Electronic waste generated, per capita in South Korea
South Korea: Electronic waste generated, per capita was 18.5 kg in 2023. ▲ Rising
Electronic waste generated, per capita in South Korea, 2000–2023
Source: United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database. Measured in kg.
Analysis
The most recent figure for electronic waste generated, per capita in South Korea is 18.5 kg, measured in 2023. That is the highest value across all 16 years on record.
The figure is up 2.7% on the previous year and up 49.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, electronic waste generated, per capita in South Korea peaked at 18.5 kg in 2023 and was at its lowest, 5.34 kg, in 2000.
That places South Korea 10th out of 31 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 16 years of available data.
Electronic waste generated, per capita in South Korea, year by year
| Year | kg | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 5.34 kg | — |
| 2005 | 7.32 kg | +37.0% |
| 2010 | 10.14 kg | +38.6% |
| 2011 | 10.85 kg | +6.9% |
| 2012 | 11.61 kg | +7.0% |
| 2013 | 12.37 kg | +6.5% |
| 2014 | 13.09 kg | +5.8% |
| 2015 | 13.79 kg | +5.3% |
| 2016 | 14.45 kg | +4.8% |
| 2017 | 15.11 kg | +4.6% |
| 2018 | 15.71 kg | +4.0% |
| 2019 | 16.27 kg | +3.6% |
| 2020 | 16.84 kg | +3.5% |
| 2021 | 17.44 kg | +3.6% |
| 2022 | 18.01 kg | +3.3% |
| 2023 | 18.5 kg | +2.7% |
South Korea compared with similar countries
- South Korea's 18.5 kg is above the median for high income countries, which is 17.19 kg, 1.1× the median. (10 countries reporting)
- South Korea's 18.5 kg is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 18.5 kg, 1.0× the median. (5 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Electronic waste generated, per capita in South Korea changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | +38.6% | 7.32 kg | 10.14 kg |
| 2005 | +37.0% | 5.34 kg | 7.32 kg |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 6.33 kg | 5.34 kg | 7.32 kg | 2 |
| 2010s | 13.34 kg | 10.14 kg | 16.27 kg | 10 |
| 2020s | 17.7 kg | 16.84 kg | 18.5 kg | 4 |
Countries ranked near South Korea
More environment data for South Korea
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual -0.2791 % change on previous year (2024)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), per unit 0 Mt CO2e per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), per capita 0 Mt CO2e per person (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Agriculture (Mt CO2e), annual growth rate -2.27 % change on previous year (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Agriculture (Mt CO2e), per unit of GDP 0 Mt CO2e per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Agriculture (Mt CO2e), per capita 0 Mt CO2e per person (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Building (Energy) (Mt CO2e), annual -0.2415 % change on previous year (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Building (Energy) (Mt CO2e), per unit of 0 Mt CO2e per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Building (Energy) (Mt CO2e), per capita 0 Mt CO2e per person (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Fugitive Emissions (Energy) (Mt CO2e) 1.61 % change on previous year (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is electronic waste generated, per capita in South Korea?
- Electronic waste generated, per capita in South Korea was 18.5 kg in 2023, according to United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
- What is the highest electronic waste generated, per capita recorded in South Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 18.5 kg in 2023.
- What is the lowest electronic waste generated, per capita recorded in South Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 5.34 kg in 2000.
- How does South Korea rank for electronic waste generated, per capita?
- South Korea ranks 10th out of 31 countries with data for 2023.
- Is electronic waste generated, per capita rising or falling in South Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is up 49.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this South Korea data come from?
- The figures come from United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database, published as part of Electronic waste generated, per capita (Kg). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 16 observations, free to reuse under UN SDG Global Database (open, attribution requested).