Total waste generation, by activity in Ghana
Ghana: Total waste generation, by activity was 4.11 million in 2017. ▲ Rising
Total waste generation, by activity in Ghana, 2000–2017
Source: United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
Analysis
The most recent figure for total waste generation, by activity in Ghana is 4.11 million, measured in 2017.
That represents a change of up 2.5% on the previous year and down 69.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, total waste generation, by activity in Ghana peaked at 19.75 million in 2015 and was at its lowest, 4.01 million, in 2016.
That places Ghana 49th out of 78 countries with data for 2017, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 18 years of available data.
Total waste generation, by activity in Ghana, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 8.44 million | — |
| 2001 | 8.76 million | +3.8% |
| 2002 | 10.06 million | +14.8% |
| 2003 | 10.10 million | +0.4% |
| 2004 | 8.71 million | -13.8% |
| 2005 | 10.33 million | +18.7% |
| 2006 | 10.59 million | +2.5% |
| 2007 | 13.42 million | +26.6% |
| 2008 | 13.76 million | +2.6% |
| 2009 | 16.63 million | +20.8% |
| 2010 | 15.74 million | -5.4% |
| 2011 | 17.55 million | +11.6% |
| 2012 | 18.43 million | +5.0% |
| 2013 | 18.68 million | +1.3% |
| 2014 | 19.17 million | +2.7% |
| 2015 | 19.75 million | +3.0% |
| 2016 | 4.01 million | -79.7% |
| 2017 | 4.11 million | +2.5% |
Ghana compared with similar countries
- Ghana's 4.11 million is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 3.11 million, 1.3× the median. (6 countries reporting)
- Ghana's 4.11 million is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 1.38 million, 3.0× the median. (5 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Total waste generation, by activity in Ghana 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.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | -79.7% | 19.75 million | 4.01 million |
| 2007 | +26.6% | 10.59 million | 13.42 million |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 11.08 million | 8.44 million | 16.63 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 14.68 million | 4.01 million | 19.75 million | 8 |
Countries ranked near Ghana
More environment data for Ghana
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly -13.57 Percentage change (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly -11.89 Percentage change (2025)
- Standard Deviation, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Standard Deviation 0.26 °C (2025)
- Temperature change 1.34 °C (2025)
- Wood-based panels — Production, annual growth rate -27.43 % change on previous year (2024)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual 2.72 % change on previous year (2024)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), per unit 0 Mt CO2e per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), per capita 0 Mt CO2e per person (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Agriculture (Mt CO2e), annual growth rate 0.8796 % change on previous year (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is total waste generation, by activity in Ghana?
- Total waste generation, by activity in Ghana was 4.11 million in 2017, according to United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
- What is the highest total waste generation, by activity recorded in Ghana?
- The highest recorded value was 19.75 million in 2015.
- What is the lowest total waste generation, by activity recorded in Ghana?
- The lowest recorded value was 4.01 million in 2016.
- How does Ghana rank for total waste generation, by activity?
- Ghana ranks 49th out of 78 countries with data for 2017.
- Is total waste generation, by activity rising or falling in Ghana?
- Over the last ten years it is down 69.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Ghana data come from?
- The figures come from United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database, published as part of Total waste generation, by activity (Tonnes). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 18 observations, free to reuse under UN SDG Global Database (open, attribution requested).