State of Global Air Report 2025

The State of Global Air Report 2025, has been released.

Key Highlights of the Report

Global Overview

• Scale of Mortality (2023): Air pollution caused 7.9 million deaths — about 1 in 8 global deaths. 
• Health Impact: 
• • In 2023, 232 million healthy years of life were lost due to air pollution exposure worldwide.
  • The burden is disproportionately high in low- and middle-income countries, particularly in South Asia, Sub-Saharan Africa, and Southeast Asia.

Country-Wise Burden

• India and China: 
  • Each recorded over 2 million deaths from air pollution in 2023, accounting for more than half of global fatalities combined.
• In India, deaths rose from 1.4 million (2000) to 2 million (2023) — a 43% increase over two decades.

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Air Pollution’s Burden of Disease

• Dementia and Neurodegenerative Diseases:
  • 626,000 deaths and 11.6 million healthy years of life lost in 2023 linked to air-pollution-related dementia.
  • Strong evidence connecting long-term PM2.5 exposure to cognitive decline and neurodegeneration.
• Major Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs):
  • Noncommunicable diseases account for 86% of global deaths attributable to air pollution.
  • Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD): 1 in 2 deaths linked to air pollution.
  • Heart Disease: 1 in 4 deaths associated with pollution exposure.
  • Dementia: More than 1 in 4 deaths connected to poor air quality.
  • Diabetes: Nearly 1 in 6 deaths tied to pollution exposure.

• Demographic Impact:
• • 95% of air pollution deaths occurred among adults aged 60 and above.
  • 6.8 million of the 7.9 million total deaths were caused by non-communicable diseases.

Global Air Quality Trends

• PM2.5 Exposure: 
  • About 36% of the world’s population is exposed to PM2.5 levels exceeding the WHO’s least stringent interim target of 35 μg/m³.
• 11% of the global population lives in regions with no national air quality standards.

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About the State of Global Air Report 

• Released by: Health Effects Institute (HEI) in collaboration with the University of Washington’s Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) and the NCD Alliance.
• Nature: Annual, evidence-based global assessment of air pollution and health impacts.
• Data Source: Draws from the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) study.
• Objective: To provide open-access, scientifically credible data to guide policy on clean air and public health.

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