NUMBER 10: KARACHI, PAKISTAN

At a population of over 15 million, Karachi is the most populated city in Pakistan and one of the top 10 places of noise pollution in the world. With 5 million cars on its roads each day, traffic is the dominant cause for noise pollution, according to one study, which regularly produces sound in the neighborhood of 90 decibels. The chief culprits are mini buses, rickshaws and motorcycles, followed by buses, trucks, water tankers, and cars. The rickshaws, or two-wheeled passenger carts, are one of the most noticeable forms of noise, as well as the horns used in public buses.

NUMBER 9: SHANGHAI CHINA

Shanghai, China’s most crowded city, has a population of over 24 million people. The hustle and bustle of the city brings in around 100,000 noise complaints each year. The city’s citizens also set off thousands of firecrackers as a Chinese tradition to celebrate events such as weddings, new businesses opening, moving to a new house, and so on. The city has been recently trying to crack down on noise pollution, however, with a law stating that loud renovations aren’t allowed between the hours of 6:00 pm and 8:00 am on Holidays. Shanghai traffic only gets up to about 71 decibels, but overall noise can reach 85 decibels or higher

NUMBER 8: BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINA

The capital of Argentina is one of the top places where noise pollution is found. As the second largest city in South America, Buenos Aires is the center of both agricultural exports and metalworking for motor vehicle production. While these are great for their economy, the increase in construction, cars and people has given them the gold medal for the noisiest city in all of Latin America. Since it’s such a hot climate, many are forced to leave their Windows open, leaving little protection from the noises outside. Many areas in the city routinely crack the 85-decibel mark.

NUMBER 7: NEW YORK CITY, UNITED STATES

New York City is by far the most populous city in all of North America, at an estimated population of over 18.8 million people in 2020. The city is projected to have 67 million tourists in 2021, bringing in over 300,000 extra people per day. In addition to the people, the constant yellow taxis, street construction, car alarms, nightclubs, subways and planes are enough to give any resident a constant headache. Mayor Bloomberg back in 2013 began requiring police to set up checkpoints with handheld noise meters and to issue fines to those who violate noise policies. Noise pollution in New York City ranges from a mere 70 decibels to 90 decibels and sometimes even beyond.

NUMBER 6: MADRID: SPAIN

Madrid is the capital of Spain, and while it may seem small in comparison at around 6.6 million people, they make UP for it in noise. Madrid is known for its lively nightlife (the average adult’s bedtime is around midnight), and one of the biggest culprits of noise are its roaring bars and clubs, which usually don’t close until past 2:00 AM, leading to a government crackdown of making bars close earlier an attempt to reduce this nighttime noise. Have you ever tried sleeping at 2AM with over 45 decibels of noise? This is what Madrid will make you go through.

NUMBER 5: TOKYO, JAPAN

The prefecture of metropolitan Tokyo is part of the world’s most populous area with around 35 million people. While Tokyo is known for being one of the leaders in cutting back on greenhouse gas emissions, they still encounter multiple problems when it comes to noise pollution. The bulk of the noise comes from construction work, followed by public loudspeaker messages, factories, commercial activities, and domestic life. Unlike many other cities, transportation makes up less than 10% of the noise pollution. Decibel levels in some areas of Tokyo can reach 90-dB or more.

NUMBER 4: DELHI INDIA

As the political capital of India, Delhi is home to over 30 million people, and this number keeps incresing. The level of noise produced in the city has been called uncivilized, dangerous and traumatic, and has even lead to hearing loss in citizens 15 years sooner than average. In a recent study, not a single area of Delhi passed the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB)’s standards of noise control. The traffic noise has even affected those inside high-rise buildings, not just those outside on the streets. While many officials are trying to fix the problem, the smog and air pollution are so bad that the noise pollution often gets overlooked, reaching up to 85 decibels on normal basis.

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