Beach litter items per unit of surface area in Europe and Northern America

Europe and Northern America: Beach litter items per unit of surface area was 6 in 2024. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2024)
6
Change on year
up 500.0%
Rank
27th
of 34 groups
All-time high
35
in 2022
All-time low
1
in 2023
Years of data
10
2015–2024

Beach litter items per unit of surface area in Europe and Northern America, 2015–2024

0102030402015201920242015: 22016: 222017: 212018: 142019: 192020: 52021: 172022: 352023: 12024: 6

Source: United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.

Analysis

The most recent figure for beach litter items per unit of surface area in Europe and Northern America is 6, measured in 2024.

The figure is up 500.0% on the previous year and up 200.0% over ten years.

Over the whole period, beach litter items per unit of surface area in Europe and Northern America peaked at 35 in 2022 and was at its lowest, 1, in 2023.

That places Europe and Northern America 27th out of 34 groups with data for 2024, putting it in the bottom quarter.

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 Europe and Northern America, year by year

Annual values for Beach litter items per unit of surface area (Number of items per 100 square meters) in Europe and Northern America, 2015 to 2024.
Year Value Change
2015 2
2016 22 +1000.0%
2017 21 -4.5%
2018 14 -33.3%
2019 19 +35.7%
2020 5 -73.7%
2021 17 +240.0%
2022 35 +105.9%
2023 1 -97.1%
2024 6 +500.0%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2010s 15.6 2 22 5
2020s 12.8 1 35 5

Countries ranked near Europe and Northern America

  1. 24 Cambodia 76 compare
  2. 25 Chile 69 compare
  3. 26 Bangladesh 62 compare
  4. 27 Bahamas 52 compare
  5. 28 Samoa 48 compare
  6. 29 Malawi 46 compare
  7. 30 Guatemala 40 compare

See the full ranking of 140 places →

More development goals data for Europe and Northern America

All data for Europe and Northern America →

Frequently asked questions

What is beach litter items per unit of surface area in Europe and Northern America?
Beach litter items per unit of surface area in Europe and Northern America was 6 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 Europe and Northern America?
The highest recorded value was 35 in 2022.
What is the lowest beach litter items per unit of surface area recorded in Europe and Northern America?
The lowest recorded value was 1 in 2023.
How does Europe and Northern America rank for beach litter items per unit of surface area?
Europe and Northern America ranks 27th out of 34 groups with data for 2024.
Is beach litter items per unit of surface area rising or falling in Europe and Northern America?
Over the last ten years it is up 200.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this Europe and Northern America 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 Europe and Northern America. 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/europe-and-northern-america/

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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