Municipal waste recycled (Tonnes) by country
Countries reporting
85
Highest
1.33 billion
South Africa
Lowest
51.8
Saint Kitts and Nevis
Median
656,000
Years covered
25
2000–2024
Data points
1,587
What the numbers show
Municipal waste recycled (Tonnes) is currently reported for 85 countries. The highest value is 1.33 billion in South Africa; the lowest is 51.8 in Saint Kitts and Nevis.
The median across all reporting countries is 656,000, and the mean is 18.91 million.
Over the past decade 65 countries rose and 14 fell. The largest increase was in Kazakhstan (up 3,443.1%), and the largest decrease in Bangladesh (down 94.1%).
Municipal waste recycled: full country ranking
| # | Country | Latest | Year | 10-year change | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | South Africa | 1.33 billion | 2023 | down 28.4% | volatile |
| 2 | United States | 62.68 million | 2018 | up 11.5% | rising |
| 3 | Germany | 35.04 million | 2023 | up 10.8% | rising |
| 4 | Italy | 14.66 million | 2023 | up 25.8% | rising |
| 5 | France | 14.51 million | 2023 | up 9.6% | rising |
| 6 | South Korea | 13.17 million | 2022 | up 26.2% | rising |
| 6 | Republic of Korea | 13.17 million | 2022 | up 26.2% | rising |
| 8 | Spain | 9.32 million | 2023 | up 35.3% | rising |
| 9 | Thailand | 9.31 million | 2023 | up 85.5% | rising |
| 10 | Japan | 8.04 million | 2021 | down 12.2% | falling |
| 11 | United Kingdom | 7.66 million | 2023 | down 9.5% | rising |
| 11 | United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland | 7.66 million | 2023 | down 9.5% | rising |
| 13 | Canada | 6.75 million | 2020 | up 14.7% | rising |
| 14 | Malaysia | 5.40 million | 2023 | up 241.9% | volatile |
| 15 | Netherlands (Kingdom of the) | 4.88 million | 2023 | up 10.8% | rising |
| 16 | Belgium | 4.53 million | 2023 | up 76.1% | rising |
| 17 | Austria | 4.48 million | 2023 | up 58.5% | rising |
| 18 | Turkey | 4.32 million | 2021 | up 39.7% | rising |
| 18 | Türkiye | 4.32 million | 2021 | up 39.7% | rising |
| 20 | Singapore | 3.83 million | 2021 | down 4.3% | rising |
| 21 | Poland | 3.71 million | 2023 | up 116.6% | volatile |
| 22 | Switzerland | 3.14 million | 2023 | up 7.8% | rising |
| 23 | Czechia | 2.54 million | 2023 | up 225.2% | volatile |
| 24 | Australia | 2.35 million | 2023 | down 44.4% | falling |
| 25 | Denmark | 2.10 million | 2023 | up 6.6% | rising |
| 26 | Mexico | 2.10 million | 2012 | up 169.1% | rising |
| 27 | Colombia | 1.90 million | 2016 | — | rising |
| 28 | Norway | 1.67 million | 2023 | up 69.0% | rising |
| 29 | Portugal | 1.63 million | 2023 | up 37.4% | rising |
| 30 | Sweden | 1.63 million | 2023 | down 22.8% | rising |
| 31 | Belarus | 1.41 million | 2023 | up 220.1% | volatile |
| 32 | Hungary | 1.38 million | 2023 | up 39.3% | volatile |
| 33 | Oman | 1.36 million | 2024 | — | rising |
| 34 | Ireland | 1.31 million | 2020 | up 28.8% | rising |
| 35 | Slovakia | 1.29 million | 2023 | up 628.2% | volatile |
| 36 | Finland | 1.17 million | 2023 | up 34.2% | rising |
| 37 | Kuwait | 1.15 million | 2023 | down 43.3% | rising |
