Municipal waste generated in Spain
Spain: Municipal waste generated was 22.50 million in 2023. ▼ Falling
Latest (2023)
22.50 million
Change on year
down 2.3%
World rank
15th
of 80 countries
All-time high
27.27 million
in 2003
All-time low
20.84 million
in 2014
Years of data
24
2000–2023
Municipal waste generated in Spain, 2000–2023
Source: United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
Analysis
Spain recorded 22.50 million for municipal waste generated in 2023.
The figure is down 2.3% on the previous year and up 6.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, municipal waste generated in Spain peaked at 27.27 million in 2003 and was at its lowest, 20.84 million, in 2014.
That places Spain 15th out of 80 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 24 years of available data.
Municipal waste generated in Spain, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 26.50 million | — |
| 2001 | 26.62 million | +0.4% |
| 2002 | 26.40 million | -0.8% |
| 2003 | 27.27 million | +3.3% |
| 2004 | 25.75 million | -5.6% |
| 2005 | 25.68 million | -0.2% |
| 2006 | 26.21 million | +2.0% |
| 2007 | 26.15 million | -0.2% |
| 2008 | 25.32 million | -3.2% |
| 2009 | 25.11 million | -0.8% |
| 2010 | 23.77 million | -5.3% |
| 2011 | 22.67 million | -4.6% |
| 2012 | 21.90 million | -3.4% |
| 2013 | 21.18 million | -3.3% |
| 2014 | 20.84 million | -1.6% |
| 2015 | 21.16 million | +1.5% |
| 2016 | 21.54 million | +1.8% |
| 2017 | 22.02 million | +2.2% |
| 2018 | 22.23 million | +1.0% |
| 2019 | 22.26 million | +0.1% |
| 2020 | 21.93 million | -1.5% |
| 2021 | 22.85 million | +4.2% |
| 2022 | 23.03 million | +0.8% |
| 2023 | 22.50 million | -2.3% |
Spain compared with similar countries
- Spain's 22.50 million is above the median for high income countries, which is 4.12 million, 5.5× the median. (45 countries reporting)
- Spain's 22.50 million is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 3.60 million, 6.2× the median. (38 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 26.10 million | 25.11 million | 27.27 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 21.96 million | 20.84 million | 23.77 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 22.58 million | 21.93 million | 23.03 million | 4 |
Countries ranked near Spain
- 12 Thailand 26.95 million compare
- 13 Republic of Korea 23.04 million compare
- 13 South Korea 23.04 million compare
- 16 Iran (Islamic Republic of) 21.65 million compare
- 17 Philippines 21.02 million compare
- 18 Argentina 19.33 million compare
More environment data for Spain
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly -1.67 Percentage change (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly -1.4 Percentage change (2025)
- Standard Deviation, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Standard Deviation 0.402 °C (2025)
- Temperature change 2.3 °C (2025)
- Wood-based panels — Production, annual growth rate 10.36 % change on previous year (2024)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual -0.4277 % 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 -0.5136 % change on previous year (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is municipal waste generated in Spain?
- Municipal waste generated in Spain was 22.50 million in 2023, according to United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
- What is the highest municipal waste generated recorded in Spain?
- The highest recorded value was 27.27 million in 2003.
- What is the lowest municipal waste generated recorded in Spain?
- The lowest recorded value was 20.84 million in 2014.
- How does Spain rank for municipal waste generated?
- Spain ranks 15th out of 80 countries with data for 2023.
- Is municipal waste generated rising or falling in Spain?
- Over the last ten years it is up 6.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Spain 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 — 24 observations, free to reuse under UN SDG Global Database (open, attribution requested).