Global Alliance on Health and Pollution (GAHP) has published a report titled ‘Pollution and Health Metrics: Global, Regional and Country Analysis 2019’, which highlights the problems and deaths caused by pollution around the world.
GAHP has used the data from The Lancet Commission on Pollution and Health and compiled a ranking of pollution-related deaths globally.
The increase in industrialization has led to a rise in pollution levels around the globe. The world has been grappling with rising pollution for some time now with air and water pollution not being properly addressed in several countries.
India and China Top The List
According to the latest report, India tops the list of countries with the highest number of premature pollution-related deaths annually. China is placed second while Pakistan has been ranked fifth on the list.
Here’s the list:
- India 2,326,771
- China 1,865,566
- Nigeria 279,318
- Indonesia 232,974
- Pakistan 223,836
- Bangladesh 207,922
- United States of America 196,930
- Russian Federation 118,687
- Ethiopia 110,787
- Brazil 109,438
Deaths Due to Poor Healthcare
Poor healthcare coupled with contaminated water and air results in more deaths per 100,000 in low- and middle-income countries than populous, high-income nations.
Countries with the highest rates of pollution-related deaths per 100,000 people
- Chad 287
- Central African Republic 251
- North Korea 202
- Niger 192
- Madagascar 183
- Papua New Guinea 183
- South Sudan 180
- Somalia 179
- Serbia 175
- India 174
Air Quality Comparison
In recent years, increased smog levels and poor air quality in China, India, and Pakistan have resulted in many deaths and numerous respiratory problems for vulnerable groups. Beijing, New Delhi, and Lahore have consistently been ranked as the worst cities for their poor air quality.
The report has placed China, India, and Pakistan as first, second, and third respectively for the countries with most premature deaths due to air pollution annually.
- China 1,242,987
- India 1,240,529
- Pakistan 128,005
- Indonesia 123,753
- Bangladesh 122,734
- Nigeria 114,115
- United States of America 107,507
- Russian Federation 99,392
- Brazil 66,245
- Philippines 64,386
Even though the number of deaths due to air pollution in Pakistan is quite high (128,005 deaths) it’s still a lot lower than both India and China (1.24 million deaths).
Global Alliance on Health and Pollution has termed pollution as the single biggest environmental threat to global health.
Detailed report at Global Alliance On Health And Pollution
