"Things You Wouldn't Know If We Didn't Blog Intermittently."
08 April 2026
Worldwide toilet paper consumption
I'm not particularly surprised that the U.S. leads the world in this metric, but the numbers are unexpected. Per capita usage of 141 rolls per year would mean 2-3 rolls every week. How many squares are people using???
Got myself one of the squeezy bottle ones during Covid and was a fan but kinda fell out of using it. I could see a fancy Japanese toilets in my future.
I'm not surprised about the US either, but from me that's just based on lazy stereotypes, and whatever the reason, it's surprising to see the US *and* Germany at the top.
Codex: This is just market research on how much is being sold. Doesn't really give any information. Are there more GI issues? Is it more affordable? Demographics? Are they using alternatives? Parts of Europe love wipes.
this is as good a place as any to add a little morsel from the times of toilet paper buying sprees early in the pandemic – i believe i heard it on a german news radio station that the ensuing shortages are not a trivial matter to immediately resolve because toilet paper consumption is one of the industries that deals with such a consistent and predictable level of demand that they can’t just start cranking out at a faster rate. on the up side, they said, it’s going to resolve mostly by itself because those who bought enough for the coming weeks aren’t going to be in the market for more.
i remember deriving quite a bit of amusement from getting pointed out that the number of number-twos depends to such a degree on the number of rear ends bringing them forth.
One of Conan O'Brien's producers (with which he had a lot of fun) told of using the shower as a bidet. I suppose it makes full sense. After all, some of us get in the shower with a great deal of filth on us, yet it doesn't make us think the shower is contaminated from then on.
If someone is using a bidet (or a shower) to get fully clean after using the restroom, the might explain lower toilet paper usage. I note that the Japanese, who are especially into enhancing the toilet experience, use much less toilet paper.
I suppose American rolls could be denser or smaller diameter on average? Since the fine print said that the original figures are kilograms, not rolls. I wonder if they are including the large public bathroom size in the figures, and if countries have any significant differences in the ratio of small:large consumption.
When I was in high school, I had some car trouble that my father had to tend. He opened the trunk and saw 26 rolls of toilet paper. The only thing he said: if our house gets hit, you'll be the only one cleaning it up!
My father understood teenager shenanigans. Back then, so did cops. I really don't think the cops ever seriously chased us. We were on foot. How fast could we go to get to the car parked down the street?
The chart says 90g per roll. I measured my Costco toilet rolls and they are 201g (including cardboard center but I think that is negligible). So divide the USA chart number by 2.2, and I get 1.2 rolls per week. Which still seems high... I think it is closer to 0.3 for me and my partner.
I was very skeptical of bidets until I got over myself and used one. It really is great.
ReplyDeleteGot myself one of the squeezy bottle ones during Covid and was a fan but kinda fell out of using it. I could see a fancy Japanese toilets in my future.
DeleteI'm not surprised about the US either, but from me that's just based on lazy stereotypes, and whatever the reason, it's surprising to see the US *and* Germany at the top.
ReplyDeleteDuring Covid I discovered my husband was using a ton of toilet paper. He uses much less now.
ReplyDeleteCodex: This is just market research on how much is being sold. Doesn't really give any information. Are there more GI issues? Is it more affordable? Demographics? Are they using alternatives? Parts of Europe love wipes.
ReplyDeleteI think (well, hope) that a large percentage of that US usage winds up in trees
ReplyDeleteI'm very, very suspicious of those stats. Japan is the universe epicenter for bidet use, yet is #4 in the world? Doesn't pass the smell test.
ReplyDeletethis is as good a place as any to add a little morsel from the times of toilet paper buying sprees early in the pandemic – i believe i heard it on a german news radio station that the ensuing shortages are not a trivial matter to immediately resolve because toilet paper consumption is one of the industries that deals with such a consistent and predictable level of demand that they can’t just start cranking out at a faster rate. on the up side, they said, it’s going to resolve mostly by itself because those who bought enough for the coming weeks aren’t going to be in the market for more.
ReplyDeletei remember deriving quite a bit of amusement from getting pointed out that the number of number-twos depends to such a degree on the number of rear ends bringing them forth.
raphael
One of Conan O'Brien's producers (with which he had a lot of fun) told of using the shower as a bidet. I suppose it makes full sense. After all, some of us get in the shower with a great deal of filth on us, yet it doesn't make us think the shower is contaminated from then on.
ReplyDeleteIf someone is using a bidet (or a shower) to get fully clean after using the restroom, the might explain lower toilet paper usage. I note that the Japanese, who are especially into enhancing the toilet experience, use much less toilet paper.
I suppose American rolls could be denser or smaller diameter on average? Since the fine print said that the original figures are kilograms, not rolls. I wonder if they are including the large public bathroom size in the figures, and if countries have any significant differences in the ratio of small:large consumption.
ReplyDeleteGuys ! Bid E.T. a cleaner ride home !
ReplyDeleteWould you clean dog poo off your shoes using a bit of tissue paper ?
"I admit, we often use toilet paper as a makeshift substitute for paper towels. But even then, we don’t go through that many rolls."
ReplyDeleteWhen I was in high school, I had some car trouble that my father had to tend. He opened the trunk and saw 26 rolls of toilet paper. The only thing he said: if our house gets hit, you'll be the only one cleaning it up!
ReplyDeleteMy father understood teenager shenanigans. Back then, so did cops. I really don't think the cops ever seriously chased us. We were on foot. How fast could we go to get to the car parked down the street?
My use is not measured in "squares" but in meters. ;-)
ReplyDeleteFamily of three = a roll a day? Oh, my aching septic tank, biodegradable or not.
ReplyDeleteIt is either IMHO or FWIW, but women use more than men.
The chart says 90g per roll. I measured my Costco toilet rolls and they are 201g (including cardboard center but I think that is negligible). So divide the USA chart number by 2.2, and I get 1.2 rolls per week. Which still seems high... I think it is closer to 0.3 for me and my partner.
ReplyDeleteChina uses one third as much as we do, but has five times the population?
ReplyDeleteNote the words "per capita"
Delete