Total waste generation, by activity in Iraq
Iraq: Total waste generation, by activity was 18.81 million in 2023. ▲ Rising
Total waste generation, by activity in Iraq, 2005–2023
Source: United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
Analysis
In 2023, total waste generation, by activity in Iraq stood at 18.81 million.
That represents a change of up 0.6% on the previous year and up 47.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, total waste generation, by activity in Iraq peaked at 20.37 million in 2017 and was at its lowest, 5.45 million, in 2005.
Iraq ranks 39th of 78 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 15 years of available data.
Total waste generation, by activity in Iraq, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2005 | 5.45 million | — |
| 2010 | 17.55 million | +222.3% |
| 2011 | 13.24 million | -24.6% |
| 2012 | 13.11 million | -0.9% |
| 2013 | 12.78 million | -2.6% |
| 2014 | 12.30 million | -3.7% |
| 2015 | 14.35 million | +16.6% |
| 2016 | 14.55 million | +1.4% |
| 2017 | 20.37 million | +40.1% |
| 2018 | 18.11 million | -11.1% |
| 2019 | 17.33 million | -4.4% |
| 2020 | 19.71 million | +13.8% |
| 2021 | 17.37 million | -11.9% |
| 2022 | 18.70 million | +7.7% |
| 2023 | 18.81 million | +0.6% |
Iraq compared with similar countries
- Iraq's 18.81 million is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 18.81 million, 1.0× the median. (19 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Total waste generation, by activity in Iraq 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | +222.3% | 5.45 million | 17.55 million |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 5.45 million | 5.45 million | 5.45 million | 1 |
| 2010s | 15.37 million | 12.30 million | 20.37 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 18.65 million | 17.37 million | 19.71 million | 4 |
Countries ranked near Iraq
More environment data for Iraq
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly -38.03 Percentage change (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly -26.27 Percentage change (2025)
- Standard Deviation, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Standard Deviation 0.549 °C (2025)
- Temperature change 1.99 °C (2025)
- Wood-based panels — Production, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2024)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual 2 % 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 6.65 % change on previous year (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is total waste generation, by activity in Iraq?
- Total waste generation, by activity in Iraq was 18.81 million in 2023, according to United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
- What is the highest total waste generation, by activity recorded in Iraq?
- The highest recorded value was 20.37 million in 2017.
- What is the lowest total waste generation, by activity recorded in Iraq?
- The lowest recorded value was 5.45 million in 2005.
- How does Iraq rank for total waste generation, by activity?
- Iraq ranks 39th out of 78 countries with data for 2023.
- Is total waste generation, by activity rising or falling in Iraq?
- Over the last ten years it is up 47.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Iraq 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 — 15 observations, free to reuse under UN SDG Global Database (open, attribution requested).