# Global Light Pollution Rankings

> Country and region rankings for light pollution using average SQM and artificial brightness data.

The Global Light Pollution Rankings page compares countries and regions by night-sky brightness. It is designed for users who want to understand where light pollution is most severe, where darker regions remain, and how average sky quality varies by geography.

## Primary URLs

- HTML page: https://lightpollutionmap.app/global-light-pollution-rankings/
- Markdown version: https://lightpollutionmap.app/global-light-pollution-rankings.md
- AI overview: https://lightpollutionmap.app/llms.txt

## Metrics

- Rank: ordering by average artificial brightness and SQM-derived indicators.
- SQM: average sky brightness in mag/arcsec².
- Artificial brightness ratio: artificial sky brightness relative to natural sky brightness.
- Pixel count: number of sampled map pixels included in the region.
- Bortle distribution: share of sampled area by Bortle-style sky quality bands.

## How To Interpret The Rankings

High light pollution means urban and suburban lighting raises night-sky brightness, reducing star visibility and astrophotography quality. A darker ranking does not guarantee a perfect observing site because local weather, moonlight, horizon obstruction, altitude, and nearby lights still matter. Use the rankings for regional comparison, then use the interactive map for site-level planning.

## Good Queries This Page Answers

- Which countries have the worst light pollution?
- Which regions have the darkest skies?
- How does average SQM vary by country?
- Where is light pollution improving or worsening?
- Which places are better for stargazing and Milky Way visibility?