Plastic waste per capita imports vs. exports in Malaysia
Malaysia: Plastic waste per capita imports vs. exports was 12.19 kilograms in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
12.19 kilograms
World rank
10th
of 183 countries
All-time high
26.93 kilograms
in 2018
All-time low
0 kilograms
in 2023
Years of data
36
1989–2024
Plastic waste per capita imports vs. exports in Malaysia, 1989–2024
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 Malaysia stood at 12.19 kilograms.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 65.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, plastic waste per capita imports vs. exports in Malaysia peaked at 26.93 kilograms in 2018 and was at its lowest, 0 kilograms, in 2023.
That places Malaysