Air pollution remains a critical issue in India, significantly impacting public health. Which cities are the most affected? In our analysis of the 2022 air pollution data, it is evident that India continues to struggle with severe air quality challenges. The World Air Quality Report from IQAir highlighted that India hosts 11 of the 15 most polluted cities in South Asia.
According to the report, India’s annual PM2.5 levels are alarming, as they have returned to pre-quarantine levels observed in 2019. It is noteworthy that, in 2022, none of the Indian cities complied with the WHO air quality guidelines.
Overview of Most Polluted Cities in India
Delhi has been identified as the most polluted city in India, consistently featuring at the top of global rankings. The "State of Global Air Report 2022" reiterated this, placing Delhi as the most polluted city worldwide, followed by Kolkata and Mumbai at notable positions on the list.
Top Polluted Cities in India by PM2.5 Levels
| Country | City Name | Avg. PM2.5 (µg/m3) |
|---|---|---|
| India | Delhi | 110 |
| India | Bhiwadi, Rajasthan | 106.2 |
| India | Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh | 102 |
| India | Jaunpur, Uttar Pradesh | 95.3 |
| India | Noida | 91.4 |
| India | Bagpat | 89.1 |
| India | Hisar | 89 |
| India | Faridabad | 88.9 |
| India | Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh | 87.5 |
| India | Rohtak, Haryana | 86.9 |
| India | Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh | 86 |
| India | Jind | 84.1 |
| India | Gurugram | 83.4 |
| India | Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh | 83.2 |
| India | Muzaffarpur, Bihar | 82.9 |
| India | Varanasi | 82.6 |
| India | Bulandshahr | 80.8 |
| India | Meerut, Uttar Pradesh | 80.6 |
| India | Kadaura | 80.3 |
| India | Patna, Bihar | 78.2 |
| India | Dharuhera | 76.9 |
| India | Durgapur | 75.8 |
| India | Amroha | 75 |
| India | Charkhi Dadri | 73.9 |
| India | Agra, Uttar Pradesh | 73.4 |
| India | Yamuna Nagar | 73.3 |
| India | Muzaffarnagar | 73 |
| India | Alampur | 72.5 |
| India | Ludhiana | 71.8 |
| India | Sonipat | 68.7 |
| India | Kurukshetra | 68.1 |
| India | Jodhpur | 67.8 |
| India | Singrauli | 67.3 |
| India | Ankleshwar | 66.5 |
| India | Ambala | 65.3 |
Download the PDF of Most Polluted Cities in India
You can download the list of the most polluted cities in India in PDF format from the link below.
Related Reading: City List of Haryana
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