Per capita plastic waste exports and imports by income group in Rwanda
Rwanda: Per capita plastic waste exports and imports by income group was 0.0387 kilograms in 2022. ◆ Volatile
Per capita plastic waste exports and imports by income group in Rwanda, 2008–2022
Source: United Nations Comtrade Database (2025); United Nations Comtrade Database (2023) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in kilograms.
Analysis
In 2022, per capita plastic waste exports and imports by income group in Rwanda stood at 0.0387 kilograms.
The figure is up 176.1% on the previous year and up 527.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, per capita plastic waste exports and imports by income group in Rwanda peaked at 0.042 kilograms in 2020 and was at its lowest, 0.0001 kilograms, in 2009.
That places Rwanda 86th out of 172 countries with data for 2022, 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 Rwanda, year by year
| Year | kilograms | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 0.0016 kilograms | — |
| 2009 | 0.0001 kilograms | -92.2% |
| 2010 | 0.0089 kilograms | +6944.0% |
| 2011 | 0.007 kilograms | -21.1% |
| 2012 | 0.0062 kilograms | -12.4% |
| 2013 | 0.0204 kilograms | +230.1% |
| 2014 | 0.0276 kilograms | +35.3% |
| 2015 | 0.0357 kilograms | +29.6% |
| 2016 | 0.0054 kilograms | -85.0% |
| 2017 | 0.0154 kilograms | +187.1% |
| 2018 | 0.014 kilograms | -9.3% |
| 2019 | 0.0288 kilograms | +106.6% |
| 2020 | 0.042 kilograms | +45.5% |
| 2021 | 0.014 kilograms | -66.6% |
| 2022 | 0.0387 kilograms | +176.1% |
Rwanda compared with similar countries
- Rwanda's 0.0387 kilograms is above the median for low income countries, which is 0.0104 kilograms, 3.7× the median. (15 countries reporting)
- Rwanda's 0.0387 kilograms is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 0.0132 kilograms, 2.9× the median. (38 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Per capita plastic waste exports and imports by income group in Rwanda 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | +6944.0% | 0.0001 kilograms | 0.0089 kilograms |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 0.0009 kilograms | 0.0001 kilograms | 0.0016 kilograms | 2 |
| 2010s | 0.0169 kilograms | 0.0054 kilograms | 0.0357 kilograms | 10 |
| 2020s | 0.0316 kilograms | 0.014 kilograms | 0.042 kilograms | 3 |
Countries ranked near Rwanda
More environment data for Rwanda
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly -5.64 Percentage change (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly -5.05 Percentage change (2025)
- Standard Deviation, annual growth rate -31.63 % change on previous year (2013)
- Standard Deviation 0.268 °C (2013)
- Temperature change 1.35 °C (2013)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual 0.0359 % 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 -1.42 % change on previous year (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Agriculture (Mt CO2e), per unit of GDP 0 Mt CO2e per US$ of GDP (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is per capita plastic waste exports and imports by income group in Rwanda?
- Per capita plastic waste exports and imports by income group in Rwanda was 0.0387 kilograms in 2022, 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 Rwanda?
- The highest recorded value was 0.042 kilograms in 2020.
- What is the lowest per capita plastic waste exports and imports by income group recorded in Rwanda?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.0001 kilograms in 2009.
- How does Rwanda rank for per capita plastic waste exports and imports by income group?
- Rwanda ranks 86th out of 172 countries with data for 2022.
- Is per capita plastic waste exports and imports by income group rising or falling in Rwanda?
- Over the last ten years it is up 527.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Rwanda 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.