Municipal waste generated in India
India: Municipal waste generated was 62.17 million in 2021. ▲ Rising
Latest (2021)
62.17 million
Change on year
up 6.4%
World rank
2nd
of 80 countries
All-time high
62.17 million
in 2021
All-time low
43.49 million
in 2016
Years of data
5
2016–2021
Municipal waste generated in India, 2016–2021
Source: United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
Analysis
The most recent figure for municipal waste generated in India is 62.17 million, measured in 2021. That is the highest value across all 5 years on record.
That represents a change of up 6.4% on the previous year and up 43.0% over ten years.
That places India 2nd out of 80 countries with data for 2021, putting it in the top 10%.
Municipal waste generated in India, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 43.49 million | — |
| 2018 | 55.51 million | +27.6% |
| 2019 | 55.03 million | -0.9% |
| 2020 | 58.41 million | +6.2% |
| 2021 | 62.17 million | +6.4% |
India compared with similar countries
- India's 62.17 million is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 5.03 million, 12.4× the median. (5 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 51.34 million | 43.49 million | 55.51 million | 3 |
| 2020s | 60.29 million | 58.41 million | 62.17 million | 2 |
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 municipal waste generated in India?
- Municipal waste generated in India was 62.17 million in 2021, according to United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
- What is the highest municipal waste generated recorded in India?
- The highest recorded value was 62.17 million in 2021.
- What is the lowest municipal waste generated recorded in India?
- The lowest recorded value was 43.49 million in 2016.
- How does India rank for municipal waste generated?
- India ranks 2nd out of 80 countries with data for 2021.
- Is municipal waste generated rising or falling in India?
- Over the last ten years it is up 43.0%. 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 Municipal waste generated (Tonnes). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 5 observations, free to reuse under UN SDG Global Database (open, attribution requested).