Recovered paper — Production in Europe

Europe: Recovered paper — Production was 57.94 million t in 2024. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2024)
57.94 million t
Change on year
down 1.2%
Rank
4th
of 29 groups
All-time high
63.27 million t
in 2020
All-time low
5.19 million t
in 1961
Years of data
64
1961–2024

Recovered paper — Production in Europe, 1961–2024

020.0M40.0M60.0M196119922024

Source: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Measured in t.

Analysis

In 2024, recovered paper — production in Europe stood at 57.94 million t.

That represents a change of down 1.2% on the previous year and down 3.7% over ten years.

Over the whole period, recovered paper — production in Europe peaked at 63.27 million t in 2020 and was at its lowest, 5.19 million t, in 1961.

That places Europe 4th out of 29 groups with data for 2024, putting it in the top quarter.

The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.

Recovered paper — Production in Europe, year by year

Annual values for Recovered paper — Production in Europe, 1961 to 2024.
Year t Change
1961 5.19 million t —
1962 5.24 million t +1.0%
1963 5.52 million t +5.3%
1964 6.15 million t +11.5%
1965 6.45 million t +4.8%
1966 6.76 million t +4.9%
1967 7.04 million t +4.1%
1968 7.76 million t +10.2%
1969 8.40 million t +8.3%
1970 10.97 million t +30.5%
1971 11.11 million t +1.3%
1972 12.20 million t +9.8%
1973 13.71 million t +12.4%
1974 14.42 million t +5.2%
1975 13.20 million t -8.5%
1976 14.75 million t +11.7%
1977 15.68 million t +6.3%
1978 16.28 million t +3.9%
1979 17.46 million t +7.2%
1980 17.96 million t +2.8%
1981 18.75 million t +4.4%
1982 18.90 million t +0.8%
1983 19.58 million t +3.6%
1984 20.88 million t +6.6%
1985 21.80 million t +4.4%
1986 22.47 million t +3.1%
1987 24.03 million t +7.0%
1988 25.59 million t +6.5%
1989 27.23 million t +6.4%
1990 27.12 million t -0.4%
1991 28.33 million t +4.5%
1992 27.75 million t -2.0%
1993 28.46 million t +2.5%
1994 31.95 million t +12.3%
1995 33.29 million t +4.2%
1996 34.07 million t +2.3%
1997 34.92 million t +2.5%
1998 37.66 million t +7.8%
1999 40.73 million t +8.2%
2000 44.06 million t +8.2%
2001 45.33 million t +2.9%
2002 47.00 million t +3.7%
2003 48.45 million t +3.1%
2004 52.11 million t +7.6%
2005 55.36 million t +6.3%
2006 57.22 million t +3.4%
2007 58.00 million t +1.4%
2008 57.64 million t -0.6%
2009 55.24 million t -4.2%
2010 56.42 million t +2.1%
2011 55.83 million t -1.0%
2012 59.22 million t +6.1%
2013 59.44 million t +0.4%
2014 60.16 million t +1.2%
2015 60.64 million t +0.8%
2016 60.96 million t +0.5%
2017 61.10 million t +0.2%
2018 62.88 million t +2.9%
2019 63.17 million t +0.5%
2020 63.27 million t +0.1%
2021 62.92 million t -0.5%
2022 60.59 million t -3.7%
2023 58.63 million t -3.2%
2024 57.94 million t -1.2%

Biggest year-on-year movements

Years where Recovered paper — Production in Europe changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.

YearChange FromTo
1970 +30.5% 8.40 million t 10.97 million t

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1960s 6.50 million t 5.19 million t 8.40 million t 9
1970s 13.98 million t 10.97 million t 17.46 million t 10
1980s 21.72 million t 17.96 million t 27.23 million t 10
1990s 32.43 million t 27.12 million t 40.73 million t 10
2000s 52.04 million t 44.06 million t 58.00 million t 10
2010s 59.98 million t 55.83 million t 63.17 million t 10
2020s 60.67 million t 57.94 million t 63.27 million t 5

Countries ranked near Europe

  1. 1 China 73.29 million t compare
  2. 2 China, mainland 69.72 million t compare
  3. 3 United States 40.69 million t compare
  4. 4 Japan 16.66 million t compare
  5. 5 Germany 12.40 million t compare
  6. 6 Republic of Korea 8.11 million t compare
  7. 7 India 8.00 million t compare

See the full ranking of 195 places →

More environment data for Europe

All data for Europe →

Frequently asked questions

What is recovered paper — production in Europe?
Recovered paper — production in Europe was 57.94 million t in 2024, according to Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.
What is the highest recovered paper — production recorded in Europe?
The highest recorded value was 63.27 million t in 2020.
What is the lowest recovered paper — production recorded in Europe?
The lowest recorded value was 5.19 million t in 1961.
How does Europe rank for recovered paper — production?
Europe ranks 4th out of 29 groups with data for 2024.
Is recovered paper — production rising or falling in Europe?
Over the last ten years it is down 3.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this Europe data come from?
The figures come from Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, published as part of Recovered paper — Production. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Recovered paper — Production in Europe. Statizoid, drawing on Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Retrieved 28 September 2026, from https://environment.statizoid.com/stat/recovered-paper-production/europe/

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About this data

Indicator
Recovered paper — Production
Unit
t
Source
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
Licence
CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 IGO (FAO)
Coverage
195 places, 7,959 data points, 1961–2024
Last refreshed

The database contains data on the production and trade in roundwood and in primary wood and paper products for all countries and territories in the world.The main types of primary forest products included in this database are roundwood, sawnwood, wood-based panels, pulp, and paper and paperboard. These products are detailed further and defined in the Joint Forest Sector Questionnaire (JFSQ) (https://www.fao.org/statistics/data-collection/forestry/en). The database contains details of the following topics: - roundwood removals (production) by coniferous and non-coniferous wood and assortments, - production and trade in industrial roundwood, sawnwood, wood-based panels, wood charcoal, pulp, paper and paperboard, and other products. More detailed information on wood products, including definitions, can be found at: https://www.fao.org/statistics/data-collection/forestry/en