Construction waste is a major problem in the United States and around the world. But you already know that. You’re here, after all. Still, it’s not something talked about very much and we’re here to change that! In this blog post, we’ll look at the latest statistics about construction waste to help you better understand the issue and how it affects our community.

We know what you’re thinking—who cares about construction waste statistics? But trust us: these are the kinds of things you should know. For example, how many million tons of construction and demolition waste does America produce every single year? Or how much % of all U.S. municipal solid waste does this type of waste account for?

Also, these construction waste statistics are important for contractors, builders, and real estate developers because they can help you understand how much waste is generated at your job sites and what types of waste are most prevalent. These statistics can also be helpful in planning for future job sites so that you can minimize risks associated with waste disposal.

Construction Waste Statistics (Top Highlights)

• Over 650 million tons of building material waste are generated around the world each year.
• Concrete accounts for 67.5% of the total construction and demolition waste generated in the United States.
• Roads and bridges generate 275.3 million tons of construction and demolition waste in the United States. 
• The construction and demolition waste recycling industry’s worth is estimated to be over $7.4 billion.
• It’s estimated that 70% of construction and demolition waste in the United States is recycled.
• Over 67.8 million tons of non-hazardous construction and demolition waste is generated in the United Kingdom per year. 
• Over 850 million tons of waste are generated by construction and demolition activities in the European Union.

General Construction Waste Statistics

1. Cities worldwide generate 650 million tons of building material waste a year.

Cities around the world produce 1.3 billion tons of solid waste a year, and this figure is expected to reach 2.2 billion by 2025. Considering half of the solid waste is building material, by 2025, cities around the world are expected to generate 1.1 billion tons of construction waste every year.

The construction industry is responsible for generating a large amount of waste because it involves a lot of materials and equipment that are eventually disposed of after use. C&D waste includes things like concrete, bricks, concrete blocks, and wood. Construction activities also generate large amounts of rubble and other wastes such as roofing materials and insulation boards.

(Transparency Market Research)

2. At 67.5%, concrete accounts for the largest portion of construction and demolition waste in the United States.

The latest available data places asphalt concrete second, accounting for 17.8% of the total construction and demolition waste in the United States, followed by wood products at 6.8%.

Drywall and plasters as well as asphalt shingles rank fourth, accounting for 2.5% each, followed by brick and clay tile at 2%. Steel accounts for less than 1% of the total construction and demolition waste in the United States.

(US EPA)

3. Only about 5.5% of the total construction and demolition waste in the United States is generated during construction.

The latest available data reveals that the United States generated 600.3 million tons of construction and demolition waste in 2018. Out of those, when observing the total construction and demolition waste by activity, only 33 million tons were produced during construction, while the rest was demolition debris.

(US EPA)

4. At over 73%, concrete accounts for the largest portion of construction waste in the United States.

When observing construction waste in the United States by material, the latest available data reveals that out of the 33 million tons generated in 2018, 24.2 million were concrete. Drywall and plasters followed with 3.9 million tons, surpassing wood products that accounted for 3.4 million tons of the total construction waste. Asphalt shingles accounted for 1.2 million tons of construction waste, while brick and clay tile followed with 0.3 million.

(US EPA)

5. At 275.3 million tons, roads and bridges are the most prominent source of construction and demolition waste.

The latest available data on construction and demolition waste by source in the United States reveals concrete and asphalt concrete as the most wasted materials in the construction and demolition of roads and bridges, generating respective 168.3 million and 107 million tons of waste in 2018.

Buildings accounted for the second-biggest generator of construction and demolition waste, producing 188.8 million tons of it. Out of those, concrete contributed the most material-wise (102 million tons). Wood products ranked second, generating 39.5 million tons of construction and demolition waste, followed by drywall and plasters as well as asphalt shingles, generating respective 15.2 million and 15.1 million tons of construction and demolition debris. Brick and clay tile generated 12.3 million tons, while 4.7 million tons of steel waste was generated during building construction and demolition.

Construction and demolition of other structures generated 136.2 million tons of waste in 2018. At 134.9 million tons, concrete accounted for almost all of it, while another 1.3 million tons were wood products.

(US EPA)

Construction Waste Recycling Statistics

6. The construction and demolition waste recycling industry is estimated to be worth over $7.4 billion.

Besides its economic benefits, the latest available data estimates that recycling construction and demolition waste prevents the creation of 4,300 acres of landfills filled to a depth of 50 feet. The energy savings are estimated to be over 85 million barrels of oil.

(Environmental Leader)

7. 70% of construction and demolition waste in the United States is presumed to be recycled.

A white paper by the Construction and Demolition Recycling Association (CDRA) estimates that in 2012, about 480 million tons of construction and demolition debris was generated in the United States.

The white paper, titled The Benefits of Construction and Demolition Materials Recycling in the United States, also reveals a breakdown of the components within the construction and demolition waste stream.

Out of the total construction and demolition waste, there were:

• 100 million tons of mixed construction and demolition debris with a recycling rate of 35%;
• 310 million tons of bulk aggregate (mostly concrete) with a recycling rate of 85%; and
• 70 million tons of reclaimed asphalt pavements with a recycling rate of 99%.

(Bureau of Transportation Statistics)

8. When demolishing buildings, 98% of steel is recycled back into new products.

Structural steel produced in the United States contains 93% recycled steel scrap. Considering structural steel is being recycled with no loss of physical properties, it can therefore be considered multi-recyclable.

This way, the steel industry has reduced overall carbon emissions by 36% and increased the water recycling rate of steel production to 95% since 1990.

(American Institute of Steel Construction)

9. Construction and demolition waste recycling is estimated to generate nearly $10 billion in wages in the United States alone.

In 2020, the United States Environmental Protection Agency estimated that, based on the latest available data issued in 2012, the recycling of construction and demolition debris created nearly 10,000 jobs. The Recycling Economic Information Report also revealed that construction and demolition debris recycling generated $1 billion in tax revenue in the United States.

(US EPA)

10. 52% of construction and demolition waste is sent to aggregate.

As per the latest available data on construction and demolition waste management by destination, 24% of the total waste generated in the United States in 2018 went to landfills, while 22% was sent to manufactured products.

Another 1% went to fuel, while compost and mulch, as well as soil amendment, each accounted for less than 1% of construction and demolition management destinations.

