Dhaka placed fifth on the global list of cities with the worst air quality on Sunday morning (November 16, 2025), recording an AQI of 170 at 9:50 am.
The reading classified the capital’s air as “unhealthy,” indicating a heightened health risk, according to the AQI scale. The index labels air quality between 150 and 200 as unhealthy, while 201–300 is considered very unhealthy and anything above 301 is deemed hazardous.
India’s Delhi, Pakistan’s Lahore and Egypt’s Cairo occupied the first, second and fourth positions with AQI scores of 493, 340 and 235 respectively.
The AQI measures daily air quality based on pollutants including PM10, PM2.5, NO₂, CO, SO₂ and ozone, helping residents understand pollution levels and related health concerns.
Dhaka has long struggled with severe air pollution, which typically worsens in winter and improves during the monsoon season.
According to the World Health Organization, air pollution contributes to around seven million deaths globally each year, primarily linked to stroke, heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, lung cancer and acute respiratory infections.
