Per capita plastic waste exports and imports by income group in Laos
Laos: Per capita plastic waste exports and imports by income group was 2.87 kilograms in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Per capita plastic waste exports and imports by income group in Laos, 2010–2023
Source: United Nations Comtrade Database (2025); United Nations Comtrade Database (2023) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in kilograms.
Analysis
Laos recorded 2.87 kilograms for per capita plastic waste exports and imports by income group in 2023.
The figure is down 4.2% on the previous year and up 1,111.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, per capita plastic waste exports and imports by income group in Laos peaked at 13.79 kilograms in 2019 and was at its lowest, 0.0571 kilograms, in 2012.
Laos ranks 23rd of 172 countries on this measure, 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 Laos, year by year
| Year | kilograms | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 0.1252 kilograms | — |
| 2011 | 0.1355 kilograms | +8.2% |
| 2012 | 0.0571 kilograms | -57.9% |
| 2013 | 0.2368 kilograms | +314.7% |
| 2014 | 0.1885 kilograms | -20.4% |
| 2015 | 0.1851 kilograms | -1.8% |
| 2016 | 0.1713 kilograms | -7.4% |
| 2017 | 0.5586 kilograms | +226.1% |
| 2018 | 1.11 kilograms | +98.6% |
| 2019 | 13.79 kilograms | +1143.1% |
| 2020 | 8.71 kilograms | -36.8% |
| 2021 | 2.99 kilograms | -65.6% |
| 2023 | 2.87 kilograms | -4.2% |
Laos compared with similar countries
- Laos's 2.87 kilograms is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 0.0288 kilograms, 99.7× the median. (41 countries reporting)
- Laos's 2.87 kilograms is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 0.0543 kilograms, 52.8× the median. (27 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Per capita plastic waste exports and imports by income group in Laos 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | +1143.1% | 1.11 kilograms | 13.79 kilograms |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 1.66 kilograms | 0.0571 kilograms | 13.79 kilograms | 10 |
| 2020s | 4.86 kilograms | 2.87 kilograms | 8.71 kilograms | 3 |
Countries ranked near Laos
More environment data for Laos
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly -1.77 Percentage change (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly -1.51 Percentage change (2025)
- Wood-based panels — Production, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2024)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual 0.9142 % 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 0.4183 % change on previous year (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Agriculture (Mt CO2e), per unit of GDP 0 Mt CO2e per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Agriculture (Mt CO2e), per capita 0 Mt CO2e per person (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Building (Energy) (Mt CO2e), annual 0 % change on previous year (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is per capita plastic waste exports and imports by income group in Laos?
- Per capita plastic waste exports and imports by income group in Laos was 2.87 kilograms in 2023, 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 Laos?
- The highest recorded value was 13.79 kilograms in 2019.
- What is the lowest per capita plastic waste exports and imports by income group recorded in Laos?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.0571 kilograms in 2012.
- How does Laos rank for per capita plastic waste exports and imports by income group?
- Laos ranks 23rd out of 172 countries with data for 2023.
- Is per capita plastic waste exports and imports by income group rising or falling in Laos?
- Over the last ten years it is up 1,111.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Laos 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.