Total waste generation in Russia
Russia: Total waste generation was 16.41 million tonnes in 2023. ▲ Rising
Total waste generation in Russia, 2004–2023
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 Russia is 16.41 million tonnes, measured in 2023.
The figure is down 64.1% on the previous year and down 59.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, total waste generation in Russia peaked at 77.48 million tonnes in 2009 and was at its lowest, 14.34 million tonnes, in 2005.
That places Russia 5th out of 62 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 20 years of available data.
Total waste generation in Russia, year by year
| Year | tonnes | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2004 | 15.15 million tonnes | — |
| 2005 | 14.34 million tonnes | -5.4% |
| 2006 | 17.53 million tonnes | +22.3% |
| 2007 | 26.65 million tonnes | +52.0% |
| 2008 | 68.03 million tonnes | +155.2% |
| 2009 | 77.48 million tonnes | +13.9% |
| 2010 | 24.07 million tonnes | -68.9% |
| 2011 | 27.55 million tonnes | +14.5% |
| 2012 | 26.20 million tonnes | -4.9% |
| 2013 | 40.41 million tonnes | +54.3% |
| 2014 | 43.13 million tonnes | +6.8% |
| 2015 | 45.82 million tonnes | +6.2% |
| 2016 | 49.24 million tonnes | +7.5% |
| 2017 | 41.50 million tonnes | -15.7% |
| 2018 | 42.77 million tonnes | +3.1% |
| 2019 | 47.66 million tonnes | +11.4% |
| 2020 | 45.16 million tonnes | -5.3% |
| 2021 | 50.62 million tonnes | +12.1% |
| 2022 | 45.72 million tonnes | -9.7% |
| 2023 | 16.41 million tonnes | -64.1% |
Russia compared with similar countries
- Russia's 16.41 million tonnes is above the median for high income countries, which is 293,977 tonnes, 55.8× the median. (39 countries reporting)
- Russia's 16.41 million tonnes is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 289,947 tonnes, 56.6× the median. (45 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Total waste generation in Russia 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | +155.2% | 26.65 million tonnes | 68.03 million tonnes |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 36.53 million tonnes | 14.34 million tonnes | 77.48 million tonnes | 6 |
| 2010s | 38.84 million tonnes | 24.07 million tonnes | 49.24 million tonnes | 10 |
| 2020s | 39.48 million tonnes | 16.41 million tonnes | 50.62 million tonnes | 4 |
Countries ranked near Russia
More environment data for Russia
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly -1.76 Percentage change (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly -3.18 Percentage change (2025)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual 2.5 % 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 -1.96 % change on previous year (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Agriculture (Mt CO2e), per unit of GDP 0 Mt CO2e per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Agriculture (Mt CO2e), per capita 0 Mt CO2e per person (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Building (Energy) (Mt CO2e), annual 0.5219 % change on previous year (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Building (Energy) (Mt CO2e), per unit of 0 Mt CO2e per US$ of GDP (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is total waste generation in Russia?
- Total waste generation in Russia was 16.41 million tonnes in 2023, 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 Russia?
- The highest recorded value was 77.48 million tonnes in 2009.
- What is the lowest total waste generation recorded in Russia?
- The lowest recorded value was 14.34 million tonnes in 2005.
- How does Russia rank for total waste generation?
- Russia ranks 5th out of 62 countries with data for 2023.
- Is total waste generation rising or falling in Russia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 59.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Russia 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 — 20 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Total waste generation, by activity (Tonnes).