The air we breathe has become a growing threat to humanity, experts warn, with only 13 countries out of 143 being within the WHO safety limits, shows a new alarming report published by IQAir for the year 2025. Romania is identified as one of the three most polluted countries in the European Union.
India is home to the most polluted cities on the planet, and in Europe only three states (Andorra, Estonia and Iceland) meet the health standards. The old continent is facing its own negative records from wildfires and agricultural emissions.
Only 14% of cities worldwide breathe safe air, down from 17% the previous year.
The WHO sets safety limits for PM2.5, or fine particulate matter, because of the health risks associated with it. Their small size – less than 2.5 micrometers in diameter – means that these tiny particles, which can be inhaled, can reach deep into the lungs and enter the bloodstream. These have been linked to respiratory problems, cardiovascular disease and long-term conditions such as cancer.
Countries with the best air quality
From Europe, only Andorra, Estonia and Iceland fell within the WHO parameters (5 µg/m³). They are among only 13 countries and territories globally that have remained within safe limits. The others are Australia, Barbados, Bermuda, French Polynesia, Grenada, New Caledonia, Panama, Puerto Rico, Réunion and the US Virgin Islands.
The situation in Europe
Across Europe, in 2025, 23 countries saw increases in average annual PM2.5 concentrations and 18 saw decreases.
PM2.5 pollution increased by more than 30% in Switzerland and Greece due to smoke from wildfires and Saharan dust from Africa. Malta recorded the largest decrease, of almost 24%. This is due in part to sustained efforts to shift energy production away from heavy fuel oil to renewable sources, as well as policies targeting traffic emissions.
The Copernicus Service (CAMS) recently warned of high levels of PM2.5 in Europe, caused by agricultural emissions of ammonia (from fertilisers), pollen concentrations and stagnant weather conditions. Countries such as Germany, France, Holland, Belgium, Great Britain and Ireland are directly targeted.
The five most polluted countries in 2025 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)
Loni, a city in northern India (Uttar Pradesh), was declared the most polluted city in the world, with a concentration of 112.5 µg/m³ — more than 22 times higher than the WHO limit.
At the opposite pole, Nieuwoudtville in South Africa is the least polluted town on the list, with an average annual PM2.5 concentration of 1.0 µg/m³. Located in the vast and rugged terrain of the Namaqualand region of the Karoo, Nieuwoudtville is a favorite destination for flower enthusiasts thanks to its spectacular annual blooms.
Romania, guiding light in protecting the planet. The Guardian: “Only Sweden pollutes less”
What is the situation in Romania?
In the 2025 report, Romania, along with Poland and Greece, are identified as the three most polluted countries in the European Union.
The average annual concentration of PM2.5 in Romania frequently exceeds 3 times the safety threshold established by the WHO. In 2025 the average was 15.4 µg/m³.
The most polluted cities in Romania
Ilfov County registers an unusual situation, hosting both the most polluted and the cleanest locality in the country.
The town of Olteni, located in the “ring of fire” around the Capital, was officially declared the most polluted point on the map of Romania in 2025, with a pollution index of 83. Paradoxically, just a few kilometers away, the town of Căciulați was designated the cleanest place in the country, with an index of 52.
Currently, the real-time ranking of the most polluted cities is led by Sibiu, which occupies the first position with an AQI index of 82. Suceava County also remains on the blacklist, with the town of Șcheia occupying the second place in real time, while cities such as Craiova, Sebeș and Turnu Măgurele register constant values of 75.
Bucharest has left the top of the most polluted areas, currently occupying an unexpected 8th place in the ranking of the cleanest cities, with an index of 59.
At the national level, the best real-time air values are recorded in the town of IC Brătianu in Tulcea county, with an excellent index of 25, followed by Brăila, which unexpectedly remains at the top of the air purity list.
Swiss pollution monitoring company IQAir analyzed data from 9,446 cities in 143 countries and territories for the 2025 edition of the Global Air Quality Report. The document reveals a global deterioration of air quality, caused mainly by human-caused climate change.
In 2025, smoke from wildfires was the main driver of pollution, along with dust storms and other extreme weather events intensified by the burning of fossil fuels, according to Euronews.
