Total waste generation in Italy
Italy: Total waste generation was 328,210 tonnes in 2022. ▼ Falling
Total waste generation in Italy, 2004–2022
Source: United Nations Statistics Division and United Nations Environment Programme – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in tonnes.
Analysis
The most recent figure for total waste generation in Italy is 328,210 tonnes, measured in 2022.
That represents a change of down 5.8% on the previous year and down 19.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, total waste generation in Italy peaked at 615,288 tonnes in 2004 and was at its lowest, 310,912 tonnes, in 2010.
Italy ranks 27th of 62 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 10 years of available data.
Total waste generation in Italy, year by year
| Year | tonnes | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2004 | 615,288 tonnes | — |
| 2006 | 558,481 tonnes | -9.2% |
| 2008 | 349,096 tonnes | -37.5% |
| 2010 | 310,912 tonnes | -10.9% |
| 2012 | 407,979 tonnes | +31.2% |
| 2014 | 323,518 tonnes | -20.7% |
| 2016 | 320,928 tonnes | -0.8% |
| 2018 | 332,554 tonnes | +3.6% |
| 2020 | 348,501 tonnes | +4.8% |
| 2022 | 328,210 tonnes | -5.8% |
Italy compared with similar countries
- Italy's 328,210 tonnes is above the median for high income countries, which is 293,977 tonnes, 1.1× the median. (39 countries reporting)
- Italy's 328,210 tonnes is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 289,947 tonnes, 1.1× the median. (45 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 507,622 tonnes | 349,096 tonnes | 615,288 tonnes | 3 |
| 2010s | 339,178 tonnes | 310,912 tonnes | 407,979 tonnes | 5 |
| 2020s | 338,356 tonnes | 328,210 tonnes | 348,501 tonnes | 2 |
Countries ranked near Italy
More environment data for Italy
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly 2.04 Percentage change (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly 2.47 Percentage change (2025)
- Standard Deviation, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Standard Deviation 0.324 °C (2025)
- Temperature change 2.18 °C (2025)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual -1.94 % 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 -0.2257 % 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 Italy?
- Total waste generation in Italy was 328,210 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 Italy?
- The highest recorded value was 615,288 tonnes in 2004.
- What is the lowest total waste generation recorded in Italy?
- The lowest recorded value was 310,912 tonnes in 2010.
- How does Italy rank for total waste generation?
- Italy ranks 27th out of 62 countries with data for 2022.
- Is total waste generation rising or falling in Italy?
- Over the last ten years it is down 19.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Italy 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).