Per capita plastic waste exports and imports by income group in Italy
Italy: Per capita plastic waste exports and imports by income group was 3.41 kilograms in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Per capita plastic waste exports and imports by income group in Italy, 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
Italy recorded 3.41 kilograms for per capita plastic waste exports and imports by income group in 2024. That is the highest value across all 17 years on record.
The figure is up 28.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, per capita plastic waste exports and imports by income group in Italy peaked at 3.41 kilograms in 2024 and was at its lowest, 0 kilograms, in 2008.
That places Italy 21st out of 172 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the top quarter.
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 Italy, year by year
| Year | kilograms | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 0 kilograms | — |
| 2009 | 1.96 kilograms | — |
| 2010 | 2.31 kilograms | +18.2% |
| 2011 | 2.43 kilograms | +5.1% |
| 2012 | 2.31 kilograms | -5.0% |
| 2013 | 2.23 kilograms | -3.5% |
| 2014 | 2.66 kilograms | +19.2% |
| 2015 | 2.55 kilograms | -4.1% |
| 2016 | 2.97 kilograms | +16.7% |
| 2017 | 0 kilograms | -100.0% |
| 2018 | 0 kilograms | — |
| 2019 | 2.29 kilograms | — |
| 2020 | 2.36 kilograms | +3.3% |
| 2021 | 2.73 kilograms | +15.8% |
| 2022 | 2.98 kilograms | +8.9% |
| 2023 | 0 kilograms | -100.0% |
| 2024 | 3.41 kilograms | — |
Italy compared with similar countries
- Italy's 3.41 kilograms is above the median for high income countries, which is 0.1847 kilograms, 18.4× the median. (66 countries reporting)
- Italy's 3.41 kilograms is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 0.5002 kilograms, 6.8× the median. (49 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Per capita plastic waste exports and imports by income group in Italy 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | -100.0% | 2.97 kilograms | 0 kilograms |
| 2023 | -100.0% | 2.98 kilograms | 0 kilograms |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 0.9778 kilograms | 0 kilograms | 1.96 kilograms | 2 |
| 2010s | 1.97 kilograms | 0 kilograms | 2.97 kilograms | 10 |
| 2020s | 2.3 kilograms | 0 kilograms | 3.41 kilograms | 5 |
Countries ranked near Italy
More environment data for Italy
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly 2.04 Percentage change (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly 2.47 Percentage change (2025)
- Standard Deviation, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Standard Deviation 0.324 °C (2025)
- Temperature change 2.18 °C (2025)
- Wood-based panels — Production, annual growth rate 6.1 % change on previous year (2024)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual -1.94 % 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 -0.2257 % change on previous year (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is per capita plastic waste exports and imports by income group in Italy?
- Per capita plastic waste exports and imports by income group in Italy was 3.41 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 Italy?
- The highest recorded value was 3.41 kilograms in 2024.
- What is the lowest per capita plastic waste exports and imports by income group recorded in Italy?
- The lowest recorded value was 0 kilograms in 2008.
- How does Italy rank for per capita plastic waste exports and imports by income group?
- Italy ranks 21st out of 172 countries with data for 2024.
- Is per capita plastic waste exports and imports by income group rising or falling in Italy?
- Over the last ten years it is up 28.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Italy 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.