Recovered paper — Production in United States

United States: Recovered paper — Production was 40.69 million t in 2024. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2024)
40.69 million t
Change on year
down 1.1%
World rank
3rd
of 166 countries
All-time high
47.97 million t
in 2011
All-time low
7.93 million t
in 1963
Years of data
64
1961–2024

Recovered paper — Production in United States, 1961–2024

10.0M20.0M30.0M40.0M50.0M196119922024

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

Analysis

The most recent figure for recovered paper — production in United States is 40.69 million t, measured in 2024.

Compared with earlier readings it is down 1.1% on the previous year and down 12.3% over ten years.

Over the whole period, recovered paper — production in United States peaked at 47.97 million t in 2011 and was at its lowest, 7.93 million t, in 1963.

That places United States 3rd out of 166 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the top 10%.

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

Recovered paper — Production in United States, year by year

Annual values for Recovered paper — Production in United States, 1961 to 2024.
Year t Change
1961 8.40 million t —
1962 8.40 million t +0.0%
1963 7.93 million t -5.7%
1964 7.93 million t +0.0%
1965 7.93 million t +0.0%
1966 9.12 million t +15.0%
1967 8.85 million t -3.0%
1968 9.40 million t +6.2%
1969 9.40 million t +0.0%
1970 11.30 million t +20.2%
1971 11.60 million t +2.6%
1972 12.35 million t +6.5%
1973 13.66 million t +10.6%
1974 14.12 million t +3.3%
1975 11.72 million t -17.0%
1976 13.99 million t +19.3%
1977 14.83 million t +6.0%
1978 15.10 million t +1.8%
1979 14.08 million t -6.8%
1980 16.30 million t +15.8%
1981 16.06 million t -1.5%
1982 15.42 million t -4.0%
1983 16.87 million t +9.4%
1984 18.42 million t +9.2%
1985 18.19 million t -1.3%
1986 20.03 million t +10.1%
1987 21.32 million t +6.4%
1988 23.18 million t +8.7%
1989 24.95 million t +7.7%
1990 26.39 million t +5.8%
1991 28.20 million t +6.8%
1992 30.48 million t +8.1%
1993 32.45 million t +6.5%
1994 36.20 million t +11.5%
1995 38.50 million t +6.4%
1996 39.30 million t +2.1%
1997 40.10 million t +2.0%
1998 41.10 million t +2.5%
1999 41.10 million t +0.0%
2000 43.37 million t +5.5%
2001 41.21 million t -5.0%
2002 41.60 million t +0.9%
2003 43.03 million t +3.5%
2004 44.08 million t +2.4%
2005 45.06 million t +2.2%
2006 46.60 million t +3.4%
2007 47.76 million t +2.5%
2008 47.11 million t -1.4%
2009 45.49 million t -3.4%
2010 46.86 million t +3.0%
2011 47.97 million t +2.4%
2012 46.45 million t -3.2%
2013 45.48 million t -2.1%
2014 46.42 million t +2.1%
2015 47.21 million t +1.7%
2016 47.63 million t +0.9%
2017 47.63 million t +0.0%
2018 47.79 million t +0.3%
2019 44.70 million t -6.5%
2020 42.20 million t -5.6%
2021 45.00 million t +6.6%
2022 44.83 million t -0.4%
2023 41.15 million t -8.2%
2024 40.69 million t -1.1%

United States compared with similar countries

  • United States's 40.69 million t is above the median for high income countries, which is 320,000 t, 127.2× the median. (57 countries reporting)

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1960s 8.60 million t 7.93 million t 9.40 million t 9
1970s 13.28 million t 11.30 million t 15.10 million t 10
1980s 19.07 million t 15.42 million t 24.95 million t 10
1990s 35.38 million t 26.39 million t 41.10 million t 10
2000s 44.53 million t 41.21 million t 47.76 million t 10
2010s 46.81 million t 44.70 million t 47.97 million t 10
2020s 42.77 million t 40.69 million t 45.00 million t 5

Countries ranked near United States

  1. 1 China 73.29 million t compare
  2. 2 China, mainland 69.72 million t compare
  3. 4 Japan 16.66 million t compare
  4. 5 Germany 12.40 million t compare
  5. 6 Republic of Korea 8.11 million t compare

See the full ranking of 195 places →

More environment data for United States

All data for United States →

Frequently asked questions

What is recovered paper — production in United States?
Recovered paper — production in United States was 40.69 million t in 2024, according to Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.
What is the highest recovered paper — production recorded in United States?
The highest recorded value was 47.97 million t in 2011.
What is the lowest recovered paper — production recorded in United States?
The lowest recorded value was 7.93 million t in 1963.
How does United States rank for recovered paper — production?
United States ranks 3rd out of 166 countries with data for 2024.
Is recovered paper — production rising or falling in United States?
Over the last ten years it is down 12.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this United States 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 United States. Statizoid, drawing on Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Retrieved 27 September 2026, from https://environment.statizoid.com/stat/recovered-paper-production/united-states/

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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