Total waste generation in Romania

Romania: Total waste generation was 637,561 tonnes in 2022. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2022)
637,561 tonnes
Change on year
down 11.5%
World rank
21st
of 62 countries
All-time high
21.02 million tonnes
in 2004
All-time low
470,756 tonnes
in 2012
Years of data
10
2004–2022

Total waste generation in Romania, 2004–2022

05.0M10.0M15.0M20.0M2004201320222004: 21.0M tonnes2006: 21.0M tonnes2008: 19.2M tonnes2010: 608.1k tonnes2012: 470.8k tonnes2014: 559.6k tonnes2016: 507.7k tonnes2018: 584.6k tonnes2020: 720.1k tonnes2022: 637.6k tonnes

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 Romania is 637,561 tonnes, measured in 2022.

Compared with earlier readings it is down 11.5% on the previous year and up 35.4% over ten years.

Over the whole period, total waste generation in Romania peaked at 21.02 million tonnes in 2004 and was at its lowest, 470,756 tonnes, in 2012.

Romania ranks 21st of 62 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.

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

Total waste generation in Romania, year by year

Annual values for Total waste generation in Romania, 2004 to 2022.
Year tonnes Change
2004 21.02 million tonnes
2006 21.02 million tonnes +0.0%
2008 19.20 million tonnes -8.6%
2010 608,062 tonnes -96.8%
2012 470,756 tonnes -22.6%
2014 559,573 tonnes +18.9%
2016 507,712 tonnes -9.3%
2018 584,619 tonnes +15.1%
2020 720,130 tonnes +23.2%
2022 637,561 tonnes -11.5%

Romania compared with similar countries

  • Romania's 637,561 tonnes is above the median for high income countries, which is 293,977 tonnes, 2.2× the median. (39 countries reporting)
  • Romania's 637,561 tonnes is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 289,947 tonnes, 2.2× the median. (45 countries reporting)

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 20.41 million tonnes 19.20 million tonnes 21.02 million tonnes 3
2010s 546,144 tonnes 470,756 tonnes 608,062 tonnes 5
2020s 678,846 tonnes 637,561 tonnes 720,130 tonnes 2

Countries ranked near Romania

  1. 18 Kuwait 706,000 tonnes compare
  2. 19 Belarus 681,150 tonnes compare
  3. 20 Croatia 646,525 tonnes compare
  4. 22 United Kingdom 616,865 tonnes compare
  5. 23 Cyprus 608,239 tonnes compare
  6. 24 Slovakia 460,583 tonnes compare

See the full ranking of 62 places →

More environment data for Romania

All data for Romania →

Frequently asked questions

What is total waste generation in Romania?
Total waste generation in Romania was 637,561 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 Romania?
The highest recorded value was 21.02 million tonnes in 2004.
What is the lowest total waste generation recorded in Romania?
The lowest recorded value was 470,756 tonnes in 2012.
How does Romania rank for total waste generation?
Romania ranks 21st out of 62 countries with data for 2022.
Is total waste generation rising or falling in Romania?
Over the last ten years it is up 35.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this Romania 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.

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Total waste generation in Romania. Statizoid, drawing on United Nations Statistics Division and United Nations Environment Programme – processed by Our World in Data. Retrieved 23 September 2026, from https://environment.statizoid.com/stat/total-waste-generation/romania/

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About this data

Indicator
Total waste generation
Unit
tonnes
Source
United Nations Statistics Division and United Nations Environment Programme – processed by Our World in Data
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage
62 places, 757 data points, 2000–2023
Last refreshed

Total waste generation, by activity (Tonnes).