Only seven countries met WHO air quality standards in 2024, data shows

Data released on Tuesday revealed that only seven countries met the World Health Organization (WHO) air quality standards last year, as researchers cautioned that the fight against smog would become more difficult following the U.S. shutdown of its global monitoring efforts.

Chad and Bangladesh were ranked as the world’s most polluted countries in 2024, with average smog levels more than 15 times higher than WHO guidelines, according to data compiled by Swiss air quality monitoring firm IQAir.

Australia, New Zealand, the Bahamas, Barbados, Grenada, Estonia, and Iceland were the only countries to meet the WHO air quality standards, IQAir reported.

Significant data gaps, particularly in Asia and Africa, complicate the global picture. Many developing nations have relied on air quality sensors installed on U.S. embassy and consulate buildings to monitor smog levels. However, the U.S. State Department recently ended the programne due to budget constraints, removing more than 17 years of data—including readings from Chad—from the U.S. government’s official air quality monitoring site, airnow.gov.

via Reuters