Armenia and its capital, Yerevan, have been ranked among the countries and cities with the poorest air quality worldwide, according to IQAir’s 8th annual global air quality report.
The report places Armenia 25th among countries with the worst air pollution levels, while Yerevan ranks 24th among global capitals.
IQAir analyzed data from monitoring stations in 9,446 cities across 143 countries.
Only 14% of cities worldwide met the World Health Organization (WHO) annual guideline for PM2.5 pollution levels of 5 µg/m³, down from 17% the previous year. Meanwhile, 91% of countries and territories exceeded the recommended limits.
Just 13 countries and territories met the WHO’s annual PM2.5 guideline, including Iceland, Australia, Estonia, and several island regions such as Bermuda and French Polynesia.
The five most polluted countries in the world were:
• Pakistan (67.3 µg/m³)
• Bangladesh (66.1 µg/m³)
• Tajikistan (57.3 µg/m³)
• Chad (53.6 µg/m³)
• Democratic Republic of the Congo (50.2 µg/m³)
Armenia is ranked alongside countries including Iran, Libya, Myanmar, Kazakhstan, Nigeria, and Bosnia and Herzegovina.
In the region, neighboring countries ranked better:
• Turkey — 39th
• Georgia — 56th
• Azerbaijan — 59th
Yerevan’s position among capitals places it in a similar range to cities including Tehran, Beijing, Manila, Addis Ababa, and Vientiane.
Nearby capitals ranked significantly lower (indicating better air quality):
• Tbilisi — 47th
• Baku — 51st
• Ankara — 80th
Overall, among regional countries, Armenia and Yerevan rank ahead of only Iran and Tehran in air quality, trailing behind all other neighboring states.
The findings highlight a worsening global trend in air pollution and underscore Armenia’s ongoing environmental challenges.
