2017-2025
World's most polluted cities
The most polluted cities according to data aggregated from over 80,000 data points.
2025
World Air Quality Report
2025
World Air Quality Report
PM2.5 legend
0-5Meets WHO guideline
5.1-10Exceeds by 1 to 2 times
10.1-15Exceeds by 2 to 3 times
15.1-25Exceeds by 3 to 5 times
25.1-35Exceeds by 5 to 7 times
35.1-50Exceeds by 7 to 10 times
>50.1Exceeds by over 10 times
| Rank | City | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1955 |  Nirasaki Japan | 8.5 | 7.2 | 7.8 | 7.2 | 6.8 | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| 1956 | Home Japan | 8.4 | 7.4 | 7.5 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| 1957 | Yokoshiba Japan | 8.4 | 7.3 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| 1958 | Koriyama Japan | 8.4 | 7.8 | 9.2 | 8.5 | 8.4 | 8 | 9.7 | 9.9 | 9.6 |
| 1959 | Takayama Japan | 8.4 | 7 | 7.5 | 8.3 | 7.9 | 7.8 | 8.5 | 9 | 8.5 |
| 1960 | Yashiro Japan | 8.4 | 7.2 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| 1961 | Minamisatsuma Japan | 8.4 | 8.1 | 10 | 9.5 | 9.2 | 11.8 | 13.2 | 13.3 | 12.9 |
| 1962 | Miura Japan | 8.4 | 7.7 | 9.1 | 8.7 | 8.4 | 7.9 | 8.7 | 9.4 | 8.9 |
| 1963 | Chikuma Japan | 8.4 | 7.8 | 8.4 | 8.5 | 8.4 | 8.6 | 9.3 | -- | -- |
| 1964 | Iida Japan | 8.4 | 7.8 | 8.7 | 8.2 | 7.9 | -- | 9.2 | 9.6 | 9.5 |
| 1965 | Gotsucho Japan | 8.4 | 7.4 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| 1966 | Hamamatsu Japan | 8.4 | 7 | 7.5 | 7.1 | 7.6 | -- | 9.3 | 10.2 | 9.8 |
| 1967 | Nanto Japan | 8.4 | 6.9 | 7.9 | 7.9 | 7.7 | 8.1 | 9.9 | 11 | 10 |
| 1968 | Tsuruoka Japan | 8.4 | 7.4 | 8.5 | 7.8 | 8.3 | 8.6 | 9 | 9.2 | 8.5 |
| 1969 | Fujiyoshida Japan | 8.4 | 7.2 | 8.3 | 7.3 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| 1970 |  Hithadhoo Maldives | 8.4 | 12.5 | 15.1 | 9.6 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| 1971 |  Mahiyanganaya Sri Lanka | 8.4 | 13.7 | 15.9 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| 1972 |  Nuea Khlong Thailand | 8.4 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| 1973 | Nakhon Si Thammarat Thailand | 8.4 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| 1974 |  Altay China | 8.3 | 8.8 | 7 | 8.5 | 9.9 | 11.1 | 9.9 | 9.3 | 12.6 |
| 1975 |  Bontang Baru Indonesia | 8.3 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| 1976 | Matsudo Japan | 8.3 | 7.9 | 9.1 | 8.3 | 9.6 | 12.6 | 14.2 | 13.6 | 13 |
| 1977 | Tsuruga Japan | 8.3 | 7.1 | 7.8 | 7.2 | 7.5 | 9.9 | 12.3 | 12.5 | 12.1 |
| 1978 | Godo Japan | 8.3 | 5.2 | 4.4 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| 1979 | Hitachinaka Japan | 8.3 | 7.2 | 8 | 7.6 | 7.5 | 8.3 | 9.3 | 9.4 | 8.9 |
| 1980 | Hakui Japan | 8.3 | 7.3 | 6.9 | 6.9 | 7.9 | 8.3 | 9 | 9 | 8.8 |
| 1981 | Kaga Japan | 8.3 | 7.2 | 7 | 7.8 | 7.4 | 7.8 | 9 | 9.2 | 8.2 |
| 1982 | Kawaramachi Japan | 8.3 | 7.4 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| 1983 | Kyotango Japan | 8.3 | 6.8 | 7.8 | 7.5 | 7.1 | 7.6 | 10.1 | 10.9 | 10.4 |
| 1984 | Yaizu Japan | 8.3 | 6.9 | 7.5 | 7 | 8.4 | -- | 8.7 | 9.5 | -- |
| 1985 | Shingu Japan | 8.3 | 5.6 | 5.8 | 6 | 6.4 | 8.2 | 8.5 | 9.3 | 9.4 |
| 1986 | Male Maldives | 8.3 | 12.2 | 10.8 | 25 | 12.8 | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| 1987 | Nuwara Eliya Sri Lanka | 8.3 | 9.1 | 11.9 | 13.2 | 9.6 | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| 1988 | Pelabuhanratu Indonesia | 8.2 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| 1989 | Takahama Japan | 8.2 | 7 | 7.9 | 7.5 | 7.6 | 9.6 | 11.8 | 12.7 | 12.4 |
| 1990 | Katori Japan | 8.2 | 7.3 | 7.9 | 7.5 | 7.2 | 7.3 | 8.4 | 8.4 | 8.1 |
| 1991 | Shimosakuma Japan | 8.2 | 7.3 | 8.3 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| 1992 | Sodegaura Japan | 8.2 | 7.3 | 7.6 | 7.5 | 7.8 | 8.6 | 9.7 | 10.9 | 11.5 |
| 1993 | Haramachi Japan | 8.2 | 7.5 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| 1994 | Numata Japan | 8.2 | 7.3 | 8.1 | 8.2 | 7.9 | 10.8 | 11.8 | 13.1 | 12.6 |
| 1995 | Nakano Japan | 8.2 | 7.3 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| 1996 | Susono Japan | 8.2 | 7.9 | 8 | 7.7 | 7.8 | -- | 9.2 | 10.1 | 10 |
| 1997 | Tochigi Japan | 8.2 | 7.5 | 8.2 | 8.5 | 8.4 | 8.7 | 9.5 | 10.1 | 10.1 |
| 1998 |  Keelung Taiwan | 8.2 | 9.1 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| 1999 | Tsumagoi Japan | 8.1 | 8.3 | 8.8 | 8.2 | 7.5 | 7.7 | 8.5 | 9.2 | 9.1 |
| 2000 | Hakusan Japan | 8.1 | 7.2 | 7.6 | 7.6 | 7 | 7.3 | 9 | 11.1 | 10.8 |
| 2001 | Komatsu Japan | 8.1 | 6.8 | 7.5 | 7.3 | 7 | 10.2 | 10.6 | 10.7 | 10.2 |
| 2002 | Tsubata Japan | 8.1 | 5.6 | 6.4 | 6.8 | 7 | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| 2003 | Osaki Japan | 8.1 | 7.5 | 8.6 | 7.6 | 7.5 | 7.3 | -- | -- | -- |
| 2004 | Taiwa Japan | 8.1 | 8.4 | 10 | 8.4 | 9.2 | -- | 10.9 | 10.4 | 10.1 |
