Total waste generation in Sweden
Sweden: Total waste generation was 1.54 million tonnes in 2022. ◆ Volatile
Total waste generation in Sweden, 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 Sweden stood at 1.54 million tonnes. That is the highest value across all 10 years on record.
The figure is up 47.3% on the previous year and up 464.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, total waste generation in Sweden peaked at 1.54 million tonnes in 2022 and was at its lowest, 273,071 tonnes, in 2012.
Sweden ranks 13th of 62 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Total waste generation in Sweden, year by year
| Year | tonnes | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2004 | 314,317 tonnes | — |
| 2006 | 314,317 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 2008 | 314,314 tonnes | -0.0% |
| 2010 | 308,946 tonnes | -1.7% |
| 2012 | 273,071 tonnes | -11.6% |
| 2014 | 655,374 tonnes | +140.0% |
| 2016 | 804,382 tonnes | +22.7% |
| 2018 | 962,141 tonnes | +19.6% |
| 2020 | 1.05 million tonnes | +8.7% |
| 2022 | 1.54 million tonnes | +47.3% |
Sweden compared with similar countries
- Sweden's 1.54 million tonnes is above the median for high income countries, which is 293,977 tonnes, 5.2× the median. (39 countries reporting)
- Sweden's 1.54 million tonnes is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 289,947 tonnes, 5.3× the median. (45 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 314,316 tonnes | 314,314 tonnes | 314,317 tonnes | 3 |
| 2010s | 600,783 tonnes | 273,071 tonnes | 962,141 tonnes | 5 |
| 2020s | 1.29 million tonnes | 1.05 million tonnes | 1.54 million tonnes | 2 |
Countries ranked near Sweden
More environment data for Sweden
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly 1.1 Percentage change (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly -2.12 Percentage change (2025)
- Standard Deviation, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Standard Deviation 0.852 °C (2025)
- Temperature change 2.72 °C (2025)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual 2.27 % 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 -0.0922 % 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 Sweden?
- Total waste generation in Sweden was 1.54 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 Sweden?
- The highest recorded value was 1.54 million tonnes in 2022.
- What is the lowest total waste generation recorded in Sweden?
- The lowest recorded value was 273,071 tonnes in 2012.
- How does Sweden rank for total waste generation?
- Sweden ranks 13th out of 62 countries with data for 2022.
- Is total waste generation rising or falling in Sweden?
- Over the last ten years it is up 464.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Sweden 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).