Data from Swiss air quality organization IQAir indicated that only seven nations met the World Health Organization's (WHO) air quality criteria in 2024. The exceptions were Australia, New Zealand, the Bahamas, Barbados, Grenada, Estonia, and Iceland, while countries like Chad and Bangladesh experienced troubling pollution rates, with smog levels exceeding WHO guidelines by more than 15 times.

Chad ranked as the most polluted country, reporting average PM2.5 levels of 91.8 micrograms per cubic meter, significantly surpassing the WHO’s advisory of 5 micrograms. India, in fifth place, showed minor improvements yet still had 12 of the world's 20 most polluted cities. The discontinuation of the U.S. air quality monitoring program has heightened concerns, particularly in developing countries that depended on sensors from U.S. embassies for pollution information.

Additionally, climate change is worsening pollution, as extreme weather phenomena like forest fires contribute to smog. The loss of dependable pollution data from over 30 nations due to the U.S. program's closure represents a major obstacle in the global battle against air pollution.