Top 10 Most Polluted Cities in the World: Delhi Drops Out of the List – Check Its New Rank

Air pollution is a serious global issue in many cities. As of 2025, air pollution levels are the highest they have been in some time, and the majority of the most polluted cities are in Asia, particularly India and Pakistan but Delhi is absent from the top 10 list for the first time in years. This is a sign of some improvement in air quality measures.

List of 10 Most Polluted Cities in the World

• Byrnihat, India: The most polluted city this year, excess vehicle emissions and industrial pollution with all the foul smog.
• Ghaziabad, India: Heavy traffic and factories make this city poor you can taste the air quality.
• Faridabad and Noida, India: Two cities industrializing rapidly with growing dust pollution from vehicles, among other sources.
• Lahore, Pakistan: Smog and pollution caused from burning the crop, the traffic, and regulations relating to industries serving the city causing pollution problems.
• Dera Ismail Khan, Pakistan: Most pollution is from agricultural waste-burning or from local industry emissions.
• Karaganda, Kazakhstan: Heavy industry and mining contribute to air pollution as well.
• N’Djamena, Chad: Dust storms and ineffective waste management add to pollution.
• Patna, India: Pollution comes from abundance of vehicles, burning waste, and pollution emitting from industry activity.
• Muzaffargarh, Pakistan: Pollution levels are raised here from agricultural burning and the use of coal in homes.

Delhi’s New Rank and Improvement

Delhi is not one of the top 10 polluted spaces, but still has a pollution level with AQI of 87. Our strategies, to control air pollution are good (e.g. banning older vehicles, providing clean fuels for vehicles, suppressing dust at construction sites and public awareness campaigns). However, air pollution remains serious and requires control. 

This summary is based on current air quality rankings and publicly available environmental reports as of November 2025. Rankings and data may vary with updated measurements and local environmental changes.