South Asia remains the most polluted region globally, with pollution 52 percent higher than China

Over the past two decades, particulate pollution (PM₂.₅) levels have remained fairly constant for most of the world. However, since 2013, air pollution’s course has been made up of two competing regional trends. China has had staggering success in combating pollution since declaring a “war on pollution” in 2014. Despite a slight increase in pollution this year, the country has reduced its pollution by 40.8 percent since 2014.

At the same time, as China’s pollution dropped significantly, it left South Asia largely alone as the most polluted region on earth. Its pollution is 52 percent higher than China’s pollution, the second most polluted region. Pollution in South Asia cuts life expectancy short by 3.6 years on average and more than 8 years in the most polluted areas. Particulate pollution is the greatest external threat to life expectancy in all South Asian countries. In the region’s most polluted countries, particulate pollution’s impact on life expectancy is nearly twice that of childhood and maternal malnutrition and more than five times that of unsafe water, sanitation and handwashing.

See factsheets: India , Bangladesh , Nepal , Pakistan