Hazardous waste generated in South Korea
South Korea: Hazardous waste generated was 6.17 million tonnes in 2022. ▲ Rising
Latest (2022)
6.17 million tonnes
Change on year
up 3.3%
World rank
22nd
of 99 countries
All-time high
6.17 million tonnes
in 2022
All-time low
3.31 million tonnes
in 2009
Years of data
16
2007–2022
Hazardous waste generated in South Korea, 2007–2022
Source: United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database. Measured in tonnes.
Analysis
In 2022, hazardous waste generated in South Korea stood at 6.17 million tonnes. That is the highest value across all 16 years on record.
The figure is up 3.3% on the previous year and up 35.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, hazardous waste generated in South Korea peaked at 6.17 million tonnes in 2022 and was at its lowest, 3.31 million tonnes, in 2009.
South Korea ranks 22nd of 99 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 16 years of available data.
Hazardous waste generated in South Korea, year by year
| Year | tonnes | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2007 | 3.47 million tonnes | — |
| 2008 | 3.50 million tonnes | +0.9% |
| 2009 | 3.31 million tonnes | -5.6% |
| 2010 | 3.46 million tonnes | +4.7% |
| 2011 | 3.66 million tonnes | +5.6% |
| 2012 | 4.56 million tonnes | +24.6% |
| 2013 | 4.53 million tonnes | -0.6% |
| 2014 | 4.81 million tonnes | +6.2% |
| 2015 | 4.89 million tonnes | +1.7% |
| 2016 | 5.03 million tonnes | +2.8% |
| 2017 | 5.44 million tonnes | +8.1% |
| 2018 | 5.62 million tonnes | +3.3% |
| 2019 | 5.68 million tonnes | +1.1% |
| 2020 | 5.61 million tonnes | -1.2% |
| 2021 | 5.98 million tonnes | +6.6% |
| 2022 | 6.17 million tonnes | +3.3% |
South Korea compared with similar countries
- South Korea's 6.17 million tonnes is above the median for high income countries, which is 654,868 tonnes, 9.4× the median. (48 countries reporting)
- South Korea's 6.17 million tonnes is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 2.59 million tonnes, 2.4× the median. (10 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 3.43 million tonnes | 3.31 million tonnes | 3.50 million tonnes | 3 |
| 2010s | 4.77 million tonnes | 3.46 million tonnes | 5.68 million tonnes | 10 |
| 2020s | 5.92 million tonnes | 5.61 million tonnes | 6.17 million tonnes | 3 |
Countries ranked near South Korea
- 20 Sweden 7.17 million tonnes compare
- 21 Australia 6.47 million tonnes compare
- 22 Republic of Korea 6.17 million tonnes compare
- 24 Malaysia 5.84 million tonnes compare
- 25 Philippines 4.82 million tonnes compare
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 hazardous waste generated in South Korea?
- Hazardous waste generated in South Korea was 6.17 million tonnes in 2022, according to United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
- What is the highest hazardous waste generated recorded in South Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 6.17 million tonnes in 2022.
- What is the lowest hazardous waste generated recorded in South Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 3.31 million tonnes in 2009.
- How does South Korea rank for hazardous waste generated?
- South Korea ranks 22nd out of 99 countries with data for 2022.
- Is hazardous waste generated rising or falling in South Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is up 35.5%. 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 Hazardous waste generated (Tonnes). 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).