Two Million Deaths in India Linked to Air Pollution in 2023 SoGA 2025 Report

• India recorded 2 million deaths due to air pollution-related diseases in 2023, according to the State of Global Air (SoGA) 2025 report by HEI and IHME, USA — a 43% increase from 1.4 million in 2000.

Key Findings:

• Nearly 89% of deaths were due to non-communicable diseases (NCDs) : heart disease, lung cancer, diabetes, and dementia.

• Air pollution death rate: 186 per 100,000 in India vs. 17 per 100,000 in high-income countries.

• Top affected states: Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Bihar, West Bengal (each >100,000 deaths).

• Disease-specific impact:

  • 70% of COPD deaths

  • 33% of lung cancer deaths

  • 25% of heart disease deaths

  • 20% of diabetes deaths attributed to air pollution.

• Dementia impact: 54,000 deaths in India linked to air pollution; globally 626,000 deaths.

Pollution Exposure:

• Household air pollution deaths have declined, but ambient PM2.5 and ozone fatalities are rising.

• PM2.5 levels exceed WHO limits for 75% of India’s population .

Policy Implications:

• Air pollution remains a major NCD risk factor in South Asia.

• The report urges integration of clean air strategies into national health and development policies .