In 2024, only seven countries met the World Health Organization's air quality standards, according to IQAir's World Air Quality Report. These countries are Australia, New Zealand, the Bahamas, Barbados, Grenada, Estonia, and Iceland. The report highlights that most of the world's population breathes polluted air, with only 17% of cities meeting WHO guidelines. The cleanest region globally was Oceania, where 57% of cities met air quality standards. Meanwhile, Chad and Bangladesh were identified as the most polluted countries, with pollution levels over 15 times higher than WHO recommendations. The achievement by these seven countries underscores their commitment to maintaining high air quality standards, contrasting with the broader global challenge of air pollution.
Source: Reuters