Municipal waste recycled in South Africa
South Africa: Municipal waste recycled was 1.33 billion in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2023)
1.33 billion
Change on year
down 9.2%
World rank
1st
of 82 countries
All-time high
3.44 billion
in 2019
All-time low
260,566
in 2005
Years of data
8
2005–2023
Municipal waste recycled in South Africa, 2005–2023
Source: United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
Analysis
South Africa recorded 1.33 billion for municipal waste recycled in 2023.
That represents a change of down 9.2% on the previous year and down 28.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, municipal waste recycled in South Africa peaked at 3.44 billion in 2019 and was at its lowest, 260,566, in 2005.
South Africa ranks 1st of 82 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
Municipal waste recycled in South Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2005 | 260,566 | — |
| 2006 | 520,844 | +99.9% |
| 2018 | 1.86 billion | +356112.2% |
| 2019 | 3.44 billion | +85.6% |
| 2020 | 1.02 billion | -70.2% |
| 2021 | 2.22 billion | +116.5% |
| 2022 | 1.46 billion | -34.0% |
| 2023 | 1.33 billion | -9.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 390,705 | 260,566 | 520,844 | 2 |
| 2010s | 2.65 billion | 1.86 billion | 3.44 billion | 2 |
| 2020s | 1.51 billion | 1.02 billion | 2.22 billion | 4 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
More environment data for South Africa
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly 5.46 Percentage change (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly 8.52 Percentage change (2025)
- Standard Deviation, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Standard Deviation 0.275 °C (2025)
- Temperature change 1.05 °C (2025)
- Other paper and paperboard, not elsewhere specified — Import -37.67 % change on previous year (2024)
- Other paper and paperboard, not elsewhere specified — Import 0.0001 t per person (2024)
- Exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly -11.78 Percentage change (2024)
- Exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly -12.27 Percentage change (2024)
- Other paper and paperboard, not elsewhere specified — Import value -6.69 % change on previous year (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is municipal waste recycled in South Africa?
- Municipal waste recycled in South Africa was 1.33 billion in 2023, according to United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
- What is the highest municipal waste recycled recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 3.44 billion in 2019.
- What is the lowest municipal waste recycled recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 260,566 in 2005.
- How does South Africa rank for municipal waste recycled?
- South Africa ranks 1st out of 82 countries with data for 2023.
- Is municipal waste recycled rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 28.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database, published as part of Municipal waste recycled (Tonnes). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 8 observations, free to reuse under UN SDG Global Database (open, attribution requested).