(US EPA)

11. A total of 456.6 million tons of construction and demolition waste is repurposed for the next use.

The latest available data on construction and demolition waste management reveals that, at 334 million tons, concrete accounted for the majority of that. Asphalt concrete came in second with 102.1 million tons, followed by wood at 11.2 million tons.

3.6 million tons of metal waste generated during construction and demolition was repurposed for next use, while gypsum drywall and asphalt shingles each accounted for 2.1 million tons. Another 1.5 million tons of brick and clay tile construction and demolition waste was repurposed for the next use.

(US EPA)

12. At 313.1 million tons, the majority of construction and demolition waste repurposed for next use went into aggregate.

When observing construction and demolition waste by material that went into aggregate, the majority of it (or 301.2 million tons) was concrete. Asphalt concrete accounted for 10.3 million tons, followed by brick and clay tile at 1.5 million tons. A further 0.1 million tons of asphalt shingles generated during construction and demolition went into aggregate.

(US EPA)

13. 131.6 million tons of construction and demolition waste repurposed for next use went into manufactured products.

Material-wise, the majority of it (or 91.8 million tons) was asphalt concrete. Concrete followed with 32.8 million tons, while 3.6 million tons of metal construction and demolition waste went into manufactured products.

Asphalt shingles, wood, and gypsum drywall accounted for respective 2 million, 1.2 million, and 0.2 million tons of metal construction and demolition waste that went into manufactured products.

(US EPA)

14. 7.5 million tons of construction and demolition waste was repurposed as fuel.

As per the latest available data on construction and demolition waste management by material and destination, almost all of the waste that was repurposed as fuel was wood, while a mere 0.02 million tons was asphalt shingles.

Another 2.5 million tons of construction and demolition waste went into compost and mulch, all of which was wood, while a further 1.9 million tons was repurposed as soil amendment, all of which was gypsum drywall.

(US EPA)

15. 143.8 million tons of construction and demolition waste goes into landfills.

As per the latest available data on construction and demolition waste management, concrete accounted for the majority of it, at 71.2 million tons. Wood ranked second at 29.6 million tons, followed by gypsum drywall and asphalt concrete at 13.2 million and 13 million tons, respectively.

10.8 million tons of brick and clay tile waste generated during construction and demolition went into landfill, and the same applies to 4.9 million tons of asphalt concrete and 1.1 million tons of metal.

(US EPA)

Construction Waste Statistics UK

16. The United Kingdom generates over 67.8 million tons of non-hazardous construction and demolition waste.

The latest available data reveals that, of those, 62.6 million tons are recovered, pointing to a 92.3% recovery rate. Another fact is that construction, demolition, and excavation (including dredging) account for 62% of the total waste generation in the United Kingdom.

(GOV.UK)

17. Construction and demolition activities generate over 850 million tons of waste in the European Union.

The construction sector is the most prominent producer of waste in the European Union, accounting for 35% of the total waste generated.

Out of the total waste generated, soil and dredging spoil account for 522 million tons, meaning the EU generates 336 million tons of construction and demolition waste only. Meanwhile, the latest available data reveals that the recovery rate of construction and demolition waste in the European Union stands at 88%.

(Loughborough University, Eurostat)

Construction Waste Statistics Canada

18. The construction industry in Canada produces about 9 million tons of C&D waste on average each year.

Construction and Demolition (C&D) waste is one of the most significant sources of solid waste in Canada. It accounts for about one-third of the total municipal solid waste produced by Canada, with an estimated annual generation of 9 million tons per year. 

That’s a lot of waste!

The C&D waste comes from two places: firstly, from building sites where it’s generated by construction crews; secondly, from demolition sites where old buildings and infrastructure are torn down. It includes all materials from building sites that are no longer needed, such as leftover wood, concrete, bricks, asphalt, and more.

(Statistique Canada)

19. 27% of the solid waste generated by the Canadian construction industry ends up in landfills.

For one thing, most of this waste is made up of materials that are not harmful to the environment—paper, wood, metal, and concrete. What’s more, these materials can be recycled or reused with minimal effort on the part of industry and government alike.

This statistic highlights how important it is for Canadians to recycle their construction and demolition waste. Recycling can drastically reduce the amount of landfill space used as well as improve air quality by reducing greenhouse gas emissions from landfilling C&D waste.

(Statistique Canada)

Construction Waste Statistics Australia

20. C&D waste comprises 44% of all waste generated in Australia.

Almost half of all waste produced in Australia in 2018-19 came from construction and demolition activities, which generated 27 million tonnes —an increase of 61% since 2006-07.

It’s important to note that these numbers are based on what is disposed of at landfills—not what gets recycled or reused. But even if we include recycling and reuse, it’s clear that there are still a lot of opportunities to reduce our impact on the environment by reducing the amount of waste that ends up in landfills.

Waste generated by the C&D sector is often a mixture of materials that can be recycled or reused, but only if they are separated at the source. Recycling mixed waste is expensive, time-consuming, and inefficient, so separating it at the source is critical for reducing overall waste disposal costs.

(AWE)

Conclusion

The construction industry is an essential part of our economy and society, but it also creates a lot of waste. That’s why we need to take a deeper look at how these materials are managed and disposed of, so we can make sure they’re being handled responsibly and sustainably.

We hope this collection has been helpful in providing you with information on the current state of construction waste management practices. As always, feel free to share this with anyone who might benefit from it! If you have any questions or suggestions regarding this topic, please feel free to reach out anytime!

Thanks for reading, and we’ll see you next time!

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395 Creative Recycling Company Name Ideas

Sources

• American Institute of Steel Construction
• AWE
• Bureau of Transportation Statistics
• Environmental Leader
• Eurostat
• GOV.UK
• Loughborough University
• Statistique Canada
• Transparency Market Research
• United States Environmental Protection Agency

You’re still waiting on your luggage, aren’t you? Yeah, we thought so. We’ve been there, too—it’s the worst. In fact, in 2021, about 1,941,000 reports were filed by U.S. airline passengers who were victims of lost or delayed baggage. That’s a lot of people! But if you think about it, it’s not really surprising: There are a lot of people flying around the world these days, and lots of them have baggage (literally).

