Loni in Uttar Pradesh topped global pollution rankings with high PM2.5 levels, as per an IQAir report highlighted by DW.
Loni in Uttar Pradesh, India, was ranked the world's most polluted city in 2025, according to a report by Swiss air quality monitoring firm IQAir, as reported by DW. The city recorded average PM2.5 levels of 112.5 micrograms per cubic meter, far exceeding the World Health Organization's guideline of no more than 5 micrograms per cubic meter.
Three Indian cities featured among the top four most polluted globally in the same report. Byrnihat and New Delhi joined Loni in this ranking, with New Delhi identified as the most polluted capital city worldwide.
Global Pollution Rankings
The IQAir report indicated that all 25 of the world's most polluted cities in 2025 were located in India, Pakistan, and China. This highlights the severe air quality issues in these regions based on the data analyzed.
Pakistan was ranked as the world's most polluted country in 2025, with PM2.5 levels up to 13 times higher than WHO guidelines. India ranked sixth among countries for pollution levels.
Only 13 countries and territories met the WHO's annual PM2.5 guideline in 2025, according to the report. This underscores the global challenge of air quality, with the data pointing to ongoing environmental concerns in heavily affected areas.
The report builds on previous findings, noting that Byrnihat was the most polluted city in IQAir's 2024 report, showing a pattern of persistent pollution in Indian cities.
