Kolkata Ranks 2nd Most Polluted City Globally As 3 Indian Metros Enter Top 10 List
Kolkata, Mumbai, and Delhi ranked among the world's top 10 most polluted cities in IQAir's latest global index. Kolkata secured second place globally with an AQI of 165, while Bishkek topped the list at 170. Officials warn elevated pollution levels pose risks to sensitive groups. Scroll below to know more.
Three major Indian metropolitan areas - Kolkata, Mumbai, and Delhi - have been ranked among the top 10 most polluted cities globally according to the latest IQAir World Air Quality Ranking. Kolkata recorded the highest severity among Indian cities on the index, securing the second position worldwide with an air quality index reading of 165.
Global Rankings and Index Readings
Bishkek, the capital of Kyrgyzstan, topped the global list with an AQI US reading of 170. Following closely behind, Kolkata ranked second at 165, while Tashkent in Uzbekistan stood third with 156, reports NDTV Profit. Other major cities featured in the top tier include Lahore in Pakistan, which registered 152, and Mumbai, which ranked fifth globally with a reading of 139. Delhi appeared further down the list in seventh position with an AQI US score of 129.
Understanding Air Quality Categories
The IQAir index utilises the AQI US metric to communicate air pollution levels and associated health risks. Under this classification structure:
- "Unhealthy" Category (151–200): Encompasses cities such as Bishkek, Kolkata, Tashkent, and Lahore.
- "Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups" Category (101–150): Covers Mumbai, Delhi, Jakarta, Hanoi, Karachi, and Dhaka.
Experts note that elevated readings reflect poorer air conditions, which pose heightened risks to children, older individuals, and people suffering from respiratory or cardiovascular conditions.
Top 10 Most Polluted Cities Worldwide
| Rank | City | Country | AQI⁺ US |
| 1 | Bishkek | Kyrgyzstan | 170 |
| 2 | Kolkata | India | 165 |
| 3 | Tashkent | Uzbekistan | 156 |
| 4 | Lahore | Pakistan | 152 |
| 5 | Mumbai | India | 139 |
| 6 | Jakarta | Indonesia | 137 |
| 7 | Delhi | India | 129 |
| 8 | Hanoi | Vietnam | 126 |
| 9 | Karachi | Pakistan | 122 |
| 10 | Dhaka | Bangladesh | 118 |
Factors Influencing Air Quality Data
Air quality measurements fluctuate constantly due to changing weather conditions, wind speeds, industrial and vehicular emissions, and localised pollution sources. Furthermore, monitoring station locations and specific measurement times can influence reported figures. Because global rankings update dynamically as fresh data enters the system, these metrics serve as snapshots of air quality at the exact time of recording rather than permanent classifications.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Oct 27, 2026 07:45 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).