When it comes to pollution, particularly in states like India and China it would be fair to say that the world has gotten a lot better. Perfect though it is not, as these 9 most polluted cities in the world attest to
Do they though have any other saving graces, are they worth visiting and how do you mitigate the pollution? Here’s the YPT take on the most polluted cities in the world.
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9 Most Polluted Cities in the world
So, the 9 most polluted cities in the world is actually quite a hard one to put together as there are different ways to gauge this. For the most part this means that we have gone down the route of air quality measured by annual PM2.5 averages, which is the most reliable metric for long‑term exposure.
The results are as accurate as possible to the very best of our knowledge. As always we count down from 9 to 1, meaning saving the worst most polluted city on earth at the number 1 spot
9 Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
Ulaanbaatar’s pollution is driven by coal‑burning for heat and power in winter and the way the city sits in a bowl of mountains that traps smog. On bad days the sky hangs heavy and the air feels thick. As a result locals and visitors alike often wear masks.
Why Polluted: Coal heating and valley geography trap smog
Worth Visiting: Yes for its nomadic heritage and wild steppes if you’re prepared for the air quality
Click to see our Mongolia Tours.
8 Kabul, Afghanistan
Kabul’s sky is full of dust, soot and low‑grade fuel smoke because conflict has wrecked infrastructure and forced people to burn anything that will keep them warm. High particulate matter hangs in the air year‑round and makes breathing uncomfortable even for short walks around town.
Why Polluted: Low‑grade fuel burning, dust, poor infrastructure
Worth Visiting: Only with serious planning, protective gear and a clear purpose
Click to see our Afghanistan Tours.
7 Karachi, Pakistan
Karachi’s air quality hits dangerously high levels because trucks, buses and cars belch emissions into a congested urban sprawl, and seasonal dust storms roll in from the nearby desert. Industrial zones add toxic particulate to the mix. Despite the air, the food and culture can still be compelling.
Why Polluted: Traffic emissions, industry, dust storms
Worth Visiting: Yes for culture and food, but high‑quality masks and planning are essential
Click to see our Pakistan Tours.
6 Dhaka, Bangladesh
Dhaka’s pollution comes from seemingly everywhere at once. Old vehicles, heavy traffic, unregulated industrial chimneys and clouds of construction dust make the city’s annual PM2.5 averages some of the worst in the world. Short trips can leave your throat scratchy and your eyes irritated without protection.
Why Polluted: Vehicles, industrial emissions, construction dust
Worth Visiting: Only for brief visits with proper respiratory protection
Click to see our Bangladesh Tours.
5 Hotan, China
Hotan sits in the edge of the Taklamakan Desert and is hammered by frequent dust storms that kick up fine particles, while factories and industrial activity add to the load. It consistently shows up near the top of annual air pollution lists because microscopic dust and industrial smoke hang over the city.
Why Polluted: Dust storms and industrial particulates
Worth Visiting: Only for short stays with filters and careful timing
Click to see our China Tours.
4 Patna, India
Patna’s location in the Indo‑Gangetic plain means there’s no easy escape from smog and polluted air. Vehicle emissions, industrial output and regional agricultural burning all contribute to a constant haze that blankets the city for months. On a bad day the sun looks like a weak orange glow through the muck.
Why Polluted: Geography traps PM2.5, traffic and industry
Worth Visiting: Only with quality respirators and minimal outdoor activity
3 Lahore, Pakistan
Lahore’s pollution has become legendary for its stubborn haze and dirty air. Brick kilns on the city’s outskirts, crop burning in the wider region and endless traffic fumes combine to push PM2.5 into hazardous territory most of the year. Locals plan their days around air quality warnings.
Why Polluted: Brick kilns, traffic emissions and crop burning
Worth Visiting: Yes, but only with air quality planning and pollution mitigation gear
2 Lucknow, India
Lucknow is nestled into a region where traffic, industry and dust keep fine particulate levels high. Seasonal spikes tied to agricultural burning push the city’s annual average into the global top tier. It’s a place with deep history and food culture, but the air is something your lungs notice fast.
Why Polluted: Vehicle emissions, industry, seasonal agricultural burning
Worth Visiting: Yes for heritage and cuisine, but plan around cleaner months
1 Byrnihat, India
Byrnihat takes the unenviable crown for the worst annual PM2.5 air quality in the world for 2025. Tiny harmful particles from vehicle exhausts, factories and regional smog hang so thickly in the air that breathing outside without protection is dangerous. This isn’t a place people go for sightseeing, it’s a grim example of extreme air pollution.
Why Polluted: Extremely high PM2.5 from traffic and industry
Worth Visiting: Only with protective gear and very short stays
Click to check our India Tours.
Conclusion
So, while many of these would fall under the Shit City genre, certainly not all of them do with Dhaka and UB being two places we actively visit. It should also be noted that cities like Saigon and Beijing only narrowly missed the list.
In all honesty though when out comes to Byrnihat perhaps it is best to give it a swerve, at least for the time being.
Click to check our International Tours.
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