High air pollution can reduce average life expectancy in Delhi by more than a decade
Life expectancy across India is impacted by high levels of small particle (PM2.5) pollution — particularly in Delhi, where the concentration averaged 126.5 micrograms per cubic meter (µg/m3) in 2021. According to the 2021 World Air Quality Report ranking, the most polluted capital city in the world is in India.
Potential gain in life expectancy if the World Health Organization guidelines for annual average concentrations of PM2.5 were met:
CHINA
Delhi 11.9 years
Annual average PM2.5: 126.5 µg/m3
PAKISTAN
Haryana
8.3 years
90.1 µg/m3
Uttar Pradesh 8.8 years
94.4 µg/m3
BHUTAN
NEPAL
BANG.
Kolkata
MYANMAR
Mumbai
Bay of Bengal
Chennai
Arabian
Sea
SRI
LANKA
Potential gain in life expectancy if the World Health Organization guidelines for annual average concentrations of PM2.5 were met:
Delhi 11.9 years
Annual average PM2.5: 126.5 µg/m3
CHINA
Haryana
8.3 years
90.1 µg/m3
Uttar Pradesh 8.8 years
94.4 µg/m3
PAKISTAN
BHUTAN
NEPAL
BANG.
Kolkata
MYANMAR
Mumbai
Bay of Bengal
Arabian
Sea
Chennai
SRI
LANKA
Potential gain in life expectancy if the World Health Organization guidelines for annual average concentrations of PM2.5 were met:
AFGHANISTAN
CHINA
PAKISTAN
Uttar Pradesh 8.8 years
94.4 µg/m3
Delhi 11.9 years
Annual average PM2.5: 126.5 µg/m3
BHUTAN
NEPAL
Haryana 8.3 years
90.1 µg/m3
BANG.
MYANMAR
Kolkata
Mumbai
Bay of Bengal
THAILAND
Arabian Sea
Chennai
SRI
LANKA