But don’t worry! We love statistics and we’re here to help you out. We love being able to quantify the things our customers are so concerned with (and the things we’re concerned with, too). In this post, we’ve put together the latest lost luggage statistics that we hope you’ll find as helpful and informative as we do!

How many people have lost their luggage? What are the best ways to avoid losing your luggage? What can you do if your luggage is lost? Let’s dive in!

Disheartening Lost Luggage Statistics (Editor’s Picks)

• In 2021, 1.94 million bags were mishandled in the US.
• Delta Air Lines had the least percentage of mishandled bags between 2012 and 2018.
• 6.3 million luggage bags were lost or mishandled in 2020 globally.
• In 2020, there was 3.5 lost or mishandled luggage globally per 1,000 passengers.
• Asia’s luggage mishandling rate in 2020 was only 1.15 per 1,000 passengers.
• Delayed bags make up 69% of mishandled bags in 2020.
• An estimated 27% of mishandled bags were damaged in 2020.

United States Lost Luggage Statistics

1. In 2021, a total of 1.94 million bags were mishandled by US airlines.

(Statista)

The good news is that more people got their luggage in 2021 than in 2019.

In 2021, 1.94 million bags were mishandled by airlines in the U.S.—a decrease from 2.8 million mishandled bags reported in 2019.

Although this may sound like a lot of bags to you, it is important to note that the number of mishandled bags has generally been decreasing since 2007 when there were 4.4 million mishandled bags. In 1990, the number of mishandled bags was 2.66 million.

While this number has been decreasing, it might still be too high for your comfort. To ensure you do not have to be one of these statistics, please make sure that your bag is clearly labeled with your name and destination, and keep your baggage tickets on hand during your travels so that if your bag does go astray, you can easily get it back.

2. The odds of an airline mishandling your luggage in the US is around 0.4%.

(LuggageHero)

Bag mishandling is an issue that has been plaguing airports and airlines for years.

LuggageHero looked into the luggage mishandling problem in the US for the first half of 2021. They found that of the 158 million bags that were boarded during this period, 692,884 were mishandled. Of this, only a small percentage is actually lost, and more often than not, lost luggage is found and returned to its owner within two days.

As a passenger, the statistics can be concerning when you’re traveling by air. However, it’s important to know that the number of mishandled bags has decreased over time and that it’s unlikely you will be one of the unlucky few who have their baggage misplaced or lost entirely during your trip. The odds are in your favor!

3. Between 1990 and 2021, 2020 was the year with the least number of mishandled bags.

(Statista)

860,000 bags were lost, damaged, or delayed in 2020. This was the year with the least number of mishandled bags. Some reasons for this are that there were fewer flights and passengers that year due to restrictions implemented due to the COVID-19 pandemic and there were also fewer long-haul flights.

On the other hand, 2007 was the year with the most number of mishandled luggage, reaching 4.4 million that year.

4. Between 2012 and 2018, Envoy Air was the worst US airline when it comes to mishandling luggage.

(Forbes)

The said airline mishandled 6.76 bags per 1,000 that were enplaned. During this period, smaller airlines performed the worst in handling their passengers’ luggage. For example, for every 1,000 passengers, Skywest Airlines mishandled 6 bags and ExpressJet Airlines mishandled 5.9 bags.

5. Delta Air Lines had the least percentage of mishandled bags between 2012 and 2018.

(Forbes)

This major US airline that’s headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia had a mishandled luggage rate of 1.55 bags for every 1,000 passengers. Next in line as some of the best-performing US airlines were Frontier Airlines (1.8 bags), Spirit Airlines (1.9 bags), Hawaiian Airlines (2 bags), JetBlue Airways (2 bags), and United Airlines (2.9 bags).

6. The latest monthly data shows that 195,084 bags were mishandled in the US.

(Department of Transportation)

In October 2021, a total of 36,958,838 bags were enplaned, and 195,084 were reported as mishandled. This includes bags that are lost, damaged, or delayed. For every 1,000 bags that were enplaned that month, 5.28 were mishandled.

There is an increase from 2019 when only 3.52 bags were mishandled for every 1,000 that were enplaned. This is equivalent to 63,151 mishandled bags out of 17,925,929 bags enplaned in 2019.

7. In October 2021, American Airlines mishandled 7.94 bags per 1,000 passengers.

(Department of Transportation)

The latest statistics show that of all the major operating airlines that month, American Airlines had the highest percentage of mishandled luggage. Of the 5,417,841 bags enplaned by the airline, 43,035 were lost, damaged, or delayed. Envoy Air was second in line, with 7.71 mishandled bags per 1,000 passengers.

Global Lost Luggage Statistics

8. In 2020, 6.3 million luggage bags were lost or mishandled around the world.

(SITA)

Isn’t it always the worst when you’re waiting at baggage claim and you’re the only one without a bag? It’s almost like every single person in line is staring at you in pity.

It’s even worse if you’re traveling for work or to see a loved one and all your clothes are in that bag. You can’t show up to the office or family dinner in your sweatpants.

But if you’ve ever had this experience, don’t worry—you’re not alone.

In 2020, 6.3 million luggage bags were lost or mishandled globally. This shows an 87% reduction from 2007 when a whopping 46.9 million bags was lost or mishandled even though there were only 2.48 billion passengers that year.

To better understand this, you must know that there’s a difference between “mishandled” and “lost.” “Mishandled” is a broader term that covers everything from being sent to the wrong city to just being late. A lot of mishandled baggage ends up being delayed or misplaced—not actually lost.

When we hear statistics like these, the first thing we ask is “what can be done?” If we look at why so many luggage bags go missing and what travelers can do about it, there are a few simple things you can do to make sure your luggage heads where you head:

• Get a packing system that makes your luggage easy to pick out of a crowd.
• Use a tracking system so you know exactly where your bag is at all times (and perhaps most importantly—where it is NOT).
• Use a tamper-resistant lock; this will help prevent theft and inform you when someone has opened your bag without authorization.

The International Air Transport Association predicts that the number of passengers on flights will likely return to pre-pandemic levels in 2023. I guess we’ll see how airlines fare by then with how they handle their passengers’ luggage.

