Plastic waste per capita imports vs. exports in Hong Kong
Hong Kong: Plastic waste per capita imports vs. exports was 1.34 kilograms in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Plastic waste per capita imports vs. exports in Hong Kong, 1993–2024
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 plastic waste per capita imports vs. exports in Hong Kong is 1.34 kilograms, measured in 2024. That is the lowest value across all 32 years on record.
The figure is down 60.7% on the previous year and down 99.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, plastic waste per capita imports vs. exports in Hong Kong peaked at 672.33 kilograms in 2010 and was at its lowest, 1.34 kilograms, in 2024.
That places Hong Kong 30th out of 183 countries with data for 2024, putting it 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 Hong Kong, year by year
| Year | kilograms | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1993 | 138.62 kilograms | — |
| 1994 | 180.04 kilograms | +29.9% |
| 1995 | 222.86 kilograms | +23.8% |
| 1996 | 185.43 kilograms | -16.8% |
| 1997 | 245 kilograms | +32.1% |
| 1998 | 247.25 kilograms | +0.9% |
| 1999 | 247.39 kilograms | +0.1% |
| 2000 | 281.85 kilograms | +13.9% |
| 2001 | 261.36 kilograms | -7.3% |
| 2002 | 282.59 kilograms | +8.1% |
| 2003 | 322.53 kilograms | +14.1% |
| 2004 | 395.2 kilograms | +22.5% |
| 2005 | 504.54 kilograms | +27.7% |
| 2006 | 635.19 kilograms | +25.9% |
| 2007 | 592.14 kilograms | -6.8% |
| 2008 | 638.66 kilograms | +7.9% |
| 2009 | 669.9 kilograms | +4.9% |
| 2010 | 672.33 kilograms | +0.4% |
| 2011 | 552.17 kilograms | -17.9% |
| 2012 | 442.42 kilograms | -19.9% |
| 2013 | 343.46 kilograms | -22.4% |
| 2014 | 419.01 kilograms | +22.0% |
| 2015 | 387.14 kilograms | -7.6% |
| 2016 | 387.03 kilograms | -0.0% |
| 2017 | 253.2 kilograms | -34.6% |
| 2018 | 79.94 kilograms | -68.4% |
| 2019 | 80.92 kilograms | +1.2% |
| 2020 | 39.75 kilograms | -50.9% |
| 2021 | 11.77 kilograms | -70.4% |
| 2022 | 6.24 kilograms | -47.0% |
| 2023 | 3.4 kilograms | -45.6% |
| 2024 | 1.34 kilograms | -60.7% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 209.51 kilograms | 138.62 kilograms | 247.39 kilograms | 7 |
| 2000s | 458.4 kilograms | 261.36 kilograms | 669.9 kilograms | 10 |
| 2010s | 361.76 kilograms | 79.94 kilograms | 672.33 kilograms | 10 |
| 2020s | 12.5 kilograms | 1.34 kilograms | 39.75 kilograms | 5 |
Countries ranked near Hong Kong
More environment data for Hong Kong
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly -5.54 Percentage change (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly -5.98 Percentage change (2025)
- Nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions from Building (Energy) 0.0011 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions from Power Industry (Energy) 0.0539 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions (total) excluding LULUCF 0.5372 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions from Industrial Processes 0.133 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions from Industrial Combustion (Energy) 0.001 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions from Agriculture 0.0152 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from Transport (Energy) 8.41 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions from Fugitive Emissions (Energy) 0 Mt CO2e (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is plastic waste per capita imports vs. exports in Hong Kong?
- Plastic waste per capita imports vs. exports in Hong Kong was 1.34 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 Hong Kong?
- The highest recorded value was 672.33 kilograms in 2010.
- What is the lowest plastic waste per capita imports vs. exports recorded in Hong Kong?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.34 kilograms in 2024.
- How does Hong Kong rank for plastic waste per capita imports vs. exports?
- Hong Kong ranks 30th out of 183 countries with data for 2024.
- Is plastic waste per capita imports vs. exports rising or falling in Hong Kong?
- Over the last ten years it is down 99.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Hong Kong 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.