What happened

The European Union recorded 57.9 million tonnes of food waste in 2024, equivalent to 129 kg for each resident. The total was 0.7% higher than the previous year, according to Eurostat figures reported by Enerji Günlüğü.

Households generated 53% of the total, or 69 kg per person. The remaining 47% came from stages of the food supply chain, including food and beverage manufacturing, restaurants and retail.

The dataset includes edible food as well as inedible components. This distinction is important when interpreting the totals, as the reported figures are not limited to food that could have been consumed.

Why it matters

Households remained the largest source of recorded food waste, but commercial activities collectively represented almost half of the EU total. The data therefore places material volumes across both consumer behaviour and operations in food manufacturing, hospitality and retail.

The figures also show substantial differences between member states. A single EU average can obscure national variation, so organisations comparing food-waste patterns between markets should assess the country-level results alongside the regional aggregate.

For businesses in the relevant sectors, the release provides a reference point for understanding where recorded waste is concentrated. It does not, however, separate edible material from inedible parts in its headline total.

Country differences

Southern Cyprus reported the highest amount per person, at 295 kg, more than twice the EU average. Denmark followed at approximately 261 kg per person, while Greece recorded 208 kg.

Spain had the lowest reported per-capita total at 54 kg. Lithuania recorded 68 kg per person and Slovakia 72 kg.

Data coverage

Germany, Bulgaria and Romania had not yet reported 2024 figures. The EU-wide total incorporates estimates for those countries based on data from earlier years, Enerji Günlüğü reported.

Readers using the EU total for benchmarking should therefore note both the estimated coverage for these three countries and the broad national range in reported per-person waste.