List of the 10 Most Polluted Countries in Asia (2024)

1. Bangladesh

Bangladesh has been one of the most polluted countries in the world, with an average PM2.5 concentration of 161 μg/m³ in 2023.

Major cities such as Dhaka and Chittagong have been particularly affected, suffering from severe air quality issues mainly due to emissions from vehicles, industrial activities and brick kilns.

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The situation worsened further in 2024, with PM2.5 levels in Dhaka reaching 80.2 μg/m³, far above the 5 μg/m³ limit recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO).

Air pollution is linked to around 20% of premature deaths in Bangladesh, and costs the country around 17.6% of its GDP each year in medical expenses and lost productivity.

Key pollutants include fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and lead from various sources, including emissions from household cooking using solid fuels.

The lack of strict environmental regulations exacerbates the crisis and urgent interventions are needed to improve air quality and protect public health.

2. India

India ranks third in the world for air pollution, with an average PM2.5 level of 84 μg/m³ in 2023.

Cities such as New Delhi and Begusarai are among the most polluted cities, with New Delhi recording a pollution level of 92.7 μg/m³ in 2024.

Major sources of pollution include vehicle emissions, industrial emissions and agricultural activities such as crop burning.

The situation remains dire, with air quality continuing to deteriorate, with air quality in many cities exceeding the World Health Organization’s safety limits by more than ten times.

India’s air pollution, which mainly consists of particulate matter (PM2.5) and nitrogen oxides (NOx), seriously affects respiratory health and reduces the average life expectancy of residents by 5.3 years.

Despite the government’s efforts to combat pollution through initiatives such as the National Clean Air Program, rapid urbanization and industrial growth still pose major challenges to achieving clean air.

3. Pakistan

Pakistan is another country facing severe air pollution, with an average PM2.5 concentration of 147 μg/m³ in 2023, ranking second in Asia.

Lahore’s air quality is particularly poor, with PM2.5 levels reaching 99.5 μg/m³ in 2024, mainly due to industrial emissions, vehicle exhaust and agricultural burning.

China’s air quality crisis is exacerbated by the lack of effective regulations and monitoring systems to adequately address the sources of pollution.

Major pollutants include particulate matter (PM2.5) and sulfur dioxide (SO2), causing millions of residents to suffer from respiratory diseases and other health problems.

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Air pollution is estimated to reduce life expectancy in Pakistan by approximately 3.9 years, highlighting the urgent need for Pakistan to develop comprehensive policies that prioritize environmental health and economic development.

4. Laos

Laos is one of the most polluted countries in Asia, with an average PM2.5 level of 70 μg/m³ in 2023.

Cities like Vientiane face severe air quality challenges due to a variety of factors including motor vehicle emissions, industrial activities, and agricultural burning during the dry season.

The situation in 2024 remains worrisome as urbanization continues without adequate environmental regulations to effectively mitigate pollution sources.

The most dominant type of pollution is particulate matter (PM2.5), which poses serious risks to people’s health, such as respiratory and cardiovascular diseases.

With limited resources allocated to environmental management and public awareness initiatives on air quality issues, Laos faces a growing public health crisis that requires immediate attention.

5. China

China has made substantial progress in preventing and controlling air pollution, but still faces major challenges. In 2023, the average PM2.5 concentration was 64μg/m³, ranking fourth in the world.

Large cities such as Beijing continue to face air quality problems, mainly due to industrial emissions and coal-burning for heating in winter.

In 2024, Beijing’s air quality remains worrying, with an average concentration of about 60 μg/m³ during peak pollution periods.

Key pollutants include fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and sulfur dioxide (SO2), which have serious impacts on public health and environmental sustainability despite the government’s ongoing efforts to transition to cleaner energy.

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6. Tajikistan

Tajikistan ranks sixth among the most polluted countries in Asia, with an average PM2.5 concentration of 64μg/m³ in 2023.

Air quality in cities like Dushanbe is severely deteriorating due to industrial emissions, car exhaust and sandstorms, while poor infrastructure and urban planning exacerbate the problem.

The latest data from 2024 shows that air quality remains a pressing issue as seasonal changes cause pollution levels to fluctuate throughout the year.

The main pollutants are fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and heavy metals generated by mining activities, which pose serious risks to residents’ health, including respiratory and cardiovascular diseases.

7. Nepal

Nepal’s air pollution ranks eighth in the world, with an average PM2.5 level of 55 μg/m³ in 2023, mainly affecting urban areas such as Kathmandu, where pollution levels can rise sharply in winter as temperature inversions trap pollutants near the ground.

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In 2024, Kathmandu’s air quality remains a significant issue as it faces emissions from vehicles, construction activities, and the burning of biomass for cooking and heating.

The main type of pollution is particulate matter (PM2.5), which poses serious health risks, including respiratory diseases and shortened life expectancy.

8. North Korea

North Korea is one of the most polluted countries in Asia, with an average PM2.5 concentration of 53 μg/m³ in 2023, ranking eighth, mainly affecting cities such as Pyongyang, where industrial emissions are the main cause of poor air quality throughout the year.

In its most recent assessment to 2024, North Korea continues to face challenges related to outdated industrial technologies that exacerbate emissions without effective regulatory oversight or monitoring systems to adequately address these issues.

Major pollutants include fine particulate matter (PM2.5) produced by burning coal for heating and power generation during severe winters.

Despite these challenges, North Korea has made some progress, pledging in its first Nationally Determined Contribution in 2016 to reduce emissions by 8% by 2030, and with support from the international community, by 40.25%.

In recent years, the North Korean regime has also emphasized increasing reforestation efforts to mitigate the effects of climate change and air pollution.

9. Mongolia

Mongolia ranks tenth among the most polluted countries, with an average PM2.5 level of about 48 μg/m³ in 2023. This is mainly due to the burning of coal for heating in winter in cities such as Ulaanbaatar, which causes air quality problems in these cities to persist throughout the year.

The most recent data for 2024 shows that PM2.5 concentrations in Ulaanbaatar remain at dangerous levels, with an average concentration of about 45 μg/m³ during the peak pollution season.

Geography exacerbates the problem because pollutants are trapped in urban areas during the cold season, at the same time that coal use for residential heating increases dramatically.

The World Health Organization has strict guidelines for PM2.5 levels of no more than 5 micrograms per cubic meter, but Mongolia reported alarming figures of about 10 times that in 2023.

The surge in pollution levels not only increases the risk of respiratory diseases, but also seriously affects public health and residents’ quality of life.

10. South Korea

South Korea faces serious air quality challenges, with recent assessments in various regions including Seoul ranking the country 11th in the world for air quality, with an average PM2.5 concentration of approximately 45μg/m³.

High traffic volumes significantly exacerbate environmental conditions, especially during winter when atmospheric inversions occur, trapping pollutants closer to the ground and negatively affecting the public health of affected populations.

Despite these challenges, South Korea has worked hard to address air pollution and ranked 21st in the World Bank’s 2019 Doing Business rankings, well above other Asian economies.

This suggests that the region’s regulatory environment is more business-friendly than China and India, which rank 32nd and 62nd, respectively. However, if air pollution in the region persists, the government may be forced to expand existing regulations, which could affect the business environment.

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Source: https://dinhtienhoang.edu.vn
Category: Optical Illusion