Delhi Residents At High Risk Of Losing 8.2 Years Of Life, 1.4 Billion Indian Live In Particulate Pollution Areas

The 2025 report published by the Energy Policy Institute at the University of Chicago (EPIC) which is based on analysis of pollution data from 2023 reveals that 1.4 billion indian live in particulate pollution areas and delhi is the worst hit.

Ranked as the world's most polluted capital for seven years in a row, a new study reveals that Delhi residents are losing 8.2 years of life expectancy to high PM.5 concentration in the city. The findings, which were released on Thursday by the Air Quality Life Index (AQLI), are based on the Energy Policy Institute at the University of Chicago (EPIC) 2025 analysis of pollution data from 2023.

Delhi Residents Are The Worst Impacted Across The Country

Underscoring the danger of pollution as one of the greatest external threats to life expectancy in India, Air Quality Life Index (AQLI), states, "Particulate air pollution (PM2.5 ) shortens the average life expectancy by 3.5 years in India, relative to what it would be if the World Health Organization (WHO)guideline of 5 g/m were met."

The report highlights that people of Delhi were the worst impacted across the country due to particulate concentrations in India, which were found to be higher in 2022, as compared to the latest satellite-derived PM2.5 estimates in 2023. Air Quality Life Index (AQLI) explains, "These levels are more than 8 times higher than the WHO guideline, and reducing them to permanently meet the WHO Guideline would add 3.5 years to the average life expectancy of Indians."

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the average person globally was losing 1.9 years of their life. The Air Quality Life Index (AQLI)claims in the report, "The biggest increase in particulate pollution occurred in NCT of Delhi, with pollution concentrations increasing by 56.90 percent from 1998 - 2023.

1.4 Billion Indian Live In Particulate Pollution Areas

Overall, the country's entire population, with 1.4 billion people, live in areas where the annual average particulate pollution level exceeds the WHO guideline. The report states, "This means that even people living in the cleanest regions of India could live 9.4 months longer if particulate concentrations in these regions were reduced to meet the WHO guideline."

Health Risks Of Air Pollution

The World Health Organization (WHO) explains, "Pollutants of major public health concern include particulate matter, carbon monoxide, ozone, nitrogen dioxide and sulfur dioxide. Outdoor and indoor air pollution cause respiratory and other diseases and are important sources of morbidity and mortality.

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