Every fourth global air pollution death in India
25.34%India’s share of global air pollution-related deaths in 2023
India recorded 2,006,000 air pollution-related deaths in 2023.
STATE OF AIR POLLUTION AND MOBILITY
Rising human toll
India’s share of global air pollution-related deaths rose from 23.76% to 25.34% between 2014 and 2023. In 2023, 2.01 million of the 7.9 million global deaths attributed to air pollution occurred in India.
Highlights
PM2.5 burden
+61.08%
Deaths attributable to ambient PM2.5 increased between 2014 and 2023.
Household air pollution
−22.2%
Deaths attributable to household air pollution from solid fuels declined over the decade.
Explore the data
Deaths due to air pollution
India’s share of global deaths and its contribution to deaths from major diseases.
India's share, 202325.34%23.76% in 2014
India deaths, 20232,006,0008.08% increase since 2014
World deaths, 20237,915,0001.33% increase since 2014
India death rate, 2023213per 100,000 people
India's share of global air pollution-related deaths
IndiaWorld
Deadly toll beyond the lungs
% share in deaths from specific diseases attributable to air pollution.
Pollutant burden
Deaths attributable to ambient PM2.5, ambient ozone and household air pollution from solid fuels.
Ambient PM2.5 deaths · 2023969,700
61.08% increase
2014201520162017201820192020202120222023
Years of life lost due to air pollution
In 2023, air pollution led to the loss of healthy life years measured as Disability Adjusted Life Years (DALYs).
59.4 millionHealthy life years lost due to air pollution in 2023
42.67 millionDALYs attributable to PM2.5 in 2023
Capital loss and clean air
Life expectancy shortened due to air pollution and city performance under the National Clean Air Programme.
India average3 years
6 monthsshortened life expectancy
6 monthsshortened life expectancy
NCT Delhi8 years
2 months12 days shortened life expectancy
2 months12 days shortened life expectancy
National Clean Air Programme
PM10 levels in µg/m³. Select a city to compare the base year, annual target and current level.
Base year, 2019-20
Annual target, 2024-25
Current, 2024-25
Rising road deaths derail India’s SDG target
India’s SDG 3.6 target aims to halve road traffic deaths and injuries by 2030, using 2016 as the baseline.
SDG target by 20305.81deaths per 100,000 people
Current status12.5deaths per 100,000 people
Road accidents and deaths
In 2024, India recorded the highest road accident cases and deaths in a decade.
Accident casesDeaths
Death rate due to road accidents
Per 100,000 population. Twelve states/UTs report deaths above the national average of 12.5.
Pedestrians and cyclists
Cyclist deaths, 20242,977
Pedestrian deaths, 202425,769
Pedestrians and cyclists accounted for 16% of the 28,746 road deaths in 2024.