World's Least Polluted Countries

This table lists the world's least polluted countries based on air quality and environmental factors.

Rank	Country	Population	Forest Area Coverage	Carbon Emissions
1	Finland 🇫🇮	5,548,360	73.1%	46.5 MtCO2
2	Iceland 🇮🇸	356,991	2.0%	0.6 MtCO2
3	Estonia 🇪🇪	1,326,535	52.6%	17.9 MtCO2
4	Sweden 🇸🇪	10,433,746	68.9%	49.1 MtCO2
5	Norway 🇳🇴	5,464,985	37.8%	41.1 MtCO2
6	Austria 🇦🇹	8,919,758	47.0%	78.3 MtCO2
7	Switzerland 🇨🇭	8,372,000	31.4%	42.5 MtCO2
8	Netherlands 🇳🇱	17,474,317	11.3%	181.2 MtCO2
9	Denmark 🇩🇰	5,822,763	14.7%	53.0 MtCO2
10	Luxembourg 🇱🇺	633,622	34.2%	11.3 MtCO2
11	Slovenia 🇸🇮	2,078,654	58.5%	13.0 MtCO2
12	New Zealand 🇳🇿	5,112,300	38.2%	34.7 MtCO2
13	Lithuania 🇱🇹	2,789,862	33.0%	14.8 MtCO2
14	Australia 🇦🇺	25,788,215	16.2%	405.5 MtCO2
16	Germany 🇩🇪	83,783,942	32.0%	763.6 MtCO2
17	Canada 🇨🇦	38,295,000	38.2%	587.3 MtCO2
21	Ireland 🇮🇪	4,937,786	10.8%	46.3 MtCO2
23	USA 🇺🇸	331,883,745	34.7%	5,416.1 MtCO2
24	Spain 🇪🇸	46,934,632	37.5%	332.9 MtCO2
27	Japan 🇯🇵	126,150,000	68.5%	1,162.3 MtCO2
28	UK 🇬🇧	66,181,585	13.2%	368.6 MtCO2
30	France 🇫🇷	67,081,000	31.7%	324.0 MtCO2
34	UAE 🇦🇪	9,630,959	0.6%	210.2 MtCO2
38	Argentina 🇦🇷	45,376,763	10.0%	189.3 MtCO2
40	Brazil 🇧🇷	211,715,973	59.0%	501.9 MtCO2
41	Italy 🇮🇹	60,431,283	32.0%	337.6 MtCO2
46	South Africa 🇿🇦	59,622,350	7.6%	464.9 MtCO2
48	Mexico 🇲🇽	126,190,788	34.7%	456.9 MtCO2
53	Russia 🇷🇺	144,373,535	49.1%	1,711.6 MtCO2
58	South Korea 🇰🇷	51,710,307	63.9%	687.3 MtCO2
61	Saudi Arabia 🇸🇦	34,268,528	1.0%	597.5 MtCO2
66	Turkey 🇹🇷	84,339,067	14.6%	425.0 MtCO2
71	Indonesia 🇮🇩	273,523,615	50.9%	587.9 MtCO2
80	India 🇮🇳	1,366,418,000	23.8%	2,654.4 MtCO2
81	Philippines 🇵🇭	109,581,078	23.4%	120.8 MtCO2
89	Venezuela 🇻🇪	28,515,829	52.1%	154.7 MtCO2
96	Chile 🇨🇱	19,107,216	23.6%	79.3 MtCO2
99	China 🇨🇳	1,400,050,000	21.7%	10,065.5 MtCO2
101	Egypt 🇪🇬	100,388,073	2.7%	259.5 MtCO2
105	Bangladesh 🇧🇩	164,689,383	12.7%	80.3 MtCO2
106	Afghanistan 🇦🇫	38,928,346	2.1%	11.5 MtCO2
107	Nigeria 🇳🇬	200,963,599	9.3%	104.7 MtCO2
111	Mongolia 🇲🇳	3,225,167	8.7%	29.0 MtCO2

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

General Questions

1. What criteria were used to determine the least polluted countries on this list?

The list is based on air quality and environmental factors, including air pollution levels, emissions, and environmental conservation efforts.

2. Why is Finland ranked as the least polluted country?

Finland is ranked highly due to its low levels of air pollution, strong environmental policies, and significant forest cover, which helps absorb carbon emissions.

Population and Forest Area

3. Which country has the highest forest area coverage on the list?

Sweden boasts the highest forest area coverage among the listed countries, making up a significant portion of its land.

4. What is the population figure based on for each country?

Population figures are based on the latest estimates provided by the United Nations or relevant national statistical agencies.

Carbon Emissions

5. What is the carbon emissions figure based on for each country?

Carbon emissions are measured in metric tons of carbon dioxide (MtCO2) and are based on a country's total annual emissions from various sources, including energy production and transportation.

6. How does carbon emissions impact a country's ranking?

Countries with lower carbon emissions per capita tend to rank higher on the list, indicating their efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Population and Forest Area

7. How does population density vary among the listed countries?

Population density varies significantly among the listed countries, with some having high population densities and others being more sparsely populated.

8. Which country has the smallest population on the list?

Mongolia has the smallest population among the listed countries.

9. Is there a correlation between a country's population and its carbon emissions?

Population size can influence a country's carbon emissions, but it's not the sole determinant. Some densely populated countries have low emissions due to clean energy sources, while sparsely populated countries may have high emissions.

Carbon Emissions

10. Are carbon emissions figures per capita or total emissions for each country?

The carbon emissions figures provided are typically total emissions for each country. Per capita emissions can vary widely based on population size.

11. How can countries reduce their carbon emissions?

Countries can reduce carbon emissions by transitioning to renewable energy sources, improving energy efficiency, implementing emissions-reducing policies, and promoting sustainable transportation.

12. What is the significance of measuring carbon emissions in mitigating climate change?

Measuring carbon emissions is crucial in understanding a country's contribution to climate change. Lowering emissions is essential to mitigate the effects of global warming and reduce environmental impacts.