Italy vs South Korea: Municipal waste recycled

Italy
14.66 million tonnes
in 2023
South Korea
13.17 million tonnes
in 2022
Italy rank
4th
South Korea rank
6th

Municipal waste recycled over time

  • Italy
  • South Korea
5.0M7.5M10.0M12.5M15.0M200020112023

How they compare

Italy currently reports 14.66 million tonnes against 13.17 million tonnes in South Korea, a difference of 1.49 million tonnes.

That makes Italy's figure about 1.1 times South Korea's.

The two have swapped places 1 time across 21 shared years of data; in 2000 it was South Korea ahead.

Italy ranks 4th and South Korea ranks 6th of 90 countries.

Across the 3 decades both report, Italy averaged higher in 2 and South Korea in 1.

Head to head by decade

Decade Italy South Korea Difference Ahead
2000s 5.91 million tonnes 9.02 million tonnes 3.11 million tonnes South Korea
2010s 12.81 million tonnes 11.15 million tonnes 1.66 million tonnes Italy
2020s 15.11 million tonnes 12.71 million tonnes 2.40 million tonnes Italy

Averages of every year both report within each decade.

Frequently asked questions

Which has higher municipal waste recycled, Italy or South Korea?
Italy, at 14.66 million tonnes against 13.17 million tonnes in South Korea as of 2023.
What is the difference in municipal waste recycled between Italy and South Korea?
1.49 million tonnes, with Italy ahead.
How many years of comparable data are there for Italy and South Korea?
21 years are reported by both, from 2000 to 2022.
How do Italy and South Korea rank globally for municipal waste recycled?
Italy ranks 4th and South Korea ranks 6th of 90 countries.
Where does this data come from?
United Nations Statistics Division and United Nations Environment Programme – processed by Our World in Data, published as Municipal waste recycled. Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.

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Italy vs South Korea: Municipal waste recycled. Statizoid, drawing on United Nations Statistics Division and United Nations Environment Programme – processed by Our World in Data. Retrieved 24 September 2026, from https://environment.statizoid.com/compare/municipal-waste-recycled/italy/korea-rep/

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About this data

Indicator
Municipal waste recycled
Unit
tonnes
Source
United Nations Statistics Division and United Nations Environment Programme – processed by Our World in Data
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage
90 places, 1,516 data points, 2000–2024
Last refreshed

Municipal waste recycled (Tonnes).