Beach litter items per unit of surface area (Number of items per 100 square meters) by country
Countries reporting
107
Highest
185,292 num items per 100m2
Cameroon
Lowest
0 num items per 100m2
Iceland
Median
15 num items per 100m2
Years covered
10
2015–2024
Data points
1,211
What the numbers show
Beach litter items per unit of surface area (Number of items per 100 square meters) is currently reported for 107 countries. The highest value is 185,292 num items per 100m2 in Cameroon; the lowest is 0 num items per 100m2 in Iceland.
The median across all reporting countries is 15 num items per 100m2, and the mean is 2,297 num items per 100m2.
Over the past decade 18 countries rose and 78 fell. The largest increase was in United States Virgin Islands (up 2,960.0%), and the largest decrease in Iceland (down 100.0%).
Beach litter items per unit of surface area (Number of items per 100): full country ranking
| # | Country | Latest | Year | 10-year change | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cameroon | 185,292 num items per 100m2 | 2024 | up 2,088.1% | volatile |
| 2 | South Korea | 23,358 num items per 100m2 | 2022 | up 994.1% | volatile |
| 2 | Republic of Korea | 23,358 num items per 100m2 | 2022 | up 994.1% | volatile |
| 4 | Poland | 6,779 num items per 100m2 | 2022 | down 72.8% | falling |
| 5 | Norway | 1,784 num items per 100m2 | 2022 | down 54.7% | falling |
| 6 | Bulgaria | 783 num items per 100m2 | 2022 | down 64.0% | volatile |
| 7 | Kenya | 594 num items per 100m2 | 2023 | — | volatile |
| 8 | Italy | 303 num items per 100m2 | 2022 | down 40.7% | falling |
| 9 | Dominican Republic | 266 num items per 100m2 | 2024 | up 2,855.6% | volatile |
| 10 | Egypt | 256 num items per 100m2 | 2024 | up 2,460.0% | volatile |
| 11 | Philippines | 245 num items per 100m2 | 2024 | up 140.2% | volatile |
| 12 | Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of) | 197 num items per 100m2 | 2024 | up 22.4% | falling |
| 13 | United Kingdom | 165 num items per 100m2 | 2022 | down 56.0% | falling |
| 13 | United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland | 165 num items per 100m2 | 2022 | down 56.0% | falling |
| 15 | United States Virgin Islands | 153 num items per 100m2 | 2024 | up 2,960.0% | volatile |
| 16 | Ukraine | 146 num items per 100m2 | 2021 | — | volatile |
| 17 | Grenada | 130 num items per 100m2 | 2020 | — | volatile |
| 18 | Vanuatu | 93 num items per 100m2 | 2024 | up 72.2% | volatile |
| 19 | Caribbean | 91 num items per 100m2 | 2024 | up 1,720.0% | volatile |
| 20 | Vietnam | 90 num items per 100m2 | 2024 | down 73.9% | volatile |
| 20 | Viet Nam | 90 num items per 100m2 | 2024 | down 73.9% | volatile |
| 22 | Nigeria | 89 num items per 100m2 | 2024 | down 55.1% | volatile |
| 23 | Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba | 84 num items per 100m2 | 2022 | up 460.0% | volatile |
| 24 | Lithuania | 77 num items per 100m2 | 2022 | down 22.2% | falling |
| 25 | Cambodia | 76 num items per 100m2 | 2024 | down 73.9% | volatile |
| 26 | Chile | 69 num items per 100m2 | 2024 | down 12.7% | volatile |
| 27 | Bangladesh | 62 num items per 100m2 | 2024 | down 99.6% | volatile |
| 28 | Bahamas | 52 num items per 100m2 | 2024 | up 420.0% | volatile |
| 29 | Samoa | 48 num items per 100m2 | 2024 | down 77.0% | volatile |
| 30 | Malawi | 46 num items per 100m2 | 2023 | — | volatile |
| 31 | Guatemala | 40 num items per 100m2 | 2024 | down 90.0% | volatile |
| 32 | Germany | 38 num items per 100m2 | 2024 | up 280.0% | volatile |
| 33 | Polynesia | 37 num items per 100m2 | 2024 | down 67.0% | volatile |
