A new global air pollution report has been released, identifying the most polluted countries in the world for 2024. According to the IQAir report, Chad in Africa ranks as the country with the worst air pollution.

The 16 most polluted countries this year are:

1. Chad
2. Bangladesh
3. Pakistan
4. Democratic Republic of the Congo
5. India
6. Tajikistan
7. Nepal
8. Uganda
9. Rwanda
10. Burundi
11. Nigeria
12. Egypt
13. Iraq
14. Ghana
15. Indonesia
16. Gambia

The ranking includes all countries with available data. Cyprus ranks 86th, while Greece is 92nd on the list.

The IQAir report, conducted by the Swiss air quality monitoring company, focused on fine particulate matter (PM2.5), one of the smallest and most dangerous air pollutants.

PM2.5 particles originate from sources such as fossil fuel combustion, dust storms, and wildfires. Measuring just 1/20th the width of a human hair, these particles bypass the body’s natural defenses, reaching deep into the lungs and bloodstream.

Exposure to PM2.5 pollution can cause respiratory irritation and inflammation, leading to chronic lung disease, kidney disease, cancer, strokes, and heart attacks. Additionally, long-term exposure has been linked to a higher risk of depression and anxiety.

The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends that annual average PM2.5 levels should not exceed 5 micrograms per cubic meter. However, in Byrnihat, an industrial town in northeastern India, PM2.5 concentrations reached 128.2 micrograms last year—25 times the WHO limit—making it the most polluted city in the world.

“It is very sad and frustrating,” said Suman Momin, 26, a resident of Byrnihat, in an interview with CNN. She attributed the toxic air to factories, a booming construction industry, and deforestation around the town, which has a population of approximately 70,000.

“The pollution is especially bad right now—the visibility is poor, dust is everywhere, and my eyes burn constantly,” she said. “I never leave home without a mask.”

China, once a dominant country in the rankings for the world’s worst air pollution, showed slight improvements, according to the report.

However, Iran and Afghanistan were not included in this year’s ranking due to a lack of available data.

The report also highlights gaps in air quality monitoring in Southeast Asia, where many countries lack comprehensive government-led initiatives. In 2024, 173 out of 392 cities in the region had no state-run air monitoring stations, while Cambodia had none at all.

These monitoring challenges may worsen following the U.S. government’s recent decision to stop sharing air quality data collected from its embassies and consulates worldwide due to budget constraints, according to the Associated Press.

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