Australia vs South Africa: Beach litter

Australia
150,188 number
in 2022
South Africa
122,938 number
in 2022
Australia rank
47th
South Africa rank
50th

Beach litter over time

  • Australia
  • South Africa
0250.0k500.0k750.0k1.0M201520182022

How they compare

Australia currently reports 150,188 number against 122,938 number in South Africa, a difference of 27,250 number.

That makes Australia's figure about 1.2 times South Africa's.

The two have swapped places 1 time across 6 shared years of data; in 2015 it was South Africa ahead.

Australia ranks 47th and South Africa ranks 50th of 71 countries.

Across the 2 decades both report, Australia averaged higher in 1 and South Africa in 1.

Head to head by decade

Decade Australia South Africa Difference Ahead
2010s 90,035 number 635,479 number 545,444 number South Africa
2020s 140,060 number 123,514 number 16,546 number Australia

Averages of every year both report within each decade.

Frequently asked questions

Which has higher beach litter, Australia or South Africa?
Australia, at 150,188 number against 122,938 number in South Africa as of 2022.
What is the difference in beach litter between Australia and South Africa?
27,250 number, with Australia ahead.
How many years of comparable data are there for Australia and South Africa?
6 years are reported by both, from 2015 to 2022.
How do Australia and South Africa rank globally for beach litter?
Australia ranks 47th and South Africa ranks 50th of 71 countries.
Where does this data come from?
United Nations Environment Programme – processed by Our World in Data, published as Beach litter. Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.

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Australia vs South Africa: Beach litter. Statizoid, drawing on United Nations Environment Programme – processed by Our World in Data. Retrieved 24 September 2026, from https://reference.statizoid.com/compare/beach-litter/australia/south-africa/

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<a href="https://reference.statizoid.com/compare/beach-litter/australia/south-africa/">Australia vs South Africa: Beach litter</a> — Statizoid

About this data

Indicator
Beach litter
Unit
number
Source
United Nations Environment Programme – processed by Our World in Data
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage
71 places, 425 data points, 2015–2023
Last refreshed

Beach litter per square kilometer (Number).