Beach litter items per unit of surface area (Number of items per 100) in United States
United States: Beach litter items per unit of surface area (Number of items per 100) was 7 num items per 100m2 in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Beach litter items per unit of surface area in United States, 2015–2024
Source: United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database. Measured in num items per 100m2.
Analysis
United States recorded 7 num items per 100m2 for beach litter items per unit of surface area in 2024.
The figure is up 600.0% on the previous year and up 600.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, beach litter items per unit of surface area in United States peaked at 47 num items per 100m2 in 2022 and was at its lowest, 1 num items per 100m2, in 2015.
United States ranks 70th of 107 countries on this measure, 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 (Number of items per 100) in United States, year by year
| Year | num items per 100m2 | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2015 | 1 num items per 100m2 | — |
| 2016 | 20 num items per 100m2 | +1900.0% |
| 2017 | 21 num items per 100m2 | +5.0% |
| 2018 | 12 num items per 100m2 | -42.9% |
| 2019 | 14 num items per 100m2 | +16.7% |
| 2020 | 5 num items per 100m2 | -64.3% |
| 2021 | 25 num items per 100m2 | +400.0% |
| 2022 | 47 num items per 100m2 | +88.0% |
| 2023 | 1 num items per 100m2 | -97.9% |
| 2024 | 7 num items per 100m2 | +600.0% |
United States compared with similar countries
- United States's 7 num items per 100m2 is below the median for high income countries, which is 9 num items per 100m2, 78% of the median. (53 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 13.6 num items per 100m2 | 1 num items per 100m2 | 21 num items per 100m2 | 5 |
| 2020s | 17 num items per 100m2 | 1 num items per 100m2 | 47 num items per 100m2 | 5 |
Countries ranked near United States
More development goals data for United States
- Red List Index 0.8221 index (2025)
- Number of refugees per 100,000 population, by country of origin 0.4084 per 100,000 people (2025)
- Manufacturing value added per capita 6,933 constant US$ (2025)
- Number of transboundary breeds 197 (2025)
- Number of transboundary breeds (not extinct) 195 (2025)
- Number of transboundary breeds with unknown risk status 102 (2025)
- Number of local breeds with unknown risk status 61 (2025)
- Number of local breeds (not extinct) 89 (2025)
- Number of local breeds kept in the country 96 (2025)
- Infant deaths 20,024 (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is beach litter items per unit of surface area in United States?
- Beach litter items per unit of surface area in United States was 7 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 United States?
- The highest recorded value was 47 num items per 100m2 in 2022.
- What is the lowest beach litter items per unit of surface area recorded in United States?
- The lowest recorded value was 1 num items per 100m2 in 2015.
- How does United States rank for beach litter items per unit of surface area?
- United States ranks 70th out of 107 countries with data for 2024.
- Is beach litter items per unit of surface area rising or falling in United States?
- Over the last ten years it is up 600.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this United States 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).