Air pollution kills 65,000 yearly in Central Asia, says World Bank
New report warns of rising health crisis and economic toll as cities in the region choke under toxic air from coal, vehicles, and dust
BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan (MNTV) — Air pollution is causing a silent health crisis across Central Asia, with more than 65,000 premature deaths each year linked to fine particulate matter (PM2.5). The economic damage is equally alarming — between $15 and $22 billion annually, or up to 5% of the region’s GDP.
These findings come from a new World Bank report on air quality management in Central Asia, which paints a grim picture of toxic air across urban centers in Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, and Turkmenistan.
PM2.5 levels in the region’s major cities exceed World Health Organization guidelines by 6 to 12 times — and little action has been taken at scale to address it.
In Kazakhstan’s urban hubs of Almaty and Astana, annual PM2.5 concentrations hover above 30 μg/m³. The main drivers are coal-based heating, vehicle emissions, and industrial activity, while soil and desert dust contribute up to 30%. According to the report, 65% of air pollution in Kazakhstan is from domestic sources.
In Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan’s capital, PM2.5 levels average 32.5 μg/m³. Most pollution comes from residential coal and biomass burning, particularly in suburban areas. Road traffic adds another 26%, while transboundary flows from neighboring countries make up 22% of the total.
Tajikistan’s capital, Dushanbe, records the region’s highest average — 54.6 μg/m³ — driven largely by domestic use of solid fuels (42%), followed by transport and open waste burning. Natural dust accounts for about a quarter of the pollution.
Ashgabat in Turkmenistan sees lower levels at around 19 μg/m³, though over 80% of its pollution is linked to natural dust storms rather than human activity. This makes its air pollution profile unique within the region.
Tashkent, Uzbekistan’s capital, suffers from an annual average of 40.3 μg/m³, with heating and vehicle emissions the leading sources. Here, 53% of pollution is domestic, and another 14% comes from transboundary sources.
The World Bank urges Central Asian governments to transition away from coal heating, enforce cleaner transport standards, invest in real-time air quality monitoring, and align regulations with WHO recommendations.
The report also calls for regional cooperation, warning that without joint action, cross-border pollution will continue to undercut local solutions.
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