| 34 | Brazil | 36 num items per 100m2 | 2024 | down 93.3% | volatile |
| 35 | Jamaica | 34 num items per 100m2 | 2024 | down 92.5% | volatile |
| 35 | Thailand | 34 num items per 100m2 | 2024 | down 24.4% | volatile |
| 37 | Antigua and Barbuda | 32 num items per 100m2 | 2024 | down 30.4% | volatile |
| 38 | Panama | 31 num items per 100m2 | 2024 | down 78.6% | volatile |
| 39 | Singapore | 30 num items per 100m2 | 2024 | down 96.0% | volatile |
| 40 | Netherlands (Kingdom of the) | 25 num items per 100m2 | 2024 | down 93.5% | volatile |
| 41 | Australia | 24 num items per 100m2 | 2024 | — | volatile |
| 42 | Barbados | 23 num items per 100m2 | 2023 | down 80.0% | volatile |
| 43 | Estonia | 21 num items per 100m2 | 2022 | down 19.2% | falling |
| 43 | Mexico | 21 num items per 100m2 | 2024 | up 5.0% | volatile |
| 43 | Turkey | 21 num items per 100m2 | 2024 | down 91.6% | volatile |
| 43 | Türkiye | 21 num items per 100m2 | 2024 | down 91.6% | volatile |
| 47 | Guyana | 20 num items per 100m2 | 2024 | down 93.3% | volatile |
| 47 | Melanesia | 20 num items per 100m2 | 2024 | down 65.5% | volatile |
| 49 | Malaysia | 19 num items per 100m2 | 2024 | down 61.2% | falling |
| 49 | South Africa | 19 num items per 100m2 | 2024 | down 82.1% | volatile |
| 51 | Bermuda | 18 num items per 100m2 | 2024 | down 62.5% | volatile |
| 52 | Mozambique | 15 num items per 100m2 | 2024 | down 92.6% | volatile |
| 52 | Slovenia | 15 num items per 100m2 | 2024 | down 91.8% | volatile |
| 52 | Australia and New Zealand | 15 num items per 100m2 | 2024 | — | volatile |
| 55 | Japan | 14 num items per 100m2 | 2024 | down 77.4% | volatile |
| 56 | Puerto Rico | 13 num items per 100m2 | 2024 | down 88.5% | volatile |
| 56 | British Virgin Islands | 13 num items per 100m2 | 2024 | down 94.8% | volatile |
| 58 | Trinidad and Tobago | 12 num items per 100m2 | 2023 | down 92.1% | volatile |
| 59 | Canada | 10 num items per 100m2 | 2024 | — | volatile |
| 59 | Fiji | 10 num items per 100m2 | 2024 | down 23.1% | volatile |
| 61 | Israel | 9 num items per 100m2 | 2024 | down 59.1% | volatile |
| 61 | Morocco | 9 num items per 100m2 | 2023 | down 99.4% | volatile |
| 61 | Northern Mariana Islands | 9 num items per 100m2 | 2024 | unchanged | volatile |
| 64 | Finland | 8 num items per 100m2 | 2023 | up 300.0% | volatile |
| 64 | Croatia | 8 num items per 100m2 | 2024 | down 99.8% | volatile |
| 64 | Malta | 8 num items per 100m2 | 2023 | down 93.4% | volatile |
| 64 | Nicaragua | 8 num items per 100m2 | 2024 | down 97.5% | volatile |
| 64 | Romania | 8 num items per 100m2 | 2021 | down 46.7% | volatile |
| 64 | United Republic of Tanzania | 8 num items per 100m2 | 2023 | down 99.8% | volatile |
| 70 | Kuwait | 7 num items per 100m2 | 2024 | — | volatile |
| 70 | Portugal | 7 num items per 100m2 | 2024 | down 97.7% | volatile |
| 70 | United States | 7 num items per 100m2 | 2024 | up 600.0% | volatile |
| 73 | Cyprus | 6 num items per 100m2 | 2024 | down 84.2% | volatile |
| 73 | India | 6 num items per 100m2 | 2024 | down 93.2% | volatile |
| 73 | Sint Maarten (Dutch part) | 6 num items per 100m2 | 2024 | down 88.9% | volatile |
| 73 | Uruguay | 6 num items per 100m2 | 2024 | down 89.3% | volatile |
| 77 | Costa Rica | 5 num items per 100m2 | 2024 | down 99.6% | volatile |
| 77 | Suriname | 5 num items per 100m2 | 2020 | — | volatile |
| 79 | Argentina | 4 num items per 100m2 | 2024 | down 99.3% | volatile |
| 79 | China | 4 num items per 100m2 | 2024 | down 99.7% | volatile |
