Hazardous waste generated in Malaysia
Malaysia: Hazardous waste generated was 5.84 million tonnes in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2023)
5.84 million tonnes
Change on year
down 1.2%
World rank
24th
of 99 countries
All-time high
7.51 million tonnes
in 2021
All-time low
344,550 tonnes
in 2000
Years of data
24
2000–2023
Hazardous waste generated in Malaysia, 2000–2023
Source: United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database. Measured in tonnes.
Analysis
In 2023, hazardous waste generated in Malaysia stood at 5.84 million tonnes.
The figure is down 1.2% on the previous year and up 97.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, hazardous waste generated in Malaysia peaked at 7.51 million tonnes in 2021 and was at its lowest, 344,550 tonnes, in 2000.
Malaysia ranks 24th of 99 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Hazardous waste generated in Malaysia, year by year
| Year | tonnes | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 344,550 tonnes | — |
| 2001 | 420,198 tonnes | +22.0% |
| 2002 | 460,866 tonnes | +9.7% |
| 2003 | 460,866 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 2004 | 469,584 tonnes | +1.9% |
| 2005 | 548,916 tonnes | +16.9% |
| 2006 | 1.10 million tonnes | +101.0% |
| 2007 | 1.14 million tonnes | +3.2% |
| 2008 | 1.30 million tonnes | +14.6% |
| 2009 | 1.71 million tonnes | +30.7% |
| 2010 | 3.09 million tonnes | +81.1% |
| 2011 | 3.28 million tonnes | +6.3% |
| 2012 | 2.85 million tonnes | -13.0% |
| 2013 | 2.97 million tonnes | +3.9% |
| 2014 | 2.35 million tonnes | -20.6% |
| 2015 | 2.92 million tonnes | +23.9% |
| 2016 | 2.77 million tonnes | -5.2% |
| 2017 | 2.02 million tonnes | -27.1% |
| 2018 | 2.36 million tonnes | +16.7% |
| 2019 | 4.01 million tonnes | +70.4% |
| 2020 | 7.19 million tonnes | +79.0% |
| 2021 | 7.51 million tonnes | +4.5% |
| 2022 | 5.92 million tonnes | -21.2% |
| 2023 | 5.84 million tonnes | -1.2% |
Malaysia compared with similar countries
- Malaysia's 5.84 million tonnes is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 238,135 tonnes, 24.5× the median. (29 countries reporting)
- Malaysia's 5.84 million tonnes is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 2.59 million tonnes, 2.3× the median. (10 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 795,749 tonnes | 344,550 tonnes | 1.71 million tonnes | 10 |
| 2010s | 2.86 million tonnes | 2.02 million tonnes | 4.01 million tonnes | 10 |
| 2020s | 6.61 million tonnes | 5.84 million tonnes | 7.51 million tonnes | 4 |
Countries ranked near Malaysia
- 21 Australia 6.47 million tonnes compare
- 22 Republic of Korea 6.17 million tonnes compare
- 22 South Korea 6.17 million tonnes compare
- 25 Philippines 4.82 million tonnes compare
- 26 Mexico 4.35 million tonnes compare
- 27 Netherlands (Kingdom of the) 4.35 million tonnes compare
More environment data for Malaysia
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly -1.65 Percentage change (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly -1.9 Percentage change (2025)
- Standard Deviation, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Standard Deviation 0.179 °C (2025)
- Temperature change 1.25 °C (2025)
- Wood-based panels — Production, annual growth rate -2.55 % change on previous year (2024)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual 4.33 % 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 0.9114 % change on previous year (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is hazardous waste generated in Malaysia?
- Hazardous waste generated in Malaysia was 5.84 million tonnes in 2023, according to United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
- What is the highest hazardous waste generated recorded in Malaysia?
- The highest recorded value was 7.51 million tonnes in 2021.
- What is the lowest hazardous waste generated recorded in Malaysia?
- The lowest recorded value was 344,550 tonnes in 2000.
- How does Malaysia rank for hazardous waste generated?
- Malaysia ranks 24th out of 99 countries with data for 2023.
- Is hazardous waste generated rising or falling in Malaysia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 97.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Malaysia 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 — 24 observations, free to reuse under UN SDG Global Database (open, attribution requested).