What is the Air Quality Life Index (AQLI)?

About Air Quality Life Index (AQLI):

• It measures particulate air pollution's impact on life expectancy.
• Developed by Michael Greenstone and Energy Policy Institute (EPIC) at the University of Chicago, the AQLI quantifies pollution's effects.
• The AQLI combines research on long-term air pollution exposure with global particulate pollution measurements.
• It provides insight into the true cost of air pollution on communities worldwide.
• Highlights of the AQLI 2025 Report:
  • Air pollution has emerged as India’s most severe health threat, reducing the country’s average life expectancy by 3.5 years.
  • Toxic air robs Indians of nearly twice as many years as childhood and maternal malnutrition and more than five times the impact of unsafe water, sanitation, and handwashing.
  • All 1.4 billion Indians live in areas where pollution levels exceed the World Health Organization’s (WHO’s) safe limit of 5 µg/m³ for PM2.5.
  • The northern belt is still the world’s most polluted zone, with 544.4 million people (38.9 percent of India’s population) living under severe air pollution.
  • Delhi-NCR is the worst hit, with residents facing a loss of 8.2 years in life expectancy (based on WHO’s standard).
    • Bihar: 5.6 years lost
    • Haryana: 5.3 years lost
    • Uttar Pradesh: 5 years lost
  • Even by India’s weaker PM2.5 standard of 40 µg/m³, Delhi-NCR residents would still lose 4.74 years of life expectancy.
  • Shockingly, the report notes that 46 percent of Indians live in areas that exceed even India’s own PM2.5 standards.
  • If pollution levels were reduced to meet this national benchmark, Indians could gain an average of 1.5 years of life expectancy.
  • Meeting WHO’s stricter 5 µg/m³ guideline could add up to 9.4 months even in cleaner regions.
  • The AQLI report underlines that South Asia is the most polluted region globally, with PM2.5 concentrations rising 2.8 percent in 2023 after a brief dip in 2022.
  • Air pollution:
    • Cuts 3 years off average life expectancy across the region.
    • Reduces life by more than 8 years in the most affected zones.