This page shows the 10 most polluted cities in the world, ranked by live AQI data. The list updates automatically every 24 hours using measurements of PM2.5, PM10, ozone, nitrogen dioxide and other pollutants.
Many of the cities that rank poorly are located in South Asia, the Middle East, and parts of East Asia. Contributing factors include:
Cities such as Delhi, Lahore, and Dhaka often appear near the top of the list due to recurring winter smog and crop-burning seasons.
The AQI scale ranges from 1 (Good) to 5 (Very Poor). A higher AQI means greater health risks, especially for sensitive groups such as children, elderly, and people with asthma or heart conditions.
By updating this list daily, AirNearby.com provides a transparent look at which major world cities are struggling the most with air pollution.