| 38 | Argentina | 1.04 million | 2022 | up 26.8% | rising |
| 39 | Brazil | 1.02 million | 2015 | up 219.3% | volatile |
| 40 | Greece | 948,000 | 2023 | up 13.7% | rising |
| 41 | Romania | 722,000 | 2023 | up 7.8% | volatile |
| 42 | Croatia | 660,000 | 2023 | up 156.8% | volatile |
| 43 | Slovenia | 656,000 | 2023 | up 120.9% | volatile |
| 44 | United Arab Emirates | 650,901 | 2023 | up 28.3% | falling |
| 45 | Lithuania | 632,000 | 2023 | up 77.5% | volatile |
| 46 | Morocco | 581,712 | 2015 | up 347.5% | rising |
| 47 | Kazakhstan | 566,900 | 2023 | up 3,443.1% | volatile |
| 48 | Bahrain | 560,136 | 2021 | — | volatile |
| 49 | Bulgaria | 526,000 | 2023 | down 41.2% | rising |
| 50 | Serbia | 469,000 | 2023 | up 1,776.0% | volatile |
| 51 | Israel | 467,388 | 2023 | up 32.2% | falling |
| 52 | Latvia | 443,000 | 2022 | up 361.5% | volatile |
| 53 | Niger | 390,000 | 2005 | up 41.9% | rising |
| 54 | Cuba | 295,300 | 2020 | up 45.1% | flat |
| 55 | Luxembourg | 270,000 | 2023 | up 74.2% | rising |
| 56 | Qatar | 224,000 | 2023 | up 91.5% | rising |
| 57 | Ghana | 205,662 | 2017 | up 165.4% | volatile |
| 58 | Estonia | 194,000 | 2023 | up 185.3% | rising |
| 59 | Réunion | 162,891 | 2021 | up 63.8% | volatile |
| 59 | Reunion | 162,891 | 2021 | up 63.8% | volatile |
| 61 | Costa Rica | 142,200 | 2023 | up 708.0% | volatile |
| 62 | Cyprus | 100,000 | 2023 | up 31.6% | volatile |
| 63 | Barbados | 84,068 | 2021 | up 60.0% | volatile |
| 64 | Peru | 80,251 | 2021 | up 366.9% | volatile |
| 65 | Iceland | 71,000 | 2023 | up 42.0% | rising |
| 66 | Chile | 60,024 | 2023 | up 584.4% | volatile |
| 67 | Malta | 58,000 | 2023 | up 81.2% | rising |
| 68 | State of Palestine | 54,800 | 2022 | up 265.3% | volatile |
| 69 | Guadeloupe | 34,854 | 2021 | up 631.8% | volatile |
| 70 | Bangladesh | 33,550 | 2021 | down 94.1% | volatile |
| 71 | Martinique | 21,463 | 2021 | up 216.2% | volatile |
| 72 | Guatemala | 15,400 | 2006 | up 22.2% | rising |
| 73 | Ukraine | 14,900 | 2023 | up 58.5% | volatile |
| 74 | Curacao | 14,193 | 2017 | down 23.1% | volatile |
| 74 | Curaçao | 14,193 | 2017 | down 23.1% | volatile |
| 76 | Mauritius | 13,900 | 2021 | up 15.8% | rising |
| 77 | Montenegro | 13,000 | 2023 | up 8.3% | falling |
| 78 | Bosnia and Herzegovina | 12,000 | 2023 | — | volatile |
| 79 | French Guiana | 4,413 | 2019 | up 427.9% | volatile |
| 80 | United Republic of Tanzania | 3,291 | 2015 | up 111.0% | rising |
| 81 | Suriname | 2,300 | 2023 | down 8.4% | rising |
| 82 | Dominica | 1,000 | 2016 | up 300.0% | rising |
| 83 | Bermuda | 400 | 2019 | down 74.7% | falling |
| 84 | French Polynesia | 250 | 2015 | — | volatile |
| 85 | Saint Kitts and Nevis | 51.8 | 2023 | — | volatile |
Regions and income groups
Aggregates are excluded from the country ranking above so that a region can never outrank a country.
- United States of America 62.68 million
- China, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region 1.97 million
- China, Macao Special Administrative Region 20,710