be more on our own AQI numbers, which are also alarming. We have many cities in the 'severe' category regularly. Let's solve our own issues first.
K
Kavya N
Air pollution knows no borders. When will our governments understand that? The entire Indo-Gangetic plain suffers. Maybe SAARC can have a dedicated committee for environmental cooperation.

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