WORLD AIR QUALITY REPORT 2019

Key findings:

• India accounts for two-thirds of the world’s most polluted cities — 21 of the most polluted 30 cities; 14 of the highest 20; and 6 of the highest 10.
  
  
• The ranking is based on a comparison of PM2.5 levels.
  
  
• Among countries, when population is taken into account, average PM2.5 pollution is highest in Bangladesh, followed by Pakistan, while India is at number 5.
  
  
• While cities in India, on average, exceed the WHO target for annual PM2.5 exposure by 500%, national air pollution decreased by 20% from 2018 to 2019, with 98% of cities experiencing improvements. These improvements are believed to be largely a result of economic slowdown.
  
  
• According to it, around 90% of the global population is breathing unsafe air.