The Most Polluted Countries In The World Ranked

Diseases caused by air pollutants are the world’s 5th leading cause of death, claiming more than four million lives in 2015. You can workout regularly and eat plenty of veggies, but it’s difficult to avoid the damage caused by air pollution if you happen to reside in one of the most carbon-dense locations on the planet.

The World Health Organization (WHO) records the air quality at 1,622 urban areas in 92 countries, and the data they have collected indicates which countries are the most polluted.

Their main focus was particulate matter—the visible and invisible particles, like smoke and soot, that cause health complications when inhaled. These countries had the worst recorded levels of particulate matter density:

Pakistan
Qatar
Afghanistan
Bangladesh
Egypt
UAE
Mongolia
India
Bahrain
Nepal
Ghana
Jordan
China
Senegal
Turkey
Bulgaria
Mauritius
Peru
Serbia
Iran

At the other end of the scale, those leading the way in terms of clean, fresh air are: Australia, Brunei, New Zealand, Estonia and Finland.

To protect yourself from unclean air—whether you’re living in or visiting a polluted place—avoid exercising outdoors during hours when traffic congestion peaks, keep windows shut, invest in a high-efficiency air purifier and some pot plants to reduce particulate matter in the home.

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.