Plastic waste per capita imports vs. exports in Germany
Germany: Plastic waste per capita imports vs. exports was 6.07 kilograms in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Plastic waste per capita imports vs. exports in Germany, 1991–2024
Source: United Nations Comtrade Database (2025); United Nations Comtrade Database (2023) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in kilograms.
Analysis
Germany recorded 6.07 kilograms for plastic waste per capita imports vs. exports in 2024.
The figure is down 1.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, plastic waste per capita imports vs. exports in Germany peaked at 7.05 kilograms in 2016 and was at its lowest, 0 kilograms, in 2020.
Germany ranks 16th of 183 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Plastic waste per capita imports vs. exports in Germany, year by year
| Year | kilograms | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 0.6563 kilograms | — |
| 1992 | 0.6151 kilograms | -6.3% |
| 1993 | 0.5322 kilograms | -13.5% |
| 1994 | 0.5225 kilograms | -1.8% |
| 1995 | 0.6408 kilograms | +22.6% |
| 1996 | 0.5849 kilograms | -8.7% |
| 1997 | 0.7973 kilograms | +36.3% |
| 1998 | 0.9015 kilograms | +13.1% |
| 1999 | 0.7315 kilograms | -18.8% |
| 2000 | 0.9855 kilograms | +34.7% |
| 2001 | 1.13 kilograms | +14.2% |
| 2002 | 1.41 kilograms | +25.3% |
| 2003 | 1.57 kilograms | +11.6% |
| 2004 | 1.89 kilograms | +20.0% |
| 2005 | 2.5 kilograms | +32.5% |
| 2006 | 2.7 kilograms | +8.1% |
| 2007 | 2.95 kilograms | +9.2% |
| 2008 | 3.42 kilograms | +15.8% |
| 2009 | 3.96 kilograms | +15.8% |
| 2010 | 4.02 kilograms | +1.6% |
| 2011 | 3.93 kilograms | -2.4% |
| 2012 | 5.15 kilograms | +31.2% |
| 2013 | 5.18 kilograms | +0.5% |
| 2014 | 6.13 kilograms | +18.3% |
| 2015 | 6.65 kilograms | +8.5% |
| 2016 | 7.05 kilograms | +6.0% |
| 2017 | 6.25 kilograms | -11.3% |
| 2018 | 5.65 kilograms | -9.7% |
| 2019 | 5.99 kilograms | +6.1% |
| 2020 | 0 kilograms | -100.0% |
| 2021 | 6.19 kilograms | — |
| 2022 | 6.04 kilograms | -2.5% |
| 2023 | 0 kilograms | -100.0% |
| 2024 | 6.07 kilograms | — |
Germany compared with similar countries
- Germany's 6.07 kilograms is above the median for high income countries, which is 0.1847 kilograms, 32.8× the median. (68 countries reporting)
- Germany's 6.07 kilograms is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 0.4987 kilograms, 12.2× the median. (50 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Plastic waste per capita imports vs. exports in Germany 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | -100.0% | 5.99 kilograms | 0 kilograms |
| 2023 | -100.0% | 6.04 kilograms | 0 kilograms |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 0.6647 kilograms | 0.5225 kilograms | 0.9015 kilograms | 9 |
| 2000s | 2.25 kilograms | 0.9855 kilograms | 3.96 kilograms | 10 |
| 2010s | 5.6 kilograms | 3.93 kilograms | 7.05 kilograms | 10 |
| 2020s | 3.66 kilograms | 0 kilograms | 6.19 kilograms | 5 |
Countries ranked near Germany
More environment data for Germany
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly -4.12 Percentage change (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly -4.36 Percentage change (2025)
- Standard Deviation, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Standard Deviation 0.613 °C (2025)
- Temperature change 2.11 °C (2025)
- Wood-based panels — Production, annual growth rate -1.16 % change on previous year (2024)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual -1.65 % 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 -0.0079 % change on previous year (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is plastic waste per capita imports vs. exports in Germany?
- Plastic waste per capita imports vs. exports in Germany was 6.07 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 Germany?
- The highest recorded value was 7.05 kilograms in 2016.
- What is the lowest plastic waste per capita imports vs. exports recorded in Germany?
- The lowest recorded value was 0 kilograms in 2020.
- How does Germany rank for plastic waste per capita imports vs. exports?
- Germany ranks 16th out of 183 countries with data for 2024.
- Is plastic waste per capita imports vs. exports rising or falling in Germany?
- Over the last ten years it is down 1.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Germany 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.