In this article, we will look at the 20 Cleanest Countries In the World In 2024.
An Analysis of Global Pollution
We recently analyzed the countries that produce the most pollution by taking into account factors such as their air quality, greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, waste production, and water quality and sanitation levels. Our analysis of the data reveals a complex array of various elements that contribute to the environmental deterioration and pollution of a country. A considerable percentage of the countries ranked on our list were developed nations and emerging economies. For instance, if we consider the GHG emissions the Global North is responsible for 92% of the total emissions with the US representing 40% of it, followed by the European Union, according to a study by Lancet Planetary Health. This means that the countries in the Global South, which are mostly developing or underdeveloped nations represent only 8% of the total carbon emission. The disparity of this matter is further evident by the consequences of climate change which are more severe in the Global South. The region that is home to over 80% of the total world population has been subjected to climate crisis due to the global average temperature increase in which Global North plays the biggest part. This also suggests a correlation between industrialization and emission levels. Countries in the EU region and the US are the wealthiest and the most technologically and industrially advanced and responsible for the biggest share of this mess.
Certain emerging economies such as India, China, and Indonesia are also advancing rapidly to match the pace of developed nations. These countries have not only witnessed unprecedented economic growth but also a surge in energy consumption, manufacturing, and urbanization. This rapid development has prioritized economic gains in this nation over environmental protection which has led to inefficient waste management, air pollution, deteriorating water quality, and high reliance on fossil fuels. Nonetheless, these countries are investing in clean energy solutions and green technology. But the question that arises is whether this is enough to undo the damage that has been done. Pollution is a multilayer problem with many other economic and demographic pressures accelerating the crisis. For instance, a substantial number of the polluted countries are located in population-dense regions of South Asia and Southeast Asia. Rapid population growth leads to increased resource consumption and waste generation. India has the highest population in the world, leading to a high amount of waste deposition and water sanitation issues. Bangladesh and Pakistan have the worst air pollution due to the practice of stubble burning, brick kilns, and industrial pollution. Moreover, factors such as inadequate governance, weak policies, and poverty are some of the biggest challenges faced by low-income countries, which further expedite the environmental issues in these countries.
Another dominant pattern is the prevalence of pollution in Middle Eastern countries with substantial oil reserves. UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Iraq rely heavily on fossil fuel and oil and gas resources for their economy. The process of oil extraction to its supply chain are inherently polluting activities, contributing to soil, water, and air contamination and causing GHG emissions.
Waste Management Industry
The aforementioned factors considerably contribute to global pollution. However, the waste management industry can be a potential solution and a contributing factor towards waste reduction. The waste management industry is responsible for the segregation, collection, recycling, and disposal of waste. Countries with efficient waste management practices are able to manage their waste footprint effectively. According to the Environment Protection Agency, waste managed in the US decreased by 694 million pounds in 2022. Only 5% of the waste generated by the manufacturing sector was released into the environment. The rest of it was managed through treatment, waste-to-energy recovery, and recycling. Inadequate waste disposal and handling lead to public health risks and ecological contamination. Therefore, it is important to have strong waste management systems, supported by a growing and innovative industry. The waste management industry is growing globally. In the US alone, it contributes $117 billion annually. It supported over 681,000 jobs while generating $37.8 billion in wages in 2020, as reported by the Recycled Materials Association.
Waste Management, Inc. (NYSE:WM) is a top US company with the highest market share in the waste management market. It manages waste for homes, businesses, and municipalities. The company facilitates its customers from collection, transfer, and transportation, to material recovery and recycling. For 2024, the company is highly focused on the expansion of its sustainability business which includes recycling and renewable energy. It has recently completed a large recycling upgrade in Wisconsin. This facility provides a 20% higher amount of waste up to 60 tonnes of throughput in an hour, improving the quality of the recycled product. Waste Management, Inc. (NYSE:WM) plans to upgrade its 9 facilities this year and open three new recycling facilities to expand its single-stream waste network.
Its sustainability business expansion strategy also includes adding energy recovery facilities to its portfolio. The company has completed a renewable natural gas plant at its landfill in Dallas-Foort Worth. Waste Management, Inc. (NYSE:WM) is set to commission four other new renewable natural gas facilities this year. The company has increased its capital expenditures to support the new business expansion which will initially weigh down its free cash flow. These facilities will use gas from landfills to produce renewable natural gas to fuel vehicles and to market it to other industries.
The surge in plastic waste is one of the biggest contributors to ecological degradation and biodiversity loss. The role of the waste management industry in controlling and treating plastic pollution is evident in Waste Management, Inc. (NYSE:WM) efforts to reduce landfill waste and then further convert it into renewable energy. The company is expanding its role in various waste streams. Recently, it acquired the medical waste management company, Stericycle for a total enterprise value of $7.2 billion. The company expects this transaction to add over $125 million in savings annually. Waste Management, Inc. (NYSE:WM) continues to benefit from its consistent waste transfer and disposal operations while investing heavily in innovative recycling and waste-to-energy conversion and recovery solutions.
