The 7 countries in the world with the cleanest air have been named: where the PM 2.5 levels are the highest
According to a new study by the Swiss company IQAir, only seven countries and three territories met the WHO recommendations for fine particulate matter (PM 2.5) pollution in 2023. This form of air pollution is considered one of the most dangerous for human health.
The report analyzes data collected by more than 30,000 ground-based air quality monitoring stations in 134 countries. According to The Washington Post, last month, the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) updated the standards for PM 2.5, reducing the annual permissible level from 12 to 9 micrograms per cubic meter.
The list of countries that meet the WHO guidelines (5 micrograms per cubic meter) includes:
- Australia
- Estonia
- Finland
- Grenada
- Iceland
- Mauritius
- New Zealand
The list also includes three territories:
- French Polynesia
- Bermuda
- Puerto Rico
The IQAir study also found that Bangladesh, Pakistan, and India have the highest annual average PM 2.5 pollution rates. In 2023, pollution levels in Bangladesh averaged more than 15 times the WHO-recommended threshold.
Tajikistan, Burkina Faso, Iraq, the United Arab Emirates, Nepal, Egypt, and the Democratic Republic of Congo were also among the top 10 countries with the dirtiest air last year.
High levels of PM 2.5 are reported to have a detrimental effect on the health of people who are forced to breathe it. The risks include heart attacks, strokes, asthma, and even premature death.
As TravelWise previously reported, on the occasion of the World Happiness Day, the UN published a list of the happiest and unhappiest countries in the world.
