Only 3 European countries meet WHO air quality standards: Andorra, Estonia, and Iceland. IQAir analyzed 9,446 cities in 143 countries. Only 14% of world cities have breathable air (down from 17%). Climate change - wildfires, dust storms, and fossil fuel weather events - are the main culprits.

The 5 most polluted countries: Pakistan, Bangladesh, Tajikistan, Chad, and the DRC. Loni, India is the most polluted at 112.5 µg/m³ (22 times the WHO limit). In 2025, 23 European nations saw increased PM2.5 levels, while 18 improved. Malta achieved a 24% reduction through renewables and traffic emission controls.