Per capita plastic waste exports and imports by income group in Australia
Australia: Per capita plastic waste exports and imports by income group was 0.3557 kilograms in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Per capita plastic waste exports and imports by income group in Australia, 2008–2024
Source: United Nations Comtrade Database (2025); United Nations Comtrade Database (2023) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in kilograms.
Analysis
Australia recorded 0.3557 kilograms for per capita plastic waste exports and imports by income group in 2024.
The figure is up 7.9% on the previous year and down 41.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, per capita plastic waste exports and imports by income group in Australia peaked at 0.6115 kilograms in 2014 and was at its lowest, 0 kilograms, in 2019.
That places Australia 47th out of 172 countries 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.
Per capita plastic waste exports and imports by income group in Australia, year by year
| Year | kilograms | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 0.3334 kilograms | — |
| 2009 | 0.2623 kilograms | -21.3% |
| 2010 | 0.2263 kilograms | -13.7% |
| 2011 | 0.2913 kilograms | +28.7% |
| 2012 | 0.2992 kilograms | +2.7% |
| 2013 | 0.4996 kilograms | +67.0% |
| 2014 | 0.6115 kilograms | +22.4% |
| 2015 | 0.5892 kilograms | -3.6% |
| 2016 | 0.5023 kilograms | -14.7% |
| 2017 | 0.5404 kilograms | +7.6% |
| 2018 | 0.5306 kilograms | -1.8% |
| 2019 | 0 kilograms | -100.0% |
| 2020 | 0 kilograms | — |
| 2021 | 0 kilograms | — |
| 2022 | 0.4313 kilograms | — |
| 2023 | 0.3295 kilograms | -23.6% |
| 2024 | 0.3557 kilograms | +7.9% |
Australia compared with similar countries
- Australia's 0.3557 kilograms is above the median for high income countries, which is 0.1847 kilograms, 1.9× the median. (66 countries reporting)
- Australia's 0.3557 kilograms is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 0.0543 kilograms, 6.6× the median. (27 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 0.2978 kilograms | 0.2623 kilograms | 0.3334 kilograms | 2 |
| 2010s | 0.409 kilograms | 0 kilograms | 0.6115 kilograms | 10 |
| 2020s | 0.2233 kilograms | 0 kilograms | 0.4313 kilograms | 5 |
Countries ranked near Australia
More environment data for Australia
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly -4.75 Percentage change (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly -5.98 Percentage change (2025)
- Standard Deviation, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Standard Deviation 0.345 °C (2025)
- Temperature change 1.4 °C (2025)
- Wood-based panels — Production, annual growth rate -1.03 % change on previous year (2024)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual 0.6708 % change on previous year (2024)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), per unit 0 Mt CO2e per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), per capita 0 Mt CO2e per person (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Agriculture (Mt CO2e), annual growth rate 0.0861 % change on previous year (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is per capita plastic waste exports and imports by income group in Australia?
- Per capita plastic waste exports and imports by income group in Australia was 0.3557 kilograms in 2024, according to United Nations Comtrade Database (2025); United Nations Comtrade Database (2023) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest per capita plastic waste exports and imports by income group recorded in Australia?
- The highest recorded value was 0.6115 kilograms in 2014.
- What is the lowest per capita plastic waste exports and imports by income group recorded in Australia?
- The lowest recorded value was 0 kilograms in 2019.
- How does Australia rank for per capita plastic waste exports and imports by income group?
- Australia ranks 47th out of 172 countries with data for 2024.
- Is per capita plastic waste exports and imports by income group rising or falling in Australia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 41.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Australia data come from?
- The figures come from United Nations Comtrade Database (2025); United Nations Comtrade Database (2023) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Per capita plastic waste exports and imports by income group. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Amount of plastic waste imported per person, measured in kilograms per person per year.