World Air Quality Index (AQI) Ranking | IQAir (2024)

FAQs

What is the best AQI index? ›

AQI values at or below 100 are generally thought of as satisfactory. When AQI values are above 100, air quality is unhealthy: at first for certain sensitive groups of people, then for everyone as AQI values get higher.

Los Angeles air pollution

Los Angeles has the most contaminated air in the country. With a population of roughly over 10 million, the Los Angeles area is a large basin with the Pacific Ocean to the west and bounded prominently on the north and east by the San Gabriel and San Bernardino mountains.

Copenhagen, Denmark: The cleanest city on the planet

Copenhagen is the capital of Denmark, with a population of 1,990,000, and has become the cleanest city in the world thanks to social awareness and environmentally friendly practices.

1. California

California is the most polluted state in the US. Six of the most polluted cities are located in California, with Fresno-Madera and Bakersfield being the two areas with the highest levels of particulate pollution. The worst ozone levels can be found in Los Angeles.

Central and South Asia were the worst performing regions globally, home to all four of the most polluted countries last year: Bangladesh, Pakistan, India and Tajikistan. South Asia is of particular concern, with 29 of the 30 most polluted cities in India, Pakistan or Bangladesh.

HOUSTON, TX (KIAH) – LawnStarter has released its 2023 rankings of the dirtiest cities in America and Houston tops their list. LawnStarter research was done after that year's winter holiday season.

Regarding air pollution, the dirtiest city in the world is often listed as Lahore in Pakistan. However, based on data from Earth.org and other environmental monitoring agencies, this can vary from year to year. The most polluted country in the world is Bangladesh.

Cleanest air in the world in 2022. The cleanest air in the world is in Zurich. The pollution status is determined on the basis of average levels of PM2. 5 measured over a period of 12 months.

Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo | AQI: 169

Kinshasa ranks as the most polluted city in 2024.

1. China (30%) The world's most populated country has an enormous export market, which has seen its industry grow to become a serious danger to the planet. In just five provinces, which that host most of these industries ,more dioxide is emitted than in any other country in the world.

Why does China have a high AQI? ›

Electricity generation has historically been the main source of China's air pollution. However, large coal-powered industries, which are key drivers of China's economic development, have increasingly contributed to China's air pollution problems.