Total waste generation in France
France: Total waste generation was 2.48 million tonnes in 2022. ▲ Rising
Total waste generation in France, 2004–2022
Source: United Nations Statistics Division and United Nations Environment Programme – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in tonnes.
Analysis
In 2022, total waste generation in France stood at 2.48 million tonnes. That is the highest value across all 10 years on record.
The figure is up 0.7% on the previous year and up 92.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, total waste generation in France peaked at 2.48 million tonnes in 2022 and was at its lowest, 1.22 million tonnes, in 2004.
France ranks 11th of 62 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 10 years of available data.
Total waste generation in France, year by year
| Year | tonnes | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2004 | 1.22 million tonnes | — |
| 2006 | 1.22 million tonnes | +0.0% |
| 2008 | 1.31 million tonnes | +7.4% |
| 2010 | 1.37 million tonnes | +4.5% |
| 2012 | 1.29 million tonnes | -5.9% |
| 2014 | 1.27 million tonnes | -1.2% |
| 2016 | 1.30 million tonnes | +2.3% |
| 2018 | 1.31 million tonnes | +0.5% |
| 2020 | 2.46 million tonnes | +88.0% |
| 2022 | 2.48 million tonnes | +0.7% |
France compared with similar countries
- France's 2.48 million tonnes is above the median for high income countries, which is 293,977 tonnes, 8.4× the median. (39 countries reporting)
- France's 2.48 million tonnes is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 289,947 tonnes, 8.6× the median. (45 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 1.25 million tonnes | 1.22 million tonnes | 1.31 million tonnes | 3 |
| 2010s | 1.31 million tonnes | 1.27 million tonnes | 1.37 million tonnes | 5 |
| 2020s | 2.47 million tonnes | 2.46 million tonnes | 2.48 million tonnes | 2 |
Countries ranked near France
More environment data for France
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly -2.44 Percentage change (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly -3.44 Percentage change (2025)
- Standard Deviation, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Standard Deviation 0.427 °C (2025)
- Temperature change 2.31 °C (2025)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual -3.23 % 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 -0.1777 % change on previous year (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Agriculture (Mt CO2e), per unit of GDP 0 Mt CO2e per US$ of GDP (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is total waste generation in France?
- Total waste generation in France was 2.48 million tonnes in 2022, according to United Nations Statistics Division and United Nations Environment Programme – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest total waste generation recorded in France?
- The highest recorded value was 2.48 million tonnes in 2022.
- What is the lowest total waste generation recorded in France?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.22 million tonnes in 2004.
- How does France rank for total waste generation?
- France ranks 11th out of 62 countries with data for 2022.
- Is total waste generation rising or falling in France?
- Over the last ten years it is up 92.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this France data come from?
- The figures come from United Nations Statistics Division and United Nations Environment Programme – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Total waste generation. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 10 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Total waste generation, by activity (Tonnes).