Packaging waste by waste management operations by country
Countries reporting
38
Highest
17.92 million Tonne
Germany
Lowest
7,256 Tonne
Liechtenstein
Median
818,005 Tonne
Years covered
27
1997β2023
Data points
846
What the numbers show
Packaging waste by waste management operations is currently reported for 38 countries. The highest value is 17.92 million Tonne in Germany; the lowest is 7,256 Tonne in Liechtenstein.
The median across all reporting countries is 818,005 Tonne, and the mean is 2.44 million Tonne.
The gap between the highest and lowest reporting country is a factor of about 2,470.
Over the past decade 35 countries rose and 3 fell. The largest increase was in Romania (up 126.7%), and the largest decrease in Estonia (down 14.8%).
Packaging waste by waste management operations: full country ranking
| # | Country | Latest | Year | 10-year change | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Germany | 17.92 million Tonne | 2023 | up 4.6% | rising |
| 2 | Italy | 12.95 million Tonne | 2023 | up 13.0% | rising |
| 3 | France | 11.82 million Tonne | 2023 | down 2.6% | rising |
| 4 | Spain | 8.66 million Tonne | 2023 | up 29.4% | rising |
| 5 | Poland | 6.71 million Tonne | 2022 | up 43.6% | rising |
| 5 | Poland | 6.71 million Tonne | 2022 | up 43.6% | rising |
| 7 | Netherlands | 3.01 million Tonne | 2023 | up 7.1% | rising |
| 7 | Netherlands | 3.01 million Tonne | 2023 | up 7.1% | rising |
| 9 | Romania | 2.39 million Tonne | 2023 | up 126.7% | rising |
| 10 | Belgium | 1.96 million Tonne | 2023 | up 13.0% | rising |
| 11 | Portugal | 1.94 million Tonne | 2023 | up 24.7% | rising |
| 12 | Hungary | 1.60 million Tonne | 2022 | up 57.9% | rising |
| 13 | Austria | 1.39 million Tonne | 2023 | up 9.4% | rising |
| 14 | Czechia | 1.37 million Tonne | 2023 | up 36.0% | rising |
| 15 | Sweden | 1.32 million Tonne | 2023 | up 25.9% | rising |
| 16 | Ireland | 1.19 million Tonne | 2023 | up 36.2% | rising |
| 17 | Denmark | 1.14 million Tonne | 2023 | up 28.1% | rising |
| 18 | Greece | 1.12 million Tonne | 2023 | up 49.5% | flat |
| 19 | Finland | 856,901 Tonne | 2023 | up 19.6% | rising |
| 20 | Norway | 779,109 Tonne | 2023 | up 5.3% | rising |
| 21 | Slovakia | 564,052 Tonne | 2023 | up 27.4% | rising |
| 21 | Slovakia | 564,052 Tonne | 2023 | up 27.4% | rising |
| 23 | Bulgaria | 523,187 Tonne | 2022 | up 59.1% | rising |
| 24 | Lithuania | 402,076 Tonne | 2023 | up 25.7% | rising |
| 24 | Lithuania | 402,076 Tonne | 2023 | up 25.7% | rising |
| 26 | Croatia | 316,899 Tonne | 2022 | up 59.6% | rising |
| 26 | Croatia | 316,899 Tonne | 2022 | up 59.6% | rising |
| 28 | Slovenia | 293,768 Tonne | 2023 | up 46.6% | rising |
| 28 | Slovenia | 293,768 Tonne | 2023 | up 46.6% | rising |
| 30 | Latvia | 272,665 Tonne | 2023 | up 18.9% | rising |
| 30 | Latvia | 272,665 Tonne | 2023 | up 18.9% | rising |
| 32 | Estonia | 190,813 Tonne | 2023 | down 14.8% | rising |
| 32 | Estonia | 190,813 Tonne | 2023 | down 14.8% | rising |
| 34 | Luxembourg | 136,281 Tonne | 2023 | up 21.7% | rising |
| 35 | Cyprus | 101,107 Tonne | 2023 | up 28.5% | falling |
| 36 | Malta | 97,040 Tonne | 2023 | up 70.2% | rising |
| 37 | Iceland | 65,688 Tonne | 2023 | up 37.5% | rising |
| 38 | Liechtenstein | 7,256 Tonne | 2023 | up 28.8% | rising |
Regions and income groups
Aggregates are excluded from the country ranking above so that a region can never outrank a country.
- European Union - 27 countries (from 2020) 79.77 million Tonne