Hazardous waste generated in India
India: Hazardous waste generated was 15.66 million tonnes in 2023. ▲ Rising
Hazardous waste generated in India, 2000–2023
Source: United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database. Measured in tonnes.
Analysis
The most recent figure for hazardous waste generated in India is 15.66 million tonnes, measured in 2023. That is the highest value across all 15 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 26.7% on the previous year and up 98.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, hazardous waste generated in India peaked at 15.66 million tonnes in 2023 and was at its lowest, 5.15 million tonnes, in 2016.
That places India 12th out of 99 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 15 years of available data.
Hazardous waste generated in India, year by year
| Year | tonnes | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 7.24 million tonnes | — |
| 2006 | 8.14 million tonnes | +12.4% |
| 2008 | 6.23 million tonnes | -23.4% |
| 2011 | 7.90 million tonnes | +26.8% |
| 2012 | 7.90 million tonnes | -0.0% |
| 2014 | 7.42 million tonnes | -6.0% |
| 2015 | 7.80 million tonnes | +5.1% |
| 2016 | 5.15 million tonnes | -34.0% |
| 2017 | 7.17 million tonnes | +39.3% |
| 2018 | 9.44 million tonnes | +31.6% |
| 2019 | 8.64 million tonnes | -8.5% |
| 2020 | 8.78 million tonnes | +1.7% |
| 2021 | 9.24 million tonnes | +5.2% |
| 2022 | 12.35 million tonnes | +33.7% |
| 2023 | 15.66 million tonnes | +26.7% |
India compared with similar countries
- India's 15.66 million tonnes is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 125,593 tonnes, 124.7× the median. (7 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 7.21 million tonnes | 6.23 million tonnes | 8.14 million tonnes | 3 |
| 2010s | 7.68 million tonnes | 5.15 million tonnes | 9.44 million tonnes | 8 |
| 2020s | 11.51 million tonnes | 8.78 million tonnes | 15.66 million tonnes | 4 |
Countries ranked near India
More environment data for India
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly 11.05 Percentage change (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly 12.52 Percentage change (2025)
- Standard Deviation, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Standard Deviation 0.254 °C (2025)
- Temperature change 0.954 °C (2025)
- Wood-based panels — Production, annual growth rate 17.18 % change on previous year (2024)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual 3.92 % 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 1.12 % change on previous year (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is hazardous waste generated in India?
- Hazardous waste generated in India was 15.66 million tonnes in 2023, according to United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
- What is the highest hazardous waste generated recorded in India?
- The highest recorded value was 15.66 million tonnes in 2023.
- What is the lowest hazardous waste generated recorded in India?
- The lowest recorded value was 5.15 million tonnes in 2016.
- How does India rank for hazardous waste generated?
- India ranks 12th out of 99 countries with data for 2023.
- Is hazardous waste generated rising or falling in India?
- Over the last ten years it is up 98.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this India data come from?
- The figures come from United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database, published as part of Hazardous waste generated (Tonnes). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 15 observations, free to reuse under UN SDG Global Database (open, attribution requested).