…Death rates 94 times higher than in developed countries
A new global report has raised alarm over the devastating impact of air pollution on children, revealing that youngsters in poorer countries are dying at rates 94 times higher than those in wealthier nations.
The report, titled “Structural Dependencies Perpetuate Disproportionate Childhood Health Burden from Air Pollution,” released on Monday by Zero Carbon Analytics (ZCA), draws on data from the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) database.
It warns that both outdoor and household air pollution are claiming hundreds of thousands of young lives every year, leaving millions more with long-term respiratory and developmental health problems.
According to the findings, air pollution has become one of the leading causes of premature deaths among children under five — surpassing several infectious diseases.
The situation is particularly dire in developing nations such as Nigeria, Bangladesh, and South Africa, where fossil fuel dependence, poor waste management, and unsafe cooking practices worsen exposure.
“Clean air is one of the most powerful vaccines we can give a child,” said Dr. Zainab Yaro, a pediatrician at Dr. Mims Clinic and Wellness, Nigeria. “In Nigeria, I see daily the toll air pollution takes, persistent coughs, asthma, poor growth, and frequent hospital visits. It’s not just a medical issue; it’s an environmental injustice.”
The ZCA report links the crisis to “structural dependencies”, entrenched reliance on fossil fuels, weak environmental regulations, and lack of clean energy alternatives — which make it difficult for developing countries to transition to safer, sustainable systems.
Four countries, Nigeria, South Africa, Brazil, and Bangladesh, were highlighted in the report for their varying but deadly sources of pollution, from coal-fired plants and industrial emissions to forest fires and household use of solid fuels.
In Bangladesh, where air quality ranks among the worst globally, Dr. Sajid Hossain Khan of the National Institute of Diseases of the Chest & Hospital, warned: “Air pollution is one of the greatest threats to children’s health in Bangladesh and across the world. Clean air is as essential as clean water.”
Beyond the health crisis, the report details the long-term economic and developmental costs. Children exposed early to air pollution are more likely to suffer from stunted growth, weakened immunity, and cognitive impairment, affecting education and productivity in adulthood.
Joanne Bentley-McKune, ZCA’s lead researcher, described the situation as “a question of justice.”
“Children in the world’s poorest countries face air pollution death rates 94 times higher than those in the wealthiest. The youngest and most vulnerable bear the cost of systems they didn’t create. Breaking this cycle requires climate finance and clean energy transitions, not more fossil fuel subsidies.”
In Nigeria, experts warn that air pollution contributes to the death of one child every five minutes, underscoring the scale of the emergency.
ZCA called for urgent global and local actions — including cleaner cooking fuels, renewable energy access, stricter emission laws, and sustainable urban planning, to protect future generations.
“Clean air is not a luxury; it is a fundamental human right,” the authors wrote. “Every child deserves to breathe freely, not to die from preventable pollution.”
ZCA is an international research organisation providing data and analysis on climate change, energy systems, and environmental policy to support journalists, policymakers, and advocates in advancing global climate action.