Pollution has been on the rise in the Middle East and North Africa—2022 was no exception, with pollution increasing 13 percent compared to 2021—making these areas of the world 3.7 times more polluted than what is recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO). The 466.5 million residents of this region stand to gain 1.3 years in life expectancy, if the pollution level is reduced to meet the WHO guideline.

Qatar was not only the most polluted country in the Middle Eastern and North African region––it was also the fourth most polluted country globally (rising from eleventh). Particulate pollution, largely attributed to industrial emissions and construction to support the rapid urbanization, is taking 3.3 years off the life expectancy of the average resident compared to if the country met the WHO guideline. Although Qatar is the most polluted country, 39 out of the 50 most polluted regions of the Middle East and North Africa lie in Iraq. In Baghdad, Iraq’s capital and its most populous governorate, residents stand to lose 3.5 years of life expectancy on average from pollution that is attributed to Iraq’s vehicle exhaust, electric generators, fires at oil and gas refineries, and continuous military conflict in the region.

At the regional level, particulate pollution remains highly unequal, with Middle Eastern countries having higher pollution than the North African countries. Reducing particulate pollution to meet the WHO guideline would add 10 more months onto the lives of those living in the Middle East compared to those living in North Africa.