Only 13 in the world and 3 in Europe. These countries can boast of clean air

Air quality around the world is deteriorating. According to the latest report by the Swiss company IQAir, only thirteen countries in the world in 2025 have met the WHO’s annual PM2.5 concentration guidelines of a maximum of five micrograms per cubic meter. Among them, only three are located in Europe. The results also include the five countries with the highest levels of pollution – Pakistan, Bangladesh, Tajikistan, Chad and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Where in Europe can you breathe clean air?

Tourists visiting Iceland will find not only stunning landscapes, but above all relief from pollution. According to the regular IQAir report, this Nordic country is one of three on the entire continent that last year met WHO standards regarding the maximum concentration of PM2.5 in the air. Andorra and Estonia also managed to do this.

The results are devastating. The study covered a total of 143 countries and as many as 130 of them (91%) did not meet the guidelines. In addition to the three countries mentioned in Europe, we can also count on clean air in Australia, French Polynesia, Grenada, New Caledonia, Panama, Puerto Rico, Barbados, Bermuda, Reunion Island and the US Virgin Islands.

These cities have the worst results

Loni is the infamous world record holder. In this small (for India) city, with a population of 120,000. inhabitants, the average annual concentration of PM2.5 was 112.5 µg per cubic meter. That’s twenty-two times the WHO limit. “The world’s 25 most polluted cities are all located in India, Pakistan and China, with India having three of the four most polluted cities,” writes Euronews. The biggest sources of pollution are traffic, industrial emissions and illegal dumping of garbage.

In Europe, London and Paris are among the cities with the highest annual air pollution rates. In 2025, PM2.5 dust pollution increased by 30%. in Switzerland and Greece.