Beach litter items per unit of surface area in World

World: Beach litter items per unit of surface area was 27 in 2024. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2024)
27
Change on year
up 575.0%
Rank
12th
of 29 groups
All-time high
517
in 2022
All-time low
2
in 2015
Years of data
10
2015–2024

Beach litter items per unit of surface area in World, 2015–2024

02004006002015201920242015: 22016: 412017: 472018: 1352019: 482020: 62021: 2872022: 5172023: 42024: 27

Source: United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.

Analysis

The most recent figure for beach litter items per unit of surface area in World is 27, measured in 2024.

That represents a change of up 575.0% on the previous year and up 1,250.0% over ten years.

Over the whole period, beach litter items per unit of surface area in World peaked at 517 in 2022 and was at its lowest, 2, in 2015.

That places World 12th out of 29 groups 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 World, year by year

Annual values for Beach litter items per unit of surface area (Number of items per 100 square meters) in World, 2015 to 2024.
Year Value Change
2015 2
2016 41 +1950.0%
2017 47 +14.6%
2018 135 +187.2%
2019 48 -64.4%
2020 6 -87.5%
2021 287 +4683.3%
2022 517 +80.1%
2023 4 -99.2%
2024 27 +575.0%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2010s 54.6 2 135 5
2020s 168.2 4 517 5

Countries ranked near World

  1. 9 Egypt 256 compare
  2. 10 Philippines 245 compare
  3. 11 United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 165 compare
  4. 12 United States Virgin Islands 153 compare
  5. 13 Ukraine 146 compare
  6. 14 Grenada 130 compare
  7. 15 Vanuatu 93 compare

See the full ranking of 134 places →

More development goals data for World

All data for World →

Frequently asked questions

What is beach litter items per unit of surface area in World?
Beach litter items per unit of surface area in World was 27 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 World?
The highest recorded value was 517 in 2022.
What is the lowest beach litter items per unit of surface area recorded in World?
The lowest recorded value was 2 in 2015.
How does World rank for beach litter items per unit of surface area?
World ranks 12th out of 29 groups with data for 2024.
Is beach litter items per unit of surface area rising or falling in World?
Over the last ten years it is up 1,250.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this World 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 World. Statizoid, drawing on United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database. Retrieved 01 September 2026, from https://development-goals.statizoid.com/stat/beach-litter-items-per-unit-of-surface-area-number-of-items-per-100-square-meters/world/

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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
134 places, 1,160 data points, 2015–2024
Last refreshed