Only 13 countries in the world have safe air to breathe, according to a global report

Air pollution continues to be a major global problem, with only 13 countries managing to maintain air quality at safe levels by 2025, according to the World Air Quality Report by IQAir.

Prolonged exposure to polluted air is associated with increased risks of respiratory, cardiovascular diseases, and cancer. In Europe, only Andorra, Estonia, and Iceland comply with WHO limits for fine particles PM2.5. The report analyzed data from 9,446 cities, and 91% of the evaluated countries did not meet air quality standards. Wildfires and extreme weather events have worsened the situation, causing significant economic losses.

The most polluted countries include Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Tajikistan. Cities in India, Pakistan, and China dominate the list of the most polluted areas.

In Europe, alarming increases in pollution have been observed in Switzerland and Greece, while Malta recorded a significant decrease. Limited access to air quality monitoring data remains a challenge, and IQAir emphasizes the importance of expanding access to information and reducing emissions to improve global air quality.