Per capita plastic waste exports and imports by income group in Germany
Germany: Per capita plastic waste exports and imports by income group was 6.07 kilograms in 2024. ▬ Flat
Per capita plastic waste exports and imports by income group in Germany, 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
In 2024, per capita plastic waste exports and imports by income group in Germany stood at 6.07 kilograms.
The figure is down 1.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, per capita plastic waste exports and imports by income group in Germany peaked at 7.05 kilograms in 2016 and was at its lowest, 0 kilograms, in 2020.
Germany ranks 16th of 172 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
Per capita plastic waste exports and imports by income group in Germany, year by year
| Year | kilograms | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 3.42 kilograms | — |
| 2009 | 3.96 kilograms | +15.8% |
| 2010 | 4.02 kilograms | +1.6% |
| 2011 | 3.93 kilograms | -2.4% |
| 2012 | 5.15 kilograms | +31.2% |
| 2013 | 5.18 kilograms | +0.5% |
| 2014 | 6.13 kilograms | +18.3% |
| 2015 | 6.65 kilograms | +8.5% |
| 2016 | 7.05 kilograms | +6.0% |
| 2017 | 6.25 kilograms | -11.3% |
| 2018 | 5.65 kilograms | -9.7% |
| 2019 | 5.99 kilograms | +6.1% |
| 2020 | 0 kilograms | -100.0% |
| 2021 | 6.19 kilograms | — |
| 2022 | 6.04 kilograms | -2.5% |
| 2023 | 0 kilograms | -100.0% |
| 2024 | 6.07 kilograms | — |
Germany compared with similar countries
- Germany's 6.07 kilograms is above the median for high income countries, which is 0.1847 kilograms, 32.8× the median. (66 countries reporting)
- Germany's 6.07 kilograms is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 0.5002 kilograms, 12.1× the median. (49 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Per capita plastic waste exports and imports by income group in Germany changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | -100.0% | 5.99 kilograms | 0 kilograms |
| 2023 | -100.0% | 6.04 kilograms | 0 kilograms |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 3.69 kilograms | 3.42 kilograms | 3.96 kilograms | 2 |
| 2010s | 5.6 kilograms | 3.93 kilograms | 7.05 kilograms | 10 |
| 2020s | 3.66 kilograms | 0 kilograms | 6.19 kilograms | 5 |
Countries ranked near Germany
More environment data for Germany
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly -4.12 Percentage change (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly -4.36 Percentage change (2025)
- Standard Deviation, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Standard Deviation 0.613 °C (2025)
- Temperature change 2.11 °C (2025)
- Wood-based panels — Production, annual growth rate -1.16 % change on previous year (2024)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual -1.65 % 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 -0.0079 % change on previous year (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is per capita plastic waste exports and imports by income group in Germany?
- Per capita plastic waste exports and imports by income group in Germany was 6.07 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 Germany?
- The highest recorded value was 7.05 kilograms in 2016.
- What is the lowest per capita plastic waste exports and imports by income group recorded in Germany?
- The lowest recorded value was 0 kilograms in 2020.
- How does Germany rank for per capita plastic waste exports and imports by income group?
- Germany ranks 16th out of 172 countries with data for 2024.
- Is per capita plastic waste exports and imports by income group rising or falling in Germany?
- Over the last ten years it is down 1.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this Germany 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.