9. In 2020, there was 3.5 lost or mishandled luggage per 1,000 passengers.

(SITA)

If you’ve ever been on a plane, you’ve experienced the sheer terror of watching your luggage go around and around in that carousel after your flight lands. It’s like you’re thinking: “Oh my god, how do I keep this thing from disappearing? What if it gets lost? What if I never see it again?”

Well, it turns out that out of every 1000 passengers, 3.5 passengers experienced exactly that kind of panic in 2020—and for good reason. 

There was a 60.5% year-on-year decrease in passengers that year. In 2019, there were 4.54 billion passengers on flights, while in 2020, that number went down to 1.80 billion. This decrease in passengers and flights contributed to the 37.5% year-on-year decrease in lost or mishandled luggage in 2020.

If you’re someone who has flown with luggage recently, chances are good you’ll be affected by at least one instance of mishandled baggage. Airlines have been doing everything they can to improve their baggage handling processes and track down missing luggage, but there’s still room for improvement—we’d all like to see those numbers come down!

10. There was a 37.5% year-on-year decrease in lost or mishandled luggage from 2019 to 2020.

(SITA)

In 2019, 5.6 bags were lost or mishandled per 1,000 passengers. This shows a significant decrease when it reached only 3.5 in 2020. In 2019, the number of lost or mishandled luggage per 1,000 passengers was a little higher, at 5.69. To put things into perspective, there were 4.36 billion passengers that year.

11. In Europe, the number of mishandled bags per 1,000 passengers decreased from 16.60 in 2007 to 4.61 in 2020.

(Finder)

Europe pales in comparison to Asia and the US when it comes to handling luggage on flights. However, the region has finally been doing something to correct this previously huge problem.

In just a year, the mishandling rate in the region decreased by 13%, from 8.06 lost or mishandled bags in 2018 to 6.94 in 2017. From 2008 to 2018, the mishandled luggage rate in Europe decreased by 58%, which is quite impressive.

12. Asia’s luggage mishandling rate in 2020 was only 1.15 per 1,000 passengers.

(SITA)

While Europe struggled with luggage mishandling since 2007, Asia was ending the year with only 3.05 lost or mishandled luggage per 1,000 passengers. This figure is pretty impressive, even better than North America’s rate of 7.05 that same year. Meanwhile, in 2020, Asia has the least number of mishandled luggage among these three continents.

According to the Director of Industry and Regulatory Affairs of the Association of Asia Pacific Airlines, technology plays a huge role in the improvement of baggage handling in Asia.

13. 97% of lost luggage is found and returned to its owner within two days.

(Student Universe)

Have you ever been on a vacation and suffered the agony of waiting in the airport baggage claim, only to find out that your suitcases never made it onto the plane? Or perhaps you’ve arrived home from a trip and your bags were nowhere in sight. It’s heartbreaking—your clothes, your toiletries, that souvenir you picked up at the gift shop on a layover… it’s all just gone!

But did you know that 97% of lost luggage is found and returned to its owner within two days? That means there is still hope! You’ll be reunited with your belongings in no time.

This figure was taken before the COVID-19 pandemic hit. Recently, it’s been taking airlines longer to track lost luggage, taking anywhere from a few days to sometimes up to a week.

There are numerous reasons why it’s taking a long time for lost luggage to be returned. The label might have come off, it could’ve been sent to the wrong destination, or it could even have been stolen by someone.

14. 66% of airlines are planning to implement contactless methods to report mishandled luggage.

(SITA)

In order to remedy long lines at baggage counters, a majority of airlines want to implement contactless ways to report instances of luggage mishandling, which can be done from the passenger’s mobile device.

This method will also ensure that quick action will be taken since reporting will be made easier and faster. Self-service technologies like this will help airlines implement a faster and more automated journey for their passengers.

Breakdown of Mishandled Luggage

15. Delayed bags made up 69% of mishandled bags in 2020.

(SITA)

Delays remain the top reason why bags are mishandled in airports. However, it should be noted that in 2020 there was a 6% decrease from 2019.

Flight transfers pose the greatest risk in handling bags and are where most of the mishandling happens. Bad weather also causes airlines to take some time to transport your baggage from the plane to the claim area.

16. In 2020, 27% of mishandled bags were damaged.

(SITA)

The number of damaged or pilfered bags saw an increase from the previous year. So, what luggage components are covered? Well, that would be handles, straps, wheels, and other problems like having holes or cracks on the bag.

If you notice that your luggage is damaged, file a report at the airline’s baggage counter at the airport before you leave.

17. Of the 6.3 million mishandled bags in 2020, only 4% were reported lost.

(SITA)

It’s no secret that 2020 has been a hard year for the airline industry. With international travel down by over 75%, airlines have had to cancel flights, lay off employees, and even file for bankruptcy.

But here’s some good news: lost luggage rates are down! In fact, of the 6.3 million mishandled bags in 2020, only 4% were reported lost. This means the lost luggage rate saw a decrease of 1% from 2019.

The reason for this decline is unclear at this time, but we’re hoping it’s a sign that luggage handlers are taking extra care with our bags these days as they struggle to keep jobs in this difficult economic climate.

To prevent the loss of luggage, you can take some steps. First of all, you can put a microchip or tag on your luggage to help in identifying it. You can also fill out the identification card that’s provided on your suitcase. Upon checking in, you should also ensure that the tag is printed correctly with the appropriate destination airport. Lastly, take a picture of your suitcase so you can easily show it to the airline in case of loss.

We know things have been rough lately, but this might be one silver lining to look forward to: less lost luggage!

Reasons for Lost or Delayed Luggage

18. Mishandling during transfers remains the number one reason for lost or delayed luggage.

(SITA)

Around 37% of bags lost or delayed in transit are due to mishandling during flight transfers. This percentage saw a decrease from 45% in 2019, so it’s not all bad. However, it should be noted that one reason for this decrease is the reduction of long-haul flights due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

19. 20% of mishandled baggage happens because the baggage itself was not loaded on the plane.

(SITA)

While transfer mishandling decreased in 2020, failure to load saw an increase, along with bag switches and ticketing errors (19%), tagging errors (6%), and weather conditions (10%).

Related Questions (FAQ)

How often does checked baggage get lost?

For every 1,000 airport passengers, 3.5 bags are mishandled. This figure in 2020 shows a continuous decline amidst reduce workforces at airlines and airports worldwide. This reduction in lost and mishandled bags can be attributed to fewer flights and passengers and reduced long-haul flights.

