Only three countries in Europe still have clean air, out of 13. Romania competes at the opposite pole for the title of "the most polluted."

According to the global air pollution report published by IQAir, only three countries in Europe – Andorra, Estonia, and Iceland – meet the safety limits set by the World Health Organization (WHO) for fine particles PM2.5. In 2025, only 14% of cities worldwide had breathable air, a decrease from 17% in 2024. The five most polluted countries are Pakistan, Bangladesh, Tajikistan, Chad, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, while the most polluted cities are located in India, Pakistan, and China. The report highlights the deterioration of air quality due to climate change and wildfires, with economic losses of 43 billion euros in Europe due to extreme weather events. Currently, 91% of the countries included in the study do not meet safety standards, and PM2.5 pollution has significantly increased in Switzerland and Greece. Paris and London are among the most polluted cities in the world.

In parallel, Romania, Greece, and Poland are the most polluted countries in Europe, with PM2.5 particle concentrations frequently exceeding the threshold set by WHO by about 300%. In 2025, the average was 15.4 µg/m³. The cleanest, but also the most polluted locality in Romania is located in Ilfov County: Loc. Olteni (Pollution Index - 83) and Loc. Căciulași (pollution index - 52). Bucharest ranks 8th, with a pollution index of 59.