Beach litter items per unit of surface area (Number of items per 100) in Ireland
Ireland: Beach litter items per unit of surface area (Number of items per 100) was 3 num items per 100m2 in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Beach litter items per unit of surface area in Ireland, 2015–2024
Source: United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database. Measured in num items per 100m2.
Analysis
In 2024, beach litter items per unit of surface area in Ireland stood at 3 num items per 100m2.
The figure is up 200.0% on the previous year and up 50.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, beach litter items per unit of surface area in Ireland peaked at 29 num items per 100m2 in 2017 and was at its lowest, 1 num items per 100m2, in 2020.
That places Ireland 86th out of 107 countries 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 (Number of items per 100) in Ireland, year by year
| Year | num items per 100m2 | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2015 | 2 num items per 100m2 | — |
| 2016 | 12 num items per 100m2 | +500.0% |
| 2017 | 29 num items per 100m2 | +141.7% |
| 2018 | 2 num items per 100m2 | -93.1% |
| 2019 | 15 num items per 100m2 | +650.0% |
| 2020 | 1 num items per 100m2 | -93.3% |
| 2021 | 16 num items per 100m2 | +1500.0% |
| 2022 | 4 num items per 100m2 | -75.0% |
| 2023 | 1 num items per 100m2 | -75.0% |
| 2024 | 3 num items per 100m2 | +200.0% |
Ireland compared with similar countries
- Ireland's 3 num items per 100m2 is below the median for high income countries, which is 9 num items per 100m2, 33% of the median. (53 countries reporting)
- Ireland's 3 num items per 100m2 is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 8 num items per 100m2, 38% of the median. (25 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 12 num items per 100m2 | 2 num items per 100m2 | 29 num items per 100m2 | 5 |
| 2020s | 5 num items per 100m2 | 1 num items per 100m2 | 16 num items per 100m2 | 5 |
Countries ranked near Ireland
More development goals data for Ireland
- Red List Index 0.9217 index (2025)
- Number of refugees per 100,000 population, by country of origin 0.3391 per 100,000 people (2025)
- Manufacturing value added per capita 33,380 constant US$ (2025)
- Number of transboundary breeds 130 (2025)
- Number of transboundary breeds (not extinct) 130 (2025)
- Number of transboundary breeds with unknown risk status 111 (2025)
- Number of local breeds with unknown risk status 33 (2025)
- Number of local breeds (not extinct) 38 (2025)
- Number of local breeds kept in the country 39 (2025)
- Infant deaths 182 (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is beach litter items per unit of surface area in Ireland?
- Beach litter items per unit of surface area in Ireland was 3 num items per 100m2 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 Ireland?
- The highest recorded value was 29 num items per 100m2 in 2017.
- What is the lowest beach litter items per unit of surface area recorded in Ireland?
- The lowest recorded value was 1 num items per 100m2 in 2020.
- How does Ireland rank for beach litter items per unit of surface area?
- Ireland ranks 86th out of 107 countries with data for 2024.
- Is beach litter items per unit of surface area rising or falling in Ireland?
- Over the last ten years it is up 50.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Ireland 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.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 10 observations, free to reuse under UN SDG Global Database (open, attribution requested).