Now, let’s look at the 20 cleanest countries in the world in 2024.
A wind turbine silhouetted against an idyllic sunset, representing clean energy projects.
Methodology
To compile our list of the 20 cleanest countries in the world in 2024, we utilized IQ Air’s Air Quality Index, to identify the cleanest countries based on their annual average PM2.5 concentration. Then, we employed additional metrics including total waste generation, GHG emissions production, and water and sanitation levels. We sourced the total waste generation data from the World Bank What a Waste database, and summed all types of waste to obtain the total waste produced for each country.
We then utilized water and sanitation scores from the Environment Performance Index (EPI) and GHG emissions data from Climate Watch. We have used water and sanitation levels as an indirect measure of a country’s ability to protect human health from pollution due to poor water and sanitation levels.
Finally, we assigned ranks to countries based on all four indicators. Then, we allocated percent weights to our metrics as 40% to GHG emissions, 30% to total waste generation, 20% to the air quality index, and 10% to the water and sanitation level. Our list ranks the 20 cleanest countries in the world in 2024 in ascending order of their calculated Insider Monkey Scores.
20 Cleanest Countries In the World In 2024
20. Panama
Annual Average PM2.5 Concentration (2023): 9.6 μg/m³
Total Waste Generation (2018): 0.48 Mega tonnes per year
Total GHG Emissions (2021): 21.53 Mega tonnes of CO2e
EPI Water and Sanitation Score (2020): 43.5
Insider Monkey Score: 115
Panama is ranked among the cleanest countries in the world in 2024. The country has a small population and contributes only 0.045% to global GHG emissions. Its high forest coverage is 65.4%. It is one of the only three carbon-negative countries in the world.
19. Georgia
Annual Average PM2.5 Concentration (2023): 16.4 μg/m³
Total Waste Generation (2018): 0.82 Mega tonnes per year
Total GHG Emissions (2021): 17.68 Mega tonnes of CO2e
EPI Water and Sanitation Score (2020): 51.6
Insider Monkey Score: 115.4
Georgia is a transcontinental country in Eastern Europe and Western Asia. It is one of the cleanest countries in the world with a PM2.5 concentration of 16.4 μg/m³. It contributes only 0.04% to global carbon emissions.
18. Uruguay
Annual Average PM2.5 Concentration (2023): 11.7 μg/m³
Total Waste Generation (2018): 1.29 Mega tonnes per year
Total GHG Emissions (2021): 34.25 Mega tonnes of CO2e
EPI Water and Sanitation Score (2020): 70.8
Insider Monkey Score: 116.5
The Latin American country is ranked 18th on our list. Uruguay heavily relies on renewable energy sources. It boasts high-quality water and sanitation levels and has an annual average PM2.5 pollution of 11.7 μg/m³.
17. Albania
Annual Average PM2.5 Concentration (2023): 16.7 μg/m³
Total Waste Generation (2018): 1.58 Mega tonnes per year
Total GHG Emissions (2021): 8.39 Mega tonnes of CO2e
EPI Water and Sanitation Score (2020): 54
Insider Monkey Score: 116.9
Albania is a country in the Balkans, attracting millions of tourists every year. It generated 8.39 megatonnes of GHG emissions in 2020. However, the country needs to improve its waste management infrastructure to manage its waste effectively.
16. Gabon
Annual Average PM2.5 Concentration (2023): 16.9 μg/m³
Total Waste Generation (2018): 0.25 Mega tonnes per year
Total GHG Emissions (2021): 20.84 Mega tonnes of CO2e
EPI Water and Sanitation Score (2020): 27.6
Insider Monkey Score: 117.0
Gabon is one of the cleanest countries in the world in 2024. It has an average annual particulate matter concentration of 16.9 micrograms per cubic meter. It generated 20.84 megatonnes of GHG emissions in 2021.
15. Cyprus
Annual Average PM2.5 Concentration (2023): 14.3 μg/m³
Total Waste Generation (2018): 2.47 Mega tonnes per year
Total GHG Emissions (2021): 7.88 Mega tonnes of CO2e
EPI Water and Sanitation Score (2020): 93.9
Insider Monkey Score: 117.1
Cyprus is ranked 15th on our list. In 2021, it emitted 2.47 megatonnes of CO2e. The country boasts high quality water and sanitation levels, boasting an EPI score of 93.9.
14. Guyana
Annual Average PM2.5 Concentration (2023): 17.1 μg/m³
Total Waste Generation (2018): 0.18 Mega tonnes per year
Total GHG Emissions (2021): 18.81 Mega tonnes of CO2e
EPI Water and Sanitation Score (2020): 35.3
Insider Monkey Score: 122.3
Guyana is ranked 14th on our list due to its low waste generation and negligible contribution to global GHG emissions. However, the country has a low water and sanitation score which means that it needs to improve its waste disposal practices to enhance the quality of its water sources and avoid clogging in drainages.
