A new global air quality report reveals a troubling paradox: while we know air pollution is worsening worldwide, we're flying blind in the regions that need monitoring most. Only 14 percent of more than 9,000 cities included in a 2025 IQAir report met the World Health Organization's (WHO) target level for fine particulate matter pollution, but the real crisis may be that we simply don't have enough data to understand the full scope of the problem .

Why Are We Missing Data in the Most Polluted Regions?

The disparity in air quality monitoring is staggering. Canada and the United States combined account for 54 percent of global air monitoring stations tracked in the report, far outstripping their share of the world's population. Meanwhile, Africa, which represents nearly 20 percent of the world's population, accounts for just 1 percent of global monitoring capacity . This means millions of people in regions with some of the worst air quality have no reliable way to know what they're breathing.

The problem got worse in 2025 when the U.S. Department of State stopped monitoring global air quality data from embassies and diplomatic posts. This decision eliminated a crucial source of information for regions with limited monitoring infrastructure, particularly in Africa, Latin America, and West Asia .

"It's hard to clean up what you can't measure. But even before that, people have a right to know what's in the air that they're breathing, and any step back from that can result in harm to people's health," said Laura Kate Bender, vice president of nationwide advocacy and public policy for the American Lung Association.

Laura Kate Bender, Vice President of Nationwide Advocacy and Public Policy, American Lung Association

What's Actually Happening to Air Quality Around the World?

Where we do have data, the picture is concerning. Climate-driven wildfires and dust storms intensified by climate change are making air pollution worse across multiple continents. In 2025, Canadian wildfires led to deteriorating air quality in regions that had previously seen improvements. El Paso, Texas, experienced a 46 percent increase in fine particulate matter (PM2.5) levels, driven largely by dust storms worsened by drought and climate change .

Fine particulate matter, or PM2.5, consists of tiny particles smaller than 2.5 micrometers that can infiltrate your lungs and bloodstream, causing cardiovascular damage, respiratory distress, and premature death. The WHO estimates that 4.2 million deaths annually worldwide are caused by fossil-fuel-driven ambient air pollution, including ozone and nitrogen dioxide .

Regional patterns show that some areas are being hit harder than others. Seventeen of the world's 20 most polluted cities in 2025 were in Central and South Asia, with Pakistan ranking as the world's most polluted country in a population-weighted ranking. A combination of industrial and transportation emissions, brick kilns, construction dust, and seasonal crop burning drove the region's pollution .

How to Protect Yourself When Air Quality Data Is Unreliable

• Check Multiple Sources: If you live in a region with limited official monitoring, use independent air quality apps and networks that aggregate data from community sensors and low-cost monitoring devices to get a more complete picture of local pollution levels.
• Monitor Seasonal Patterns: Pay attention to times of year when air quality typically worsens in your region, such as wildfire season, dust storm season, or periods of heavy agricultural burning, and plan outdoor activities accordingly.
• Invest in Home Monitoring: Consider purchasing a low-cost air quality monitor for your home to track indoor and outdoor pollution levels, especially if you live in an area where official data is sparse or unreliable.
• Advocate for Local Monitoring: Support community efforts to install air quality sensors and push local governments to establish monitoring networks, particularly in underserved neighborhoods and regions with known pollution sources.

The monitoring gap also creates a problem for long-term policy solutions. Without reliable data, governments and health organizations struggle to develop effective pollution reduction strategies. Environmental health scientist Pallavi Pant, head of global initiatives at the Health Effects Institute, cautioned that the accuracy of low-cost sensors can vary, and many data-scarce regions are also areas with relatively high air pollution levels and high population density .

"Air quality is a fragile asset. Even places that typically experience good quality air, it's not guaranteed," said Christi Chester-Schroeder, senior air quality science manager at IQAir and the report's primary author.

Christi Chester-Schroeder, Senior Air Quality Science Manager, IQAir

The report also highlighted a critical reality: air pollution doesn't respect borders. Transboundary haze remains prevalent across Southeast Asia, and dust storms from China have affected air quality across vast regions. In Canada and the United States combined, only 23 percent of cities met WHO standards in 2025, down from 29 percent in 2024, largely due to climate-change-fueled wildfires .

The lack of comprehensive global monitoring means that vulnerable populations in regions with limited data infrastructure are essentially invisible to the international health community. Without knowing the true extent of air pollution in these areas, it's nearly impossible to advocate for the resources and policy changes needed to protect public health. As air quality continues to be shaped by climate-driven weather events, the need for equitable, global monitoring networks has never been more urgent.