Beach litter in Australia
Australia: Beach litter was 150,188 number in 2022. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2022)
150,188 number
Change on year
up 15.6%
World rank
47th
of 71 countries
All-time high
210,440 number
in 2017
All-time low
1,514 number
in 2015
Years of data
6
2015–2022
Beach litter in Australia, 2015–2022
Source: United Nations Environment Programme – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in number.
Analysis
The most recent figure for beach litter in Australia is 150,188 number, measured in 2022.
That represents a change of up 15.6% on the previous year and up 9,819.5% over ten years.
That places Australia 47th out of 71 countries with data for 2022, putting it in the middle of the range.
Beach litter in Australia, year by year
| Year | number | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2015 | 1,514 number | — |
| 2016 | 7,202 number | +375.7% |
| 2017 | 210,440 number | +2821.9% |
| 2018 | 140,982 number | -33.0% |
| 2021 | 129,932 number | -7.8% |
| 2022 | 150,188 number | +15.6% |
Australia compared with similar countries
- Australia's 150,188 number is below the median for high income countries, which is 159,732 number, 94% of the median. (41 countries reporting)
- Australia's 150,188 number is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 216,080 number, 70% of the median. (14 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 90,035 number | 1,514 number | 210,440 number | 4 |
| 2020s | 140,060 number | 129,932 number | 150,188 number | 2 |
Countries ranked near Australia
- 44 Chile 159,732 number compare
- 45 Trinidad and Tobago 158,046 number compare
- 46 Bahamas 150,771 number compare
- 48 Greece 143,586 number compare
- 49 United States Virgin Islands 126,499 number compare
- 50 South Africa 122,938 number compare
More reference data data for Australia
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 1.21 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 28.02 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 38.41 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 2.55 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 38.41 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 4.07 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 6.14 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 118.71 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 170.29 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 13.9 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is beach litter in Australia?
- Beach litter in Australia was 150,188 number in 2022, according to United Nations Environment Programme – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest beach litter recorded in Australia?
- The highest recorded value was 210,440 number in 2017.
- What is the lowest beach litter recorded in Australia?
- The lowest recorded value was 1,514 number in 2015.
- How does Australia rank for beach litter?
- Australia ranks 47th out of 71 countries with data for 2022.
- Is beach litter rising or falling in Australia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 9,819.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Australia data come from?
- The figures come from United Nations Environment Programme – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Beach litter. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 6 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Beach litter per square kilometer (Number).