13. Latvia
Annual Average PM2.5 Concentration (2023): 8 μg/m³
Total Waste Generation (2018): 1.8 Mega tonnes per year
Total GHG Emissions (2021): 11.53 Mega tonnes of CO2e
EPI Water and Sanitation Score (2020): 59
Insider Monkey Score: 124.2
Latvia is one of the cleanest countries in the world. In 2021, the country emitted 11.53 megatonnes of CO2e, contributing only 0.02% to global emissions. Its annual particulate matter concentration is 8 micrograms per cubic meter as of 2023.
12. Montenegro
Annual Average PM2.5 Concentration (2023): 21.3 μg/m³
Total Waste Generation (2018): 0.88 Mega tonnes per year
Total GHG Emissions (2021): 3.78 Mega tonnes of CO2e
EPI Water and Sanitation Score (2020): 65.6
Insider Monkey Score: 124.4
Montenegro is one of the most peaceful countries in the world. Its low waste generation and GHG emissions make it the 12th cleanest country on our list.
11. Trinidad and Tobago
Annual Average PM2.5 Concentration (2023): 5.8 μg/m³
Total Waste Generation (2018): 0.85 Mega tonnes per year
Total GHG Emissions (2021): 26.54 Mega tonnes of CO2e
EPI Water and Sanitation Score (2020): 53.4
Insider Monkey Score: 125.1
Trinidad and Tobago is one of the wealthiest countries in the Caribbean. It has an annual average fine particulate matter concentration of 5.8 μg/m³. Its water quality and sanitation score is 53.4.
10. Costa Rica
Annual Average PM2.5 Concentration (2023): 6.1 μg/m³
Total Waste Generation (2018): 2.29 Mega tonnes per year
Total GHG Emissions (2021): 7.09 Mega tonnes of CO2e
EPI Water and Sanitation Score (2020): 66.1
Insider Monkey Score: 127.8
Costa Rica is ranked 10th on our list. In 2021, the country generated 7.09 megatonnes of carbon-equivalent GHG emissions, contributing only 0.01% to global emissions. It has relatively safer drinking water and sanitation practices.
9. Jamaica
Annual Average PM2.5 Concentration (2023): 7.1 μg/m³
Total Waste Generation (2018): 1.79 Mega tonnes per year
Total GHG Emissions (2021): 7.55 Mega tonnes of CO2e
EPI Water and Sanitation Score (2020): 49.3
Insider Monkey Score: 131.3
Jamaica is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the Caribbean. It only has a minute contribution of 0.02% toward the global GHG emissions. It is ranked 9th on our list.
8. Malta
Annual Average PM2.5 Concentration (2023): 12 μg/m³
Total Waste Generation (2018): 0.8 Mega tonnes per year
Total GHG Emissions (2021): 2.08 Mega tonnes of CO2e
EPI Water and Sanitation Score (2020): 99.8
Insider Monkey Score: 132.5
Malta boasts high-quality drinking water and safe sanitation practices. Its particulate matter concentration is 12 micrograms per cubic meter. With a minimal contribution towards global emissions and low waste generation, it is ranked among the cleanest countries in the world in 2024.
7. Maldives
Annual Average PM2.5 Concentration (2023): 15.3 μg/m³
Total Waste Generation (2018): 0.24 Mega tonnes per year
Total GHG Emissions (2021): 2.23 Mega tonnes of CO2e
EPI Water and Sanitation Score (2020): 47.8
Insider Monkey Score: 136.1
Maldives is a popular tourist destination in South Asia. The country is ranked among the cleanest countries based on its low taste generation and GHG emission. However, it faces the threat of plastic pollution which requires immediate action. Its government has shifted to a waste-to-wealth approach, promoting a circular economy.
6. Suriname
Annual Average PM2.5 Concentration (2023): 10.8 μg/m³
Total Waste Generation (2018): 84,889 tonnes per year
Total GHG Emissions (2021): 13.55 Mega tonnes of CO2e
EPI Water and Sanitation Score (2020): 39.3
Insider Monkey Score: 137.5
Suriname is a South American country with moderate air quality. Its small population contributes to low waste generation in the country. It is the 6th cleanest country on our list.
5. Mauritius
Annual Average PM2.5 Concentration (2023): 3.5 μg/m³
Total Waste Generation (2018): 0.46 Mega tonnes per year
Total GHG Emissions (2021): 6.41 Mega tonnes of CO2e
EPI Water and Sanitation Score (2020): 65.5
Insider Monkey Score: 145.3
Mauritius is a tourist destination in East Africa, well known for its fresh and clean air. The country only contributes 0.01% to global GHG emissions and is one of the cleanest countries in the world.