Plastic waste per capita imports vs. exports in France
France: Plastic waste per capita imports vs. exports was 2.05 kilograms in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Plastic waste per capita imports vs. exports in France, 1994–2024
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, plastic waste per capita imports vs. exports in France stood at 2.05 kilograms.
That represents a change of up 21.6% on the previous year and up 18.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, plastic waste per capita imports vs. exports in France peaked at 2.72 kilograms in 2022 and was at its lowest, 0 kilograms, in 2019.
France ranks 28th of 183 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Plastic waste per capita imports vs. exports in France, year by year
| Year | kilograms | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1994 | 0.3006 kilograms | — |
| 1995 | 0.3464 kilograms | +15.2% |
| 1996 | 0.4448 kilograms | +28.4% |
| 1997 | 0.3902 kilograms | -12.3% |
| 1998 | 0.3649 kilograms | -6.5% |
| 1999 | 0.44 kilograms | +20.6% |
| 2000 | 0.55 kilograms | +25.0% |
| 2001 | 0.6374 kilograms | +15.9% |
| 2002 | 0.6233 kilograms | -2.2% |
| 2003 | 0.7583 kilograms | +21.7% |
| 2004 | 0.7378 kilograms | -2.7% |
| 2005 | 0.8361 kilograms | +13.3% |
| 2006 | 1.07 kilograms | +28.0% |
| 2007 | 1.15 kilograms | +7.4% |
| 2008 | 1.32 kilograms | +14.7% |
| 2009 | 0.9455 kilograms | -28.3% |
| 2010 | 1.58 kilograms | +67.6% |
| 2011 | 1.74 kilograms | +9.8% |
| 2012 | 1.74 kilograms | +0.1% |
| 2013 | 1.77 kilograms | +1.5% |
| 2014 | 1.73 kilograms | -2.1% |
| 2015 | 1.83 kilograms | +6.0% |
| 2016 | 1.92 kilograms | +4.8% |
| 2017 | 2.26 kilograms | +17.4% |
| 2018 | 2.22 kilograms | -1.7% |
| 2019 | 0 kilograms | -100.0% |
| 2020 | 2.24 kilograms | — |
| 2021 | 0 kilograms | -100.0% |
| 2022 | 2.72 kilograms | — |
| 2023 | 1.68 kilograms | -38.2% |
| 2024 | 2.05 kilograms | +21.6% |
France compared with similar countries
- France's 2.05 kilograms is above the median for high income countries, which is 0.1847 kilograms, 11.1× the median. (68 countries reporting)
- France's 2.05 kilograms is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 0.4987 kilograms, 4.1× the median. (50 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Plastic waste per capita imports vs. exports in France 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 | -100.0% | 2.22 kilograms | 0 kilograms |
| 2021 | -100.0% | 2.24 kilograms | 0 kilograms |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 0.3811 kilograms | 0.3006 kilograms | 0.4448 kilograms | 6 |
| 2000s | 0.8628 kilograms | 0.55 kilograms | 1.32 kilograms | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.68 kilograms | 0 kilograms | 2.26 kilograms | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.74 kilograms | 0 kilograms | 2.72 kilograms | 5 |
Countries ranked near France
More environment data for France
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly -2.44 Percentage change (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly -3.44 Percentage change (2025)
- Standard Deviation, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Standard Deviation 0.427 °C (2025)
- Temperature change 2.31 °C (2025)
- Wood-based panels — Production, annual growth rate -3.66 % change on previous year (2024)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual -3.23 % 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 -0.1777 % change on previous year (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is plastic waste per capita imports vs. exports in France?
- Plastic waste per capita imports vs. exports in France was 2.05 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 plastic waste per capita imports vs. exports recorded in France?
- The highest recorded value was 2.72 kilograms in 2022.
- What is the lowest plastic waste per capita imports vs. exports recorded in France?
- The lowest recorded value was 0 kilograms in 2019.
- How does France rank for plastic waste per capita imports vs. exports?
- France ranks 28th out of 183 countries with data for 2024.
- Is plastic waste per capita imports vs. exports rising or falling in France?
- Over the last ten years it is up 18.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this France 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 Plastic waste per capita imports vs. exports. 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.