Per capita plastic waste exports and imports by income group in Malaysia
Malaysia: Per capita plastic waste exports and imports by income group was 12.19 kilograms in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Per capita plastic waste exports and imports by income group in Malaysia, 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 Malaysia stood at 12.19 kilograms.
That represents a change of up 65.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, per capita plastic waste exports and imports by income group in Malaysia peaked at 26.93 kilograms in 2018 and was at its lowest, 0 kilograms, in 2023.
Malaysia ranks 10th of 172 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
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 Malaysia, year by year
| Year | kilograms | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 1.38 kilograms | — |
| 2009 | 3.27 kilograms | +137.0% |
| 2010 | 2.85 kilograms | -12.9% |
| 2011 | 4.9 kilograms | +71.7% |
| 2012 | 5.96 kilograms | +21.8% |
| 2013 | 10 kilograms | +67.8% |
| 2014 | 7.38 kilograms | -26.2% |
| 2015 | 8.04 kilograms | +9.0% |
| 2016 | 9.12 kilograms | +13.4% |
| 2017 | 17.19 kilograms | +88.4% |
| 2018 | 26.93 kilograms | +56.6% |
| 2019 | 10.17 kilograms | -62.2% |
| 2020 | 14.4 kilograms | +41.6% |
| 2021 | 12.06 kilograms | -16.2% |
| 2022 | 10.35 kilograms | -14.2% |
| 2023 | 0 kilograms | -100.0% |
| 2024 | 12.19 kilograms | — |
Malaysia compared with similar countries
- Malaysia's 12.19 kilograms is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 0.0351 kilograms, 347.5× the median. (50 countries reporting)
- Malaysia's 12.19 kilograms is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 0.0543 kilograms, 224.6× the median. (27 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 2.33 kilograms | 1.38 kilograms | 3.27 kilograms | 2 |
| 2010s | 10.26 kilograms | 2.85 kilograms | 26.93 kilograms | 10 |
| 2020s | 9.8 kilograms | 0 kilograms | 14.4 kilograms | 5 |
Countries ranked near Malaysia
More environment data for Malaysia
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly -1.65 Percentage change (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly -1.9 Percentage change (2025)
- Standard Deviation, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Standard Deviation 0.179 °C (2025)
- Temperature change 1.25 °C (2025)
- Wood-based panels — Production, annual growth rate -2.55 % change on previous year (2024)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual 4.33 % 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 0.9114 % change on previous year (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is per capita plastic waste exports and imports by income group in Malaysia?
- Per capita plastic waste exports and imports by income group in Malaysia was 12.19 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 Malaysia?
- The highest recorded value was 26.93 kilograms in 2018.
- What is the lowest per capita plastic waste exports and imports by income group recorded in Malaysia?
- The lowest recorded value was 0 kilograms in 2023.
- How does Malaysia rank for per capita plastic waste exports and imports by income group?
- Malaysia ranks 10th out of 172 countries with data for 2024.
- Is per capita plastic waste exports and imports by income group rising or falling in Malaysia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 65.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Malaysia 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.