Most Polluted Cities in India: 2025 Data, 2026 Update
The latest completed year in IQAir’s 2025 World Air Quality Report is 2025, even though the report was published in 2026. It ranks cities by annual average PM2.5 concentration, not by today’s AQI.
India’s five highest readings in the 2025 dataset
| India position in this dataset | City | Annual PM2.5, µg/m³ | Global position |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Loni | 112.5 | 1 |
| 2 | Byrnihat | 101.1 | 3 |
| 3 | Delhi | 99.6 | 4 |
| 4 | Ghaziabad | 89.2 | 7 |
| 5 | Ula | 86.8 | 10 |
Source: IQAir’s historical city ranking, 2025 column, checked 17 September 2026. The India positions above are obtained by selecting Indian entries from the global ranking. Names follow the source’s city labels.
What the ranking tells you
These locations had the highest annual PM2.5 values among Indian city entries included in this dataset. The table is a useful indication of sustained particle pollution. It is not a complete census of every Indian settlement, nor does it imply that each neighbourhood experienced the listed concentration throughout the year.
City definitions matter. The source lists Delhi and New Delhi separately; do not combine or substitute their values without checking the reporting boundaries. A newly included monitoring location can change the ranking without showing that its air suddenly deteriorated.
Why this is not a “2026 AQI” table
An annual average for all of 2026 cannot be available before that year is complete. A current AQI number describes a much shorter period and depends on the index used. A city can move up a live leaderboard during a smoke event without changing its position in an annual report.
For a current decision, check the nearest suitable monitoring station, its timestamp and the pollutant driving the reading. Our AQI app comparison guide explains why two apps can disagree.
Use the data without turning it into a personal forecast
An annual city average cannot calculate a particular person’s dose or predict an illness. Exposure varies with time at home, work and outdoors, local conditions and indoor sources. It also cannot establish a cause: identifying how much came from transport, dust or burning requires a separate source study.
For a household, begin with measurements in the rooms actually used. Address cooking smoke, maintain appropriately sized particle filtration and assess ventilation. See how to reduce PM2.5 at home for a practical sequence.