What percentage of luggage gets lost?

Of the 3.5 mishandled bags per 1,000 airport passengers in 2020, 4% are considered lost or stolen. This saw a reduction of 1% from 2019. Additionally, 69% of mishandled bags are considered delayed, and 27% have been damaged. The percentage of damaged bags increased from its 2019 figure.

Do airlines usually find lost luggage?

If your bag doesn’t reach your destination when you do, don’t worry. Statistics show that 97% of lost luggage eventually finds its way to its owner within two days. This is because airlines are fairly quick in locating lost luggage and getting it on the next flight to your location.

How long does it take for lost luggage to be returned?

It usually takes airlines 24 to 48 hours to locate any lost luggage in previous years. However, ever since the COVID-19 pandemic hit, airlines are taking longer to track down lost luggage. In fact, the process takes a few days to a week nowadays.

How do airlines handle lost luggage?

Airlines will always do their best to locate any lost luggage. They have tracking systems in place to know your luggage’s location and estimated arrival time. If they’re unable to track your luggage within a certain time frame or if they permanently lose it, you will be compensated or reimbursed.

How do I deal with lost luggage?

When an airline loses your luggage, the first thing you should do is go to the baggage desk and file a claim. Also, provide a delivery address since many airlines will deliver your luggage for free. Sometimes, you can track your bag via their website or an app.

Conclusion

Well, that’s all for today! We hope you have enjoyed our little compilation of the most interesting lost luggage statistics from around the world.

Thanks for joining us on this journey! We’ve looked at the lost baggage numbers, and we’ve seen that there are plenty of ways to improve your chances of keeping your luggage out of the land of lost suitcases.

Of course, it’s important to remember that even if you do everything right, sometimes your luggage will still be lost. The most important thing is to have a plan in place for when that happens.

Tracking your luggage is a great first step. This way, you can know if something’s gone wrong before you even get off the plane—and you won’t have to deal with the unknown.

Thanks again for reading, and see you next time!

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Sources

• Department of Transportation
• Finder
• Forbes
• LuggageHero
• SITA
• Statista
• StudentUniverse

You’ve probably heard that the LGBT community is at risk of discrimination. But did you know that these numbers can be tracked and that we can actually quantify how much of a problem this is? In this blog post, we share LGBT discrimination statistics that are both shocking and terrifying. It’s not a pretty story—but it’s one worth telling so that we can all work together towards a better tomorrow. These statistics about LGBT discrimination prove where we are as a society, and how much work we still have to do to get to where we should be.

We know that sometimes it can feel like there’s a disparity between the progress made on LGBT rights and the pace at which it’s actually happening. And that’s okay—we’ve all been there, and we’re right there with you.

For many of us, it can be hard to imagine what life is like for people who don’t enjoy the same privileges we do. It’s easy to forget that for some people in the world, their very existence is an offense. Or that they are judged based on who they are and who they love.

We believe that providing you with facts and statistics about this type of discrimination is important because we want you to know what’s really happening in your country and around the world. We want you to know what you can do to help change things for the better.

The following statistics should help you better understand what life is like for members of the LGBT community living in America and the rest of the world today.

LGBT Discrimination Statistics Around The World

1. Azerbaijan was ranked the worst country for LGBT discrimination in 2021

(ILGA Europe)

The ILGA Europe annual benchmarking tool, known as the “Rainbow Map”, illustrates the legal policy and discrimination situation of LGBT people across Europe. The map features the rankings of 49 European countries, looking at their respective legal and policy practices.

To create the ranking, ILGA looks at equality and hate crime, hate speech, legal recognition, and various other factors. For 2021, the lowest-ranked country on the map was Azerbaijan, with only a 2% rating, followed by Turkey at 4%, and Armenia at 8%.

For the sixth year in a row, Malta achieved the number one spot on the Rainbow map, with a score of 94%. Malta recently published new policy guidelines for LGBTI asylum claims.

2. 81% of countries prohibit discrimination in employment based on sexual orientation

(ILGA)

The annual State-Sponsored Homophobia report, looking at sexual orientation laws around the world, found as of 2020, 81 countries in total prohibited discrimination in employment as a result of sexual orientation. These countries include the United States, UK, Switzerland, Canada, Australia, Germany, France, Mexico, and the Netherlands.

3. 62% number of people in the UK say they have been harassed as a result of LGBT discrimination

(FRA)

A survey conducted by the European Agency for Fundamental Rights across 30 countries found little progress has been made to minimize discrimination in Europe and the UK over the last 7 years. Around 62% of LGBT people in the UK say they had been harassed in the last five years. This is 6 points higher than the European average of 56%.

The number of people in the UK who say they have been violently attacked as a result of discrimination has gone up by 9 points in the last five years, and more than half of the respondents in the study said they always or often avoid holding hands with same-sex partners in public.

The report notes people are cautious about being open with their sexuality and gender identity across Europe. Only 47% of people say they are fairly open, compared to 56% in the UK.

4. Over 90% of all LGBT people believe they are discriminated against in the US

(Harvard)

A report conducted by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, NPR, and Harvard into the discrimination against LGBTQ people in the US found that 90% of people believe there is significant discrimination against people identifying as bisexual, gay, and lesbian. 91% of people said they think there is active discrimination against transgender people.

Around 43% believe discrimination comes from individual prejudice issues, while 33% believe the biggest problem comes from a lack of appropriate government policies and laws. Older people are more likely to identify the issue of individual prejudice as being bigger than the issue of poor legal policies.

5. Over 1 in 3 LGBT Americans faced discrimination in 2020

(CAP)

The CAP report on the state of LGBT discrimination conducted in 2020 found countless LGBT people continue to face discrimination in the public sphere, and in their workplace, leading to a host of adverse consequences for these people’s physical, mental, and financial wellbeing.

More than 1 in 3 LGBTQ Americans in the study felt they faced discrimination of some kind during 2020. This number increased to 3 in 5 for Transgender Americans. 1 in 2 people within the study also said discrimination and exposure to instances of discrimination have negatively influenced their economic and mental wellbeing.

