Revealing the Most Polluted Holiday Destinations in Europe

Italy, Turkey, and Greece stand out as prominent European vacation destinations plagued by high levels of air pollution, whereas the Costa del Sol and Iceland boast some of the best air quality in the region, as indicated by a recent study.

The comprehensive global air quality analysis conducted by IQAir indicates that out of 134 countries and regions with data available, 124 exceeded the World Health Organization’s (WHO) recommended annual average PM2.5 guideline of 5 micrograms per cubic meter (µg/m3) in the year 2023.

PM2.5 is an abbreviation for “particulate matter 2.5 εm” which is much smaller than both human hair (50–70 εm) and a grain of beach sand (90 εm).

According to IQAir, air pollution poses a severe threat to human health, contributing to an estimated one in every nine global deaths. The impact of air pollution encompasses various health issues, including asthma and lung diseases.

Air Quality Rankings Across Europe

In Europe, the Balkans region grapples with notably poor air quality levels. Bosnia and Herzegovina recorded the highest average PM2.5 reading (27.5 µg/m3), comparable to readings in Senegal and Uganda. However, this marks an improvement from the 2020 figure of 40.6. Following closely for subpar air quality in Europe are North Macedonia, Montenegro, and Serbia.

Conversely, Northern European nations enjoy cleaner air conditions. Iceland, with an average of 4 µg/m3, boasts some of the freshest air globally, surpassed only by Mauritius and French Polynesia. Estonia, Finland, and Sweden also demonstrate low concentrations of fine particulate matter.

Among the top ten global holiday destinations according to 2023 Tripadvisor research, Benidorm in Spain and Albufeira in Portugal emerge with the cleanest air quality readings, based on the air quality data from nearby urban areas of Alicante and Faro. In contrast, Antalya, a popular beach destination, experiences significantly poorer air quality, ranking in the bottom 13th percentile globally.

Regarding favored city break destinations in the UK, Amsterdam leads with the best air quality, followed by Paris, Barcelona, New York City, and Rome. Conversely, Dubai stands out as one of the most polluted cities worldwide, with an average PM2.5 concentration of 43.6 µg/m3, notably higher than the 7.9 annual average reading in Kensington.

Air Quality Assessment in the UK

Only four locations in England meet the WHO’s air quality guidelines of 5 µg/m3 or less per cubic meter. These include Newton Abbot in South Devon (5 µg/m3), Redcar in North Yorkshire (4.9), Stape in North Yorkshire (4.5), and Chirk in Wales (4.2). Scotland also hosts several areas with cleaner air quality, such as Edinburgh (4.9), Motherwell (4.1), and Inverness (4.5), while no location in Northern Ireland meets the WHO standards.

Global Air Quality Insights

In 2023, Bangladesh claimed the title of the most polluted country in terms of fine particulate matter, with a PM2.5 reading of 79.9 µg/m3, significantly surpassing the WHO guideline. Following closely are Pakistan, India, Tajikistan, and Burkina Faso.

Central and South Asia emerge as the regions with the highest concentration of polluted cities, with 97 out of the 100 most polluted cities globally located in this area. Notably, India hosts 83 of these cities, with Benoni in South Africa, Tay Ho in Vietnam, and South Tangerang in Indonesia being the exceptions. The city of Begusarai in India stands out as the most polluted globally, with an average annual PM2.5 reading of 118.9 µg/m3.

Only seven countries worldwide adhere to the WHO’s annual PM2.5 guidelines of 5 µg/m3 or lower. These countries include Australia, Estonia, Finland, Grenada, Iceland, Mauritius, and New Zealand, along with the overseas territories of Bermuda and French Polynesia. Kuusamo, Finland, located near the Russian border, boasts the least polluted urban settlement in the study.

Current Air Quality Status

IQAir’s real-time air quality data reveals that cities like Kathmandu, Delhi, Dhaka, and Lahore exhibit high pollution levels, classified as “unhealthy.” Conversely, cities like Detroit, Auckland, and Tokyo enjoy clearer air quality, falling within the “Good” category. London’s current average PM2.5 reading stands at 33 µg/m3.

Data Collection Methodology

The IQAir study encompasses cities providing annual PM2.5 data from ground-level air quality monitoring stations, with hourly data available for at least 60% of the year. For the 2023 survey, data from over 30,000 air quality monitoring stations across 7,812 locations in 134 countries were analyzed. However, some regions lacked sufficient data for inclusion in the study, highlighting the need for expanded air quality monitoring networks globally.