Delhi Most-Polluted Capital Globally, But This Northeastern City Beats It In India

New Delhi: Guwahati in Assam has surpassed Delhi to become the second most polluted city globally, according to the 2023 World Air Quality Report by IQAir. Guwahati recorded an average annual PM2.5 concentration of 105.4, more than ten times higher than the World Health Organization’s (WHO) air quality guidelines.

Delhi was identified as the capital city with the poorest air quality whereas Bihar’s Begusarai emerged as the world’s most polluted metropolitan area, as per the report. It was followed by the Indian cities of Mullanpur and Punjab.

As per the World Air Quality Report 2023 by Swiss organisation IQAir, India had the third worst air quality out of 134 countries in 2023 with an average annual PM2.5 concentration of 54.4 micrograms per cubic metre after Bangladesh (79.9 micrograms per cubic metre) and Pakistan (73.7 micrograms per cubic metre), news agency PTI reported.

In an alarming trend, nine out of ten cities in the World’s Most Polluted Cities ranking were from India. Moreover, a striking 42 Indian cities have secured positions in the top 50.

In 2022, India was ranked as the eighth most polluted country with an average PM2.5 concentration of 53.3 micrograms per cubic metre. 

Begusarai has emerged as the most polluted metropolitan area globally, with an average PM2.5 concentration of 118.9 micrograms per cubic metre. The city did not even appear on the 2022 rankings. 

Delhi’s PM2.5 levels worsened from 89.1 micrograms per cubic metre in 2022 to 92.7 micrograms per cubic metre in 2023. The national capital has been ranked the most polluted capital city in the world for four consecutive years starting from 2018, as per the report, stated PTI.

The study looked specifically at fine particulate matter, or PM2.5, which is the tiniest pollutant but also the most dangerous. 

According to PTI, in the 2022 World Air Quality Report data was taken from 131 countries, regions, and territories. However, in the 2023 report, the numbers rose to 7,821 locations in 134 countries, regions, and territories.