Brian Barton
Air pollution is a pressing issue in Europe, with many countries exceeding the World Health Organization's (WHO) guidelines. According to various reports and data, the most polluted country in Europe is Bosnia and Herzegovina, which has had issues with high levels of fine particulate pollutants. In 2012, the country had over 55 micrograms per cubic meter of these pollutants, which are capable of causing significant health issues. Other countries that are among the most polluted in Europe include North Macedonia, Poland, Bulgaria, and Serbia. These countries have been found to have high levels of particulate matter pollution (PM2.5 and PM10) and have cities that consistently rank among the most polluted in Europe and the world.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Most Polluted Country in Europe | Bosnia and Herzegovina, North Macedonia |
| Year | 2023 |
| Most Polluted Capital City in Europe | Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina |
| Second Most Polluted Capital City in Europe | Skopje, North Macedonia |
| Average PM2.5 Concentration in Sarajevo | 28.4 micrograms per cubic meter of air |
| Average PM2.5 Concentration in Skopje | 24.6 micrograms per cubic meter of air |
| Number of Cities in North Macedonia on the List of Europe's Most Polluted Cities | 4 |
| Names of Cities in North Macedonia on the List | Skopje, Tetovo, Bitola, and Kumanovo |
| Number of Cities in Bosnia and Herzegovina on the List of Europe's Most Polluted Cities | 5 |
| Names of Cities in Bosnia and Herzegovina on the List | Sarajevo, Lukavac, Tuzla, Zenica, and Mostar |
| Country with the Worst Air Pollution in Europe | Poland |
| Number of Polish Cities Among Europe's 50 Most Polluted Cities | 36 |
| Percentage of Polish Cities Violating the EU's Air Quality Target | 72% |
| Country with the Second-Highest Number of Cities Among Europe's 50 Most Polluted Cities | Bulgaria (83%) |
| Main Source of Air Pollution in Poland | Coal-fired Power (74% of the country's electricity) |
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What You'll Learn
Bosnia and Herzegovina is the worst European performer in terms of air pollution
Bosnia and Herzegovina has been identified as one of the most polluted countries in Europe, with fine particulate pollutants exceeding those of China. In 2014, the country had over 55 micrograms per cubic metre of fine particulate matter, which is capable of entering the lungs and causing serious health issues. As a result, in 2012, Bosnia and Herzegovina recorded nearly 231 deaths per 100,000 people due to air pollution, the second-highest rate globally, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).
The country's high level of air pollution can be attributed to several factors, including industrial emissions and residential heating. ArcelorMittal Zenica, the Tuzla thermal power plant, and chemical factories in Lukavac, which includes the Sisecam Soda chemical factory and the GIKIL coke plant, are among the top industrial polluters in the country. In addition, the country's outdated coal power plants, such as those in Gacko, Stanari, and Ugljevik, have been identified as a public health and economic liability for Europe.
The Bosnian-Herzegovinian government has been criticized for its handling of the air pollution crisis. Experts have noted that data on emissions is often missing, incorrect, or hidden from the public, making it difficult to fully understand the extent of the problem. Despite laws requiring the reporting of emissions data, some industrial sources, particularly in the Republika Srpska region, have failed to disclose their emissions information.
The issue of air pollution in Bosnia and Herzegovina has not gone unnoticed by environmental organizations. Greenpeace has urged local and national governments to tackle the effects of air pollution by improving air quality monitoring and reporting infrastructure. Additionally, the World Health Organization (WHO) has set targets for reducing the per capita environmental impact of cities on air quality and increasing the adoption of sustainable and renewable energy sources.
While Scandinavia, Finland, Spain, Portugal, and Ireland are among the best European performers in terms of low air pollution and related deaths, Bosnia and Herzegovina continues to struggle with poor air quality and its associated health impacts. The country's efforts to improve air quality and meet international standards remain ongoing.
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North Macedonia is one of the most polluted countries in Europe
North Macedonia is among the most polluted countries in Europe, with its capital, Skopje, being home to three of the most polluted districts in the continent. The city's air is so clogged with pollutants that residents die two to three years earlier on average than they would without this "largely preventable" environmental factor. According to a 2018 report by IQAir AirVisual, Bosnia and Herzegovina and North Macedonia are the most polluted countries in Europe. The report also noted that residential heating is a significant factor in air pollution in Eastern European countries.
Skopje's air pollution problem is exacerbated by its location in a valley surrounded by hills and mountains. The topography traps the toxins, making the air among the most menacing of any city in Europe. The city's residents have reported that the air tastes like burnt plastic, and on the worst days, the pollution is so dense that you cannot even see the city. The pollution has led to a brain drain, with more than 90% of young people in North Macedonia wanting to move abroad, according to a survey.
The main causes of air pollution in North Macedonia include the burning of wood and biomass pellet fuels for home heating during cold winters, producing PM10 particles and carbon monoxide. The country's socioeconomic status plays a role, with many citizens unable to afford cleaner fuels and resorting to burning low-quality wood and even rubbish. The problem is further aggravated by the country's location in a mountainous region with a Mediterranean climate, where the warm air rising and colliding with colder, heavier air forms smog.
Additionally, North Macedonia faces other environmental issues such as water pollution, deforestation, threats to endemic species, and climate change. The government and citizen initiatives have been working to tackle the problem of air pollution, but with varying degrees of success. While there has been a slight decrease in PM2.5 pollution due to warmer winters, experts say there has been little effort to help households transition to cleaner fuels.
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Poland has the worst air pollution in Europe
Poland has some of the worst air pollution levels in Europe, with several of its cities ranking among the most polluted in the continent. In 2024, Częstochowa and Żory, located in the south of Poland, were listed as the ninth and tenth most polluted cities in the EU, respectively. This is due to the burning of coal for heating during the winter months, which is a common practice in this region.
The World Bank is lending Poland €250 million to finance the country's "Clean Air" programme, which aims to address the issue of air pollution by providing subsidies for households to adopt cleaner heating systems and improve insulation. Despite these efforts, Poland still faces significant challenges in reducing air pollution and its associated health impacts.
According to the EEA's estimates for 2021, Poland had the highest number of premature deaths linked to air pollution among EU countries, with 47,300 deaths attributed to PM2.5 pollutants. This issue is particularly pronounced in the Malopolska region, where the burning of low-grade coal, unseasoned wood, and garbage contributes to high levels of smog and PM2.5 particulates during the winter months. The health costs associated with air pollution in this region are significant, amounting to approximately PLN 3 billion (around €800 million) per year.
In December 2020, the Polish city of Zgierz recorded an average US AQI reading of 88, classified as "Moderate." The levels of PM2.5 and PM10 pollutants were also notably high, at 30 µg/m³ and 33 µg/m³, respectively. Krakow, another Polish city, was ranked as the fourth most polluted city in the world during the same period. These high levels of air pollution have forced residents to stay indoors to avoid the harmful effects of breathing in polluted air.
While Poland has made some progress in recent years, with an improvement noted between 2017 and 2020, it continues to face challenges in reducing air pollution to meet the World Health Organization's (WHO) target classification of less than 10 µg/m³.
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Eastern European countries have the highest rate of air pollution
The main sources of air pollution in Eastern Europe are coal-dependent energy and outdated industry sectors, the widespread use of wood and coal for residential heating and cooking, old vehicle fleets, agricultural practices with high ammonia emissions, poor waste management, and open landfill waste burning. These issues are rooted in poverty and socioeconomic and geopolitical systems dating back to the Soviet era and the civil war in the 1990s in former Yugoslavia and surrounding Balkan areas.
In contrast, Western European countries possess greater financial resources to invest in climate adaptation, green infrastructure, and environmental initiatives. They have also historically implemented stricter environmental policies and enforcement. As a result, Eastern Europe has faced challenges in aligning with EU standards due to transitional economies and governance issues. Additionally, Western European cities have been quicker to adopt smart technologies for pollution control, waste management, and urban planning.
The high levels of air pollution in Eastern Europe have severe health consequences. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), Eastern European and Balkan countries suffer the highest rate of air contamination and air pollution-related deaths in Europe. The fine particulate pollutants in the air are smaller than the width of a human hair and can enter the lungs, causing health problems. In 2012, Bosnia and Herzegovina had a high level of air pollution, resulting in nearly 231 deaths per 100,000 people, the second-highest death rate among listed countries in the WHO report.
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Water pollution is also a problem in Europe
The quality of drinking water and bathing water, and the effectiveness of wastewater treatment across the European Union, continues to improve. However, pollution from sources like wastewater treatment plants, agricultural runoff, and stormwater overflows, as well as emerging risks like micro-pollutants from personal care products, pose challenges to maintaining clean and healthy water. Industrial water pollution is also a problem, with industries in most European countries dumping wastewater into freshwater sources and contaminating drinking water in and around cities.
Mining is more prominent in some parts of Europe than others, and while it may not be as significant as in North America in terms of water pollution, it is still an issue that needs to be addressed. In addition, the tourism industry in Italy has placed new demands on water supplies, and the country has experienced more frequent natural disasters than many other countries, both of which contribute to water pollution.
Political disputes over water sources that span multiple countries can also affect water quality. When one country controls the upstream portion of a river, and another controls the downstream portion, the downstream country often suffers the consequences of water pollution.
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Frequently asked questions
According to reports published in 2024, Bosnia and Herzegovina and North Macedonia are the most polluted countries in Europe.
Poland has the worst air pollution in Europe, with 36 of the top 50 polluted cities in the EU.
Sweden had the cleanest air in Europe in 2012, with less than one death per 100,000 people due to air pollution.
Sarajevo, the capital of Bosnia and Herzegovina, was the most polluted capital city in Europe in 2023.
Eastern European and Balkan countries suffer the highest rate of air pollution in Europe.