| 79 | Indonesia | 4 num items per 100m2 | 2024 | down 98.1% | volatile |
| 79 | Mauritius | 4 num items per 100m2 | 2024 | down 97.6% | volatile |
| 79 | New Zealand | 4 num items per 100m2 | 2024 | down 85.7% | volatile |
| 79 | Saint Vincent and the Grenadines | 4 num items per 100m2 | 2023 | down 97.3% | volatile |
| 79 | Micronesia | 4 num items per 100m2 | 2024 | down 55.6% | volatile |
| 86 | Cayman Islands | 3 num items per 100m2 | 2024 | down 99.1% | volatile |
| 86 | Spain | 3 num items per 100m2 | 2024 | down 98.0% | volatile |
| 86 | Greece | 3 num items per 100m2 | 2024 | down 99.0% | volatile |
| 86 | Guam | 3 num items per 100m2 | 2024 | down 90.0% | volatile |
| 86 | Ireland | 3 num items per 100m2 | 2024 | up 50.0% | volatile |
| 86 | Saint Lucia | 3 num items per 100m2 | 2024 | down 97.4% | volatile |
| 86 | Sweden | 3 num items per 100m2 | 2024 | up 200.0% | volatile |
| 93 | Belize | 2 num items per 100m2 | 2024 | down 98.8% | falling |
| 93 | Colombia | 2 num items per 100m2 | 2024 | down 100.0% | volatile |
| 93 | Saint Kitts and Nevis | 2 num items per 100m2 | 2024 | down 98.0% | volatile |
| 93 | Maldives | 2 num items per 100m2 | 2024 | — | volatile |
| 93 | Russia | 2 num items per 100m2 | 2022 | down 96.4% | volatile |
| 93 | Seychelles | 2 num items per 100m2 | 2024 | down 100.0% | volatile |
| 93 | Guernsey | 2 num items per 100m2 | 2024 | down 96.3% | volatile |
| 93 | Russian Federation | 2 num items per 100m2 | 2022 | down 96.4% | volatile |
| 101 | United Arab Emirates | 1 num items per 100m2 | 2024 | down 99.4% | volatile |
| 101 | Belgium | 1 num items per 100m2 | 2024 | down 99.9% | volatile |
| 101 | Denmark | 1 num items per 100m2 | 2024 | down 92.3% | volatile |
| 101 | Ecuador | 1 num items per 100m2 | 2024 | down 98.9% | volatile |
| 101 | France | 1 num items per 100m2 | 2024 | down 99.9% | volatile |
| 101 | Sri Lanka | 1 num items per 100m2 | 2024 | down 99.7% | volatile |
| 107 | Iceland | 0 num items per 100m2 | 2024 | down 100.0% | volatile |
Regions and income groups
Aggregates are excluded from the country ranking above so that a region can never outrank a country.
- Middle Africa 1,967 num items per 100m2
- Northern Africa 223 num items per 100m2
- South-Eastern Asia 124 num items per 100m2
- Eastern and South-Eastern Asia 108 num items per 100m2
- Asia 97 num items per 100m2
- Western Africa 89 num items per 100m2
- Africa 77 num items per 100m2
- Sub-Saharan Africa 77 num items per 100m2
- Latin America and the Caribbean 68 num items per 100m2
- Small island developing States (SIDS) 63 num items per 100m2
- Least Developed Countries (LDCs) 52 num items per 100m2
- South America 45 num items per 100m2
- Southern Asia 45 num items per 100m2
- Central and Southern Asia 45 num items per 100m2
- World 27 num items per 100m2
- Eastern Asia 23 num items per 100m2
- Americas 19 num items per 100m2
- Southern Africa 19 num items per 100m2
- Central America 14 num items per 100m2
- Western Europe 13 num items per 100m2
- Landlocked developing countries (LLDCs) 10 num items per 100m2
- Oceania 9 num items per 100m2
- Northern America 7 num items per 100m2
- United States of America 7 num items per 100m2
- Northern Africa and Western Asia 7 num items per 100m2
- Southern Europe 6 num items per 100m2
- Oceania (exc. Australia and New Zealand) 6 num items per 100m2
- Europe and Northern America 6 num items per 100m2
- Europe 4 num items per 100m2
- Northern Europe 4 num items per 100m2
- Eastern Europe 3 num items per 100m2
- Eastern Africa 3 num items per 100m2
- Western Asia 3 num items per 100m2