Per capita plastic waste exports and imports by income group in Vietnam
Vietnam: Per capita plastic waste exports and imports by income group was 2.56 kilograms in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Per capita plastic waste exports and imports by income group in Vietnam, 2008–2023
Source: United Nations Comtrade Database (2025); United Nations Comtrade Database (2023) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in kilograms.
Analysis
The most recent figure for per capita plastic waste exports and imports by income group in Vietnam is 2.56 kilograms, measured in 2023.
That represents a change of down 34.1% on the previous year and up 246.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, per capita plastic waste exports and imports by income group in Vietnam peaked at 3.89 kilograms in 2021 and was at its lowest, 0.5965 kilograms, in 2011.
Vietnam ranks 24th 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 Vietnam, year by year
| Year | kilograms | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 1.02 kilograms | — |
| 2009 | 0.627 kilograms | -38.4% |
| 2010 | 0.7046 kilograms | +12.4% |
| 2011 | 0.5965 kilograms | -15.3% |
| 2013 | 0.74 kilograms | +24.1% |
| 2014 | 0.8678 kilograms | +17.3% |
| 2015 | 0.9585 kilograms | +10.5% |
| 2016 | 1.09 kilograms | +14.2% |
| 2017 | 1.59 kilograms | +45.7% |
| 2018 | 2.01 kilograms | +26.2% |
| 2019 | 2.92 kilograms | +45.2% |
| 2020 | 3.4 kilograms | +16.5% |
| 2021 | 3.89 kilograms | +14.3% |
| 2023 | 2.56 kilograms | -34.1% |
Vietnam compared with similar countries
- Vietnam's 2.56 kilograms is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 0.0351 kilograms, 73.1× the median. (50 countries reporting)
- Vietnam's 2.56 kilograms is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 0.0543 kilograms, 47.2× the median. (27 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 0.8224 kilograms | 0.627 kilograms | 1.02 kilograms | 2 |
| 2010s | 1.28 kilograms | 0.5965 kilograms | 2.92 kilograms | 9 |
| 2020s | 3.28 kilograms | 2.56 kilograms | 3.89 kilograms | 3 |
Countries ranked near Vietnam
More environment data for Vietnam
- Wood-based panels — Production, annual growth rate 20.83 % change on previous year (2024)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual 7.61 % 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 0.6558 % 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 1.16 % change on previous year (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Building (Energy) (Mt CO2e), per unit of 0 Mt CO2e per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Building (Energy) (Mt CO2e), per capita 0 Mt CO2e per person (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is per capita plastic waste exports and imports by income group in Vietnam?
- Per capita plastic waste exports and imports by income group in Vietnam was 2.56 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 Vietnam?
- The highest recorded value was 3.89 kilograms in 2021.
- What is the lowest per capita plastic waste exports and imports by income group recorded in Vietnam?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.5965 kilograms in 2011.
- How does Vietnam rank for per capita plastic waste exports and imports by income group?
- Vietnam ranks 24th out of 172 countries with data for 2023.
- Is per capita plastic waste exports and imports by income group rising or falling in Vietnam?
- Over the last ten years it is up 246.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Vietnam 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.