Beach litter items per unit of surface area in Australia and New Zealand

Australia and New Zealand: Beach litter items per unit of surface area was 15 in 2024. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2024)
15
Change on year
up 1,400.0%
World rank
51st
of 106 countries
All-time high
43
in 2022
All-time low
0
in 2015
Years of data
10
2015–2024

Beach litter items per unit of surface area in Australia and New Zealand, 2015–2024

0102030402015201920242015: 02016: 12017: 212018: 152019: 112020: 222021: 262022: 432023: 12024: 15

Source: United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.

Analysis

The most recent figure for beach litter items per unit of surface area in Australia and New Zealand is 15, measured in 2024.

Compared with earlier readings it is up 1,400.0% on the previous year and up 36.4% over five years.

Over the whole period, beach litter items per unit of surface area in Australia and New Zealand peaked at 43 in 2022 and was at its lowest, 0, in 2015.

That places Australia and New Zealand 51st out of 106 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the middle of the range.

The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.

Beach litter items per unit of surface area in Australia and New Zealand, year by year

Annual values for Beach litter items per unit of surface area (Number of items per 100 square meters) in Australia and New Zealand, 2015 to 2024.
Year Value Change
2015 0
2016 1
2017 21 +2000.0%
2018 15 -28.6%
2019 11 -26.7%
2020 22 +100.0%
2021 26 +18.2%
2022 43 +65.4%
2023 1 -97.7%
2024 15 +1400.0%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2010s 9.6 0 21 5
2020s 21.4 1 43 5

Countries ranked near Australia and New Zealand

  1. 48 Malaysia 19 compare
  2. 48 South Africa 19 compare
  3. 50 Bermuda 18 compare
  4. 51 Mozambique 15 compare
  5. 51 Slovenia 15 compare
  6. 54 Japan 14 compare

See the full ranking of 140 places →

More development goals data for Australia and New Zealand

All data for Australia and New Zealand →

Frequently asked questions

What is beach litter items per unit of surface area in Australia and New Zealand?
Beach litter items per unit of surface area in Australia and New Zealand was 15 in 2024, according to United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
What is the highest beach litter items per unit of surface area recorded in Australia and New Zealand?
The highest recorded value was 43 in 2022.
What is the lowest beach litter items per unit of surface area recorded in Australia and New Zealand?
The lowest recorded value was 0 in 2015.
How does Australia and New Zealand rank for beach litter items per unit of surface area?
Australia and New Zealand ranks 51st out of 106 countries with data for 2024.
Where does this Australia and New Zealand data come from?
The figures come from United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database, published as part of Beach litter items per unit of surface area (Number of items per 100 square meters). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Beach litter items per unit of surface area in Australia and New Zealand. Statizoid, drawing on United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database. Retrieved 13 September 2026, from https://development-goals.statizoid.com/stat/beach-litter-items-per-unit-of-surface-area-number-of-items-per-100-square-meters/australia-and-new-zealand/

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<a href="https://development-goals.statizoid.com/stat/beach-litter-items-per-unit-of-surface-area-number-of-items-per-100-square-meters/australia-and-new-zealand/">Beach litter items per unit of surface area in Australia and New Zealand</a> — Statizoid

About this data

Indicator
Beach litter items per unit of surface area (Number of items per 100 square meters)
Source
United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database
Licence
UN SDG Global Database (open, attribution requested)
Coverage
140 places, 1,211 data points, 2015–2024
Last refreshed