6. 14,491 hate crimes were recorded against LGBT people in 2019

(Gov.UK)

A report released by the UK government about the rise of hate crimes throughout the country revealed discrimination in the region could be leading to an increase in certain crimes. In 2019, the police recorded 14,491 crimes committed against people because of their sexual orientation.

Additionally, 2,333 offenses against transgender people occurred based on their sexual identity. These included verbal abuse, threats, intimidation, harassment, bullying, assault, and damage to property.

We have to do better.

7. Hate crime has increased 9% in the UK over the last year

(Gov.UK)

In the year ending March 2021, the police and government in the UKL reported 124,091 hate crimes in England and Wales. This is an increase of approximately 9% from the year before. Hate crimes reported included a number of forms of harassment and discrimination issued against people based on their race, sexuality, or gender identity.

Notably, the report suggests increases in police recorded hate crimes are not due to an increase in discrimination against LGBT people and individuals of certain races. Rather, the researchers believe the increase has been driven by improvements in crime recording.

8. Iceland was the only country in 2021 to advance trans rights

(ILGA Europe)

The ILGA Europe Rainbow Map, measuring discrimination and equality throughout Europe, noticed a number of positive changes throughout 2021 for LGBT citizens. Norway extended legal protection from hate crime to its Penal Code, and various countries like Portugal and Northern Ireland removed all restrictions on LGBT people for blood donation.

However, Iceland was the only country in 2021 to implement legal recognition for non-binary people over the 12 months prior to the release of the report.

Malta was also the only country in the 12 months prior to the report to introduce changes affecting the protection of LGBT asylum rights.

9. In 27 states throughout the US there are no state-wide laws protecting LGBT people from discrimination in employment, housing, and public accommodations

(Freedom for all Americans)

According to a regularly-updated infographic produced by the Freedom for All Americans website, in 27 states throughout America, there are no specific state-wide laws protecting people from discrimination based on their gender identity or sexuality when it comes to housing, employment, or public accommodations.

The website highlights there is currently 1 state where laws protect people from discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation in employment (Wisconsin), however, no gender identity protections are in place. Utah provides some protections for LGBT people.

In 21 states and the district of Columbia, laws have been enforced to protect those in the LGBT community.

10. Protection against discrimination could be promoting acceptance of LGBTQ lifestyles

(Gallup)

According to a Gallup report in 2021, the number of LGBT people identifying as such in the United States increased to a record-breaking 7.1% from 5.6% in 2020. According to the report, one in five Gen Z adults identified as LGBT, and bisexual identification was the most common.

According to the report, the number of adults considering themselves to be LGBT has grown at a faster pace between 2020 and 2021, as more of Gen Z has reached adulthood. The Gallup researchers believe part of the increase has to do with the legal protections available against discrimination.

11. A record number of murders against trans people occurred in 2020

(HRC)

A report by the Human Rights Campaign found a record number of murders were committed against transgender and gender non-conforming people in 2020. The report also recorded more violent crimes toward transgender people than any year since the group started tracking the data in 2013.

The report further found sexual violence and sexual assault had increased against transgender people, with 50% of transgender respondents saying they had been assaulted sexually at least once in their life.

12. Hate crimes based on sexual orientation represent 16.7% of all crimes

(FBI)

As reported by the FBI in 2019, 16.7% of all misconduct are hate crimes based on sexual orientation: this accounts for the third-largest category of hate crime behind race and religion.

In addition to the increase in the number of hate crimes involving sexual orientation, there was also an increase in the number of hate crimes involving gender identity. Overall, 2.2% of all hate crimes in 2018 involved gender identity, a number that rose to 2.7% in 2019.

The report also noted that because reporting hate crimes to the Federal Bureau of Investigation is not a mandatory requirement, the numbers likely only represent a small fraction of the true problem.

LGBT Discrimination in Life and Housing

13. 24% of LGBTQ people of color have experienced discrimination from a healthcare provider

(American Progress)

Reports by AmericnaProgress.org indicate discrimination against LGBT people may be significantly worse for people of color. The report shared around 24% of LGBTQ people of color have reported some form of discriminatory treatment from a healthcare provider or doctor.

Approximately 18% of the people in the study said they had to teach a doctor about their sexual orientation to get the right level of care, while 8% of white LGBTQ respondents reported the same issue.

A further 10% of LGBTQ people of color had a doctor refuse to see them entirely because of their sexual orientation and 19% said their doctor was visibly uncomfortable working with them. 4% and 11% of white respondents shared the same experiences.

14. 40% of trans people in the UK have experienced discrimination when seeking housing

(Trans Lives Survey 2021)

The Trans Lives survey, taking insights from the “TransActual Community Voice Survey” in the UK, revealed 40% of respondents have experienced transphobia when looking for housing opportunities in Britain. A further 27% said they have also experienced homelessness during their lives.

The report also found around 63% of respondents experienced transphobia while seeking employment opportunities, rising to approximately 73% of BPOC residents.

15. More than half of states lack laws explicitly banning discrimination against LGBTQ Americans for housing purposes.

(American Progress)

According to an analysis of the hardships LGBTQ people may face in the modern world by American Progress, more than half of states have no laws explicitly banning discrimination against LGBTQ Americans when it comes to assessing housing and loan applications.

44% of LGBT people of color say they have experienced discrimination preventing them from purchasing or renting a home to some degree. Approximately 32% of white LGBTQ respondents said they experienced the same discrimination.

The report also found that 26% of LGBTQ people of color experienced discrimination in an apartment environment, while 14% of respondents had similar issues.

16. 93% of UK Trans people believe the media has influenced the discrimination they experience in everyday life.

(Trans Lives Survey 2021)

The Trans Lives survey conducted in the UK in 2021 revealed that 99% of trans people have experienced transphobia and discrimination when using social media, and another 97% have seen discrimination in print and digital media.

According to the people in the study, 93% believed media transphobia and lack of correct representation have impacted the discrimination they experience from strangers on the street. 85% also believe transphobic rhetoric in the media has influenced how their family treats them, while 81% said this was also true of colleagues, and 70% said it was true for friends.

Over 70% of the respondents believed media discrimination has impacted their mental health.

17. Half of LGBT Americans hide personal relationships due to discrimination

(CAP)

A report on the State of the LGBTQ Community in 2020 found Americans often hide personal relationships to avoid discrimination. More than half of the respondents in the report said they have hidden a personal relationship due to fear of discrimination. Around one-fifth to a third of other respondents said they have altered some part of their work or personal lives.

College-educated and younger LGBT individuals were more likely than older respondents to report they had hidden a personal relationship from others. Two-thirds of Gen Z respondents said they have hidden a relationship.

LGBT Discrimination in Health and Social Situations

18. 1 in 5 LGBTQ people avoid medical care out of worry about discrimination

(Harvard)

A report compiled by Harvard, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, and NPR found that 16% of LGBTQ people reported being discriminated against as a result of their identity when seeing a doctor or visiting a health clinic, and 18% of respondents avoid doctors for this reason.

When it comes to accessing healthcare, 31% of respondents said they have no regular health care professional or doctor providing most of their care.

19. 34% of LGBTQ Americans say they’ve been harassed when using a restroom

(Robert Wood Johnson Foundation)

A report developed by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, Harvard T.H Chan Public Health school, and the NPR found that 34% of LGBTQ people in America said they had been verbally harassed when using a restroom.

The report also found a majority of all LGBTQ Americans say they or a family member or friend who is also LGBTQ have experienced various forms of discrimination. 57% say they have been threatened or harassed (in a non-sexual manner) because of their identity. A majority of LGBTQ respondents also say they or a loved one has experienced violence (51%) or been sexually harassed (51%) as a result of their identity.

20. 14% of Trans people in the UK have been refused GP care on account of their gender identity

(Trans Lives Survey 2021)

For LGBT people, gender identity can be a significant problem when gaining access to crucial services, like healthcare. In the UK, 14% of trans respondents in the Trans Lives survey said they were refused GP care because of being trans, while 70% said they had been impacted by discrimination when accessing healthcare.

45% of the respondents in the study felt the GP didn’t fully understand their needs, and 57% reported avoiding going to the doctor entirely when unwell. Notably, people with disabilities in the Trans community in the UK are more likely to experience delays when attempting to access transition-related healthcare, with 93% feeling their treatment has been delayed.

21. 36% of LGBTQ people of color and 32% of white LGBTQ people avoid public spaces

(American Progress)

A report by American Progress found a significant number of LGBTQ people (36% of respondents of color and 32% of white respondents) avoided public spaces like stores in their everyday lives to avoid discrimination and abuse.

21% of respondents of color and 17% of white respondents also said they avoided getting necessary services for themselves or their family in fear of discrimination. Another 16% of colored and 8% of white respondents also avoided adding children to their family to reduce the risk of discrimination.

The study also found that 21% of respondents of color and 16% of white respondents avoided public travel to minimize their exposure to harassment and discrimination.

22. 57% of LGBTQ people experience slurs about their identity

(Harvard)

A study conducted by Harvard, NPR, and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation found that 57% of LGBTQ people in America say they have been exposed to slurs due to their sexual orientation or their identity. A further 53% of respondents also experienced offensive or insensitive comments about their gender identity or sexuality.

What’s worse, most LGBTQ people say they’re concerned about seeking support from the police. 16% of LGBTQ respondents felt they had been discriminated against by the police during interactions. A further 30% said they have avoided calling the police and other authority figures when in need out of fear of discrimination.

23. 67% of trans women and 60% of trans men have experienced transphobia when using public transport in the UK

(Trans Lives Survey 2021)

The Trans Lives Survey conducted in 2021 found countless non-binary, trans, and LGBTQ people throughout the UK experience discrimination in various parts of their lives. Around 67% of the trans women in the report said they experienced discrimination when using public transport, and 60% of trans men felt the same way. 63% of non-binary people experienced discrimination when using busses, trains, and other transport systems.

A further 72% of respondents said they felt they had been exposed to transphobia and instances of hate when trying to access standard goods and services, like retail products, or help from a plumber, electrician, or handyman.

24. 66% of transgender Americans believe discrimination significantly influences their psychological wellbeing

(CAP)

According to the CAP study on the state of the LGBTQ Community in 2020, Transgender individuals experience significantly high rates of physical, spiritual, and psychological harm based on discrimination. 66% of the respondents in the study reported a significant impact on their mental health due to discrimination.

Another 46% of respondents said they had experienced significant physical health problems due to discrimination. The effect of discrimination had an even higher impact on black respondents, with 4 out of 5 respondents reporting moderate or significant damage to their mental health, and 65% reporting damage to their physical wellbeing.

LGBT Discrimination in Work and Finance

25. 10% of LGBT employees have left a job due to lack of acceptance

(Zippia)

A Zippia study into workplace discrimination against LGBT people in 2022 found that 10% of employees have left a job because the environment did not show acceptance of LGBT people. Furthermore, 36% of the LGBT people in this study said they have experienced harassment or discrimination in the workplace.

This identifies the workplace as the second most common space where LGBT people experience discrimination, topped only by public spaces at 51%.

The report notes that 25% of LGBT people reported experiencing discrimination based on their gender identity or sexual orientation in the past year. A total of 90% of transgender people experienced harassment or discrimination on the job.

26. 93% of Fortune 500 Companies have non-discrimination policies for sexual orientation in place

(HRC)

The HRC Corporate Equality Index for 2022 looked at the discrimination and inclusion policies of 1,271 companies in 2022. According to this report, which focuses on companies in the United States, around 93% of all Fortune 500 companies had a sexual orientation non-discrimination policy in place. A further 91% of respondents had a non-discrimination policy in place for gender identity.

66% of the Fortune 500 companies in the report had transgender-inclusive benefits available for employees, while another 56% had domestic partner benefits.

The report also found that 99.8% of CEI-rated employers include “sexual orientation” as part of their non-discrimination policies, and 99.7% include the terms “gender identity”.

27. Nearly 1 in 10 LGBTQ people experienced workplace discrimination in the US in 2020

(Williams Institute)

A report published by the Williams Institute at the University of California in 2021 found approximately 1 in 10 LGBTQ people in the US experienced some form of workplace discrimination in the previous year. A further 46% of respondents said they had experienced unfair treatment during their career as a result of their gender identity or sexuality.

Examples of discrimination reported by the people in the study included being harassed at work, denied a raise or promotion opportunity, being ignored for a new job, or even being excluded from events for the entire workforce. A further 9% said they were fired or denied a job in the previous twelve months due to their gender identity or sexuality.

28. 80% of non-binary people have experienced transphobia from colleagues at work

(Trans Lives Survey 2021)

The Trans Lives survey study in the UK found around 80% of non-binary people had experienced some examples of transphobia from colleagues, compared to approximately 73% of trans women and the same percentage of trans men feeling the same way.

Further, 69% of black people and people of color said they experienced transphobia from a line manager at work. People of color reported consistently higher levels of transphobia from colleagues than white respondents, 88% compared to 73%.

29. One-Third of LGBT people find discrimination impacts their financial wellbeing

(CAP)

The CAP report on the state of the LGBT Community in 2020 found that 29% of respondents believe discrimination has moderately or heavily influenced their financial wellbeing. 37% of black respondents and 54% of transgender respondents believe discrimination has had an impact on their economic situation.

More than a third of LGBT Americans also said they believe their ability to be hired has been negatively affected by discrimination in 2020. 31% of respondents went on to say they feel discrimination has influenced their ability to retain employment, gain a promotion, or earn a higher salary from their existing job.

Transgender individuals had the greatest difficulty with employment-based discrimination, with 53% believing such discrimination harmed their ability to be hired.

30. LGBTQ people in America are more likely to live in poverty

(American Progress)

A report into the impact of discrimination on LGBT people in 2021 conducted by American Progress found 15% of LGBTQ respondents of color and 9% of white respondents had no high school diploma, while 30% of colored respondents had a college degree, and 36% of white respondents said the same.

Despite this, the report revealed that 48% of the respondents of color also had an income of under $40,000 a year, and 41% of white respondents had an income of the same level. 32% of respondents of color and 20% of white respondents said they relied on assistance from the SNAP program for supplemental nutrition.

31. 22% of LGBTQ people in the US say they have experienced discrimination at work

(Harvard)

A report conducted in collaboration with Harvard found that 22% of LGBTQ people have personally experienced discrimination against their identity when it came to being considered for a promotion, or being paid an equal amount to their counterparts.

Around 20% reported discrimination when applying for jobs, and one in 5 LGBTQ people even say they have been discriminated against when applying for, or attending college.

In the report, Harvard also found LGBTQ people of color were more than twice as likely to be discriminated against because of their sexuality or identity when applying for jobs.

32. 1 in 4 LGBTQ employees say they were sexually harassed at work in 2020

(Williams Institute)

A study into LGBTQ discrimination and harassment in the workplace by the Williams Institute found that 1 in 4 employees said they had experienced sexual harassment at work. A further 1 in 5 respondents said they had experienced some form of physical harassment, including being hit or “beaten up”.

Reports of discrimination were particularly high among people of color in the study, with 29% saying they had been denied a job due to their identity. A further 36% of LGBTQ respondents of color said they had experienced verbal harassment during their careers.

33. 93% of CEI-rated employees support LGBTQ employment diversity

(HRC)

The Corporate Equality Index report for 2022 produced by HRC found around 93% of CEI-rated employers offered their employees a robust set of practices for supporting LGBTQ diversity. A further 93% also offered an employee diversity council or resource group with included LGBT programming and support.

The report also found that 662 major businesses have now implemented gender transition guidelines intended to help establish best practices for transgender inclusion.

34. In the UK, Nearly half of LGBTQ+ psychiatrists experience hostility at work

(RC Psych)

A study conducted by the Representative Body for the Royal College of Psychiatrists found around 48% of respondents said they had experienced negative treatment in the past based on their gender identity or sexuality.

A total of 2,282 people responded to the study overall, with 572 of those identifying as LGBTQ+. Notably, the report found the number of people facing abuse in the workplace was much higher for psychiatrists from minority backgrounds (Black and Asian). 58% said they had experienced microaggressions, harassment, and bullying.

Microaggressions, identified as hostile comments and behaviors were the most common form of hostility reported in the study.

35. 31% of LGBTQ workers feel depressed or unhappy at work

(HRC)

An HRC study on the climate for LGBTQ+ workers throughout the United States revealed 31% of respondents say they feel depressed or unhappy at work. Around 534% of respondents said they report hearing inappropriate jokes about LGBT people once in a while, and 1 in 5 have been told by co-workers how they should dress.

As a result, the HRC report notes around 46% of LGBT employees in the US today say they are closeted at work, compared to 50% who said the same thing in 2008.

28% of respondents said they’re constantly lying about their personal life, and 20% have stayed home from work because they felt their workplace wasn’t accepting of them.

36. 10-28% of LGBT people were given a negative performance review based on being gay or transgender

(Zippia)

A Zippia report exploring the presence of discrimination in the workplace for LGBT people found that 1 in 5 people were discriminated against because of their identity when being considered for a promotion. 10% to 28% of respondents said they received a negative performance evaluation or were passed over for a promotion because they were transgender or gay.

A further 47% of people said they had experienced an adverse job outcome because they were transgender. This included 23% of people who were denied a promotion, 44% who were passed over for a job, and 26% who were fired due to being transgender.

Conclusion

By now, you should have a pretty good sense of what life is like for LGBT people and how discrimination affects them on a daily basis—and not just in their personal lives.

In addition to the statistics about discrimination against LGBT people in the workplace, we saw that members of the LGBT community are discriminated against when they want to adopt or foster children, they face unfair treatment in the criminal justice system, and they are disproportionately affected by homelessness.

All of this makes it clear that discrimination against gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender people is far from over in our country. It’s a real social issue that needs to be addressed as soon as possible.

When we think about all of these numbers, we can’t help but feel a little overwhelmed.

It’s important to remember that even though the problem is big, we can make a difference by taking small steps to create change. You can help just by being a good friend or neighbor to someone different from you, or by talking with your family about what you’ve learned here.

You have everything you need inside of you to be an incredible person who makes other people’s lives better. You are capable of doing so much good in this world!

What do you think about these statistics? Are you surprised by what you read? Let us know.

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Sources

• American Progress
• CAP
• FBI
• FRA
• Freedom for all Americans
• Gallup
• Gov.UK
• Gov.UK
• Harvard
• HRC
• HRC
• HRC
• HRC
• ILGA
• ILGA Europe
• RC Psych
• Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
• Trans Lives Survey 2021
• Williams Institute
• Zippia