2021 World Air Quality Report

IQAir recently released the 2021 World Air Quality Report. The report presented an overview of the state of global air quality in 2021.

• IQAir is a Swiss group that measures air quality levels based on the concentration of Particulate Matter (PM) 2.5.
• The report is based on PM 2.5 air quality data from 6,475 cities in 117 countries, regions, and territories around the world.

India-specific Findings: India’s PM 2.5 annual average reached 58.1 µg/m3 in 2021, ending a three-year trend of improving air quality.

• For the fourth consecutive year, Delhi has been named the most polluted capital in the world, with pollution rising almost 15% over 2020.
• 35 of the 50 cities with the worst air quality are in India. Among these cities, Rajasthan’s Bhiwadi tops the list, followed closely by Uttar Pradesh’s Ghaziabad.
• Mumbai recorded a PM 2.5 annual average of 46.4 microgram/cubic metre - nearly nine times above the World Health Organization (WHO) prescribed limit.
• 48% of Indian cities exceeded 50 μg/m3 air quality level, which is well over 10 times the WHO guidelines.