Air pollution in Bangladesh reduces the life expectancy of its residents by an average of 5.5 years, according to the 2025 Air Quality Life Index (AQLI) update published by the University of Chicago’s Energy Policy Institute.

The study found that residents of Dhaka, the country’s most populous district, could gain 6.9 years of life if air quality met World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines.

In Chittagong, the second-largest city, life expectancy could increase by 6.2 years. Even in the least polluted district, Lalmonirhat, particulate pollution levels remain seven times higher than WHO limits.

All of Bangladesh’s 166.8 million people live in areas exceeding both WHO and national standards for annual average particulate matter, the report said. Between 1998 and 2023, particulate concentrations increased by 66.2%, resulting in a 2.4-year reduction in life expectancy.

The AQLI measures the causal relationship between long-term exposure to particulate matter (PM2.5) and life expectancy, using satellite data to provide localised insight.

Air pollution in Bangladesh ranks among the top 10 worst globally, 12.2 times higher than WHO guidelines and 2.5 times above the global average. In South Asia, pollution reduces life expectancy by an average of three years, with the most severely affected areas losing more than eight years. Experts warn that particulate pollution poses a greater threat to health than tobacco use, malnutrition, or unsafe water in the region.

The findings underline the urgent need for stricter air quality policies to mitigate the growing health crisis.