Beach litter originating from national land-based sources that ends in South Africa

South Africa: Beach litter originating from national land-based sources that ends was 111,799 tonnes in 2021. ▲ Rising

Latest (2021)
111,799 tonnes
Change on year
up 3.0%
World rank
12th
of 160 countries
All-time high
111,799 tonnes
in 2021
All-time low
103,608 tonnes
in 2017
Years of data
5
2017–2021

Beach litter originating from national land-based sources that ends in South Africa, 2017–2021

025.0k50.0k75.0k100.0k2017201920212017: 103.6k tonnes2018: 107.6k tonnes2019: 106.3k tonnes2020: 108.5k tonnes2021: 111.8k tonnes

Source: United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database. Measured in tonnes.

Analysis

South Africa recorded 111,799 tonnes for beach litter originating from national land-based sources that ends in 2021. That is the highest value across all 5 years on record.

Compared with earlier readings it is up 3.0% on the previous year and up 7.9% over five years.

That places South Africa 12th out of 160 countries with data for 2021, putting it in the top 10%.

Beach litter originating from national land-based sources that ends in South Africa, year by year

Annual values for Beach litter originating from national land-based sources that ends in the ocean (Tonnes) in South Africa, 2017 to 2021.
Year tonnes Change
2017 103,608 tonnes
2018 107,613 tonnes +3.9%
2019 106,290 tonnes -1.2%
2020 108,535 tonnes +2.1%
2021 111,799 tonnes +3.0%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2010s 105,837 tonnes 103,608 tonnes 107,613 tonnes 3
2020s 110,167 tonnes 108,535 tonnes 111,799 tonnes 2

Countries ranked near South Africa

  1. 9 Türkiye 153,356 tonnes compare
  2. 9 Türkiye 153,356 tonnes compare
  3. 11 Bangladesh 119,879 tonnes compare
  4. 13 Myanmar 111,683 tonnes compare
  5. 14 Thailand 97,829 tonnes compare
  6. 15 Algeria 91,575 tonnes compare

See the full ranking of 190 places →

More environment data for South Africa

All data for South Africa →

Frequently asked questions

What is beach litter originating from national land-based sources that ends in South Africa?
Beach litter originating from national land-based sources that ends in South Africa was 111,799 tonnes in 2021, according to United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
What is the highest beach litter originating from national land-based sources that ends recorded in South Africa?
The highest recorded value was 111,799 tonnes in 2021.
What is the lowest beach litter originating from national land-based sources that ends recorded in South Africa?
The lowest recorded value was 103,608 tonnes in 2017.
How does South Africa rank for beach litter originating from national land-based sources that ends?
South Africa ranks 12th out of 160 countries with data for 2021.
Where does this South Africa data come from?
The figures come from United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database, published as part of Beach litter originating from national land-based sources that ends in the ocean (Tonnes). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Beach litter originating from national land-based sources that ends in South Africa. Statizoid, drawing on United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database. Retrieved 05 September 2026, from https://environment.statizoid.com/stat/beach-litter-originating-from-national-land-based-sources-that-ends-in-the-ocean-tonnes/south-africa/

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<a href="https://environment.statizoid.com/stat/beach-litter-originating-from-national-land-based-sources-that-ends-in-the-ocean-tonnes/south-africa/">Beach litter originating from national land-based sources that ends in South Africa</a> — Statizoid

About this data

Indicator
Beach litter originating from national land-based sources that ends in the ocean (Tonnes)
Unit
tonnes
Source
United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database
Licence
UN SDG Global Database (open, attribution requested)
Coverage
190 places, 981 data points, 2017–2022
Last refreshed