While Asia is known for its at times problematic air quality, pollution levels still vary widely across the continent and there are also a few positive examples. The graph illustrates the average Air Quality Index (AQI) of each reported country during 12 months of the year. The color scale represents different levels of air quality, ranging from "good" (0-12), "moderate" (12.1-35.4), "unhealthy" (35.5-55.4), to "severe health risk" (55.5+).
In the comprehensive survey encompassing 36 Asian countries and regional economies, the findings reveal a prevailing trend: the majority fall under the category of moderate air quality. Specifically, 25 nations exhibit moderate air quality, while 10 contend with severe air conditions. Remarkably, only one nation boasts good air quality, underscoring the concerning state of air pollution across the region.
Indeed, Japan attained the highest air quality index ratings, while Taiwan and Singapore narrowly missed this label by less 2.5 micrograms per cubic meter. The Philippines and Hong Kong SAR both experienced PM2.5 level below 17 milligrams, securing positions in the top 5 cleanest air rankings in Asia.
On the other hand, Bangladesh ranked first among 36 countries in the Asian region for having the poorest air quality. Pakistan and India were closely behind in the rankings. The report emphasized that South Asia faces the most severe pollution worldwide. Bangladesh's PM2.5 levels stand at 80.23 micrograms per cubic metre, nearly 16 times higher than the WHO recommends. Pakistan scored 57.17 while India's air had 47.49 micrograms of PM2.5 particles per cubic metre on average over the last year.
In summary, the survey across 36 Asian countries and regional economies in 2023 reveals widespread moderate to severe air quality issues throughout the region. Japan stands out for its good air quality index ratings, while Bangladesh leads with the poorest air quality, closely followed by Pakistan and India. This underscores the urgent need for immediate measures to address severe pollution, particularly in Asia's southern region.