Municipal waste generated in Japan
Japan: Municipal waste generated was 40.95 million in 2021. ▼ Falling
Latest (2021)
40.95 million
Change on year
down 1.7%
World rank
5th
of 80 countries
All-time high
54.83 million
in 2000
All-time low
40.95 million
in 2021
Years of data
22
2000–2021
Municipal waste generated in Japan, 2000–2021
Source: United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
Analysis
Japan recorded 40.95 million for municipal waste generated in 2021. That is the lowest value across all 22 years on record.
The figure is down 1.7% on the previous year and down 9.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, municipal waste generated in Japan peaked at 54.83 million in 2000 and was at its lowest, 40.95 million, in 2021.
Japan ranks 5th of 80 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 22 years of available data.
Municipal waste generated in Japan, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 54.83 million | — |
| 2001 | 54.68 million | -0.3% |
| 2002 | 54.20 million | -0.9% |
| 2003 | 54.27 million | +0.1% |
| 2004 | 53.38 million | -1.6% |
| 2005 | 52.72 million | -1.2% |
| 2006 | 52.02 million | -1.3% |
| 2007 | 50.82 million | -2.3% |
| 2008 | 48.11 million | -5.3% |
| 2009 | 46.25 million | -3.9% |
| 2010 | 45.36 million | -1.9% |
| 2011 | 45.43 million | +0.2% |
| 2012 | 45.23 million | -0.4% |
| 2013 | 44.87 million | -0.8% |
| 2014 | 44.32 million | -1.2% |
| 2015 | 43.98 million | -0.8% |
| 2016 | 43.17 million | -1.8% |
| 2017 | 42.89 million | -0.6% |
| 2018 | 42.73 million | -0.4% |
| 2019 | 42.74 million | +0.0% |
| 2020 | 41.67 million | -2.5% |
| 2021 | 40.95 million | -1.7% |
Japan compared with similar countries
- Japan's 40.95 million is above the median for high income countries, which is 4.12 million, 10.0× the median. (45 countries reporting)
- Japan's 40.95 million is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 13.71 million, 3.0× the median. (10 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 52.13 million | 46.25 million | 54.83 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 44.07 million | 42.73 million | 45.43 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 41.31 million | 40.95 million | 41.67 million | 2 |
Countries ranked near Japan
More environment data for Japan
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly -4.51 Percentage change (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly -4.8 Percentage change (2025)
- Standard Deviation, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Standard Deviation 0.358 °C (2025)
- Temperature change 1.86 °C (2025)
- Wood-based panels — Production, annual growth rate -3.12 % change on previous year (2024)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual -2.8 % 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 -0.4957 % change on previous year (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is municipal waste generated in Japan?
- Municipal waste generated in Japan was 40.95 million in 2021, according to United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
- What is the highest municipal waste generated recorded in Japan?
- The highest recorded value was 54.83 million in 2000.
- What is the lowest municipal waste generated recorded in Japan?
- The lowest recorded value was 40.95 million in 2021.
- How does Japan rank for municipal waste generated?
- Japan ranks 5th out of 80 countries with data for 2021.
- Is municipal waste generated rising or falling in Japan?
- Over the last ten years it is down 9.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Japan 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 — 22 observations, free to reuse under UN SDG Global Database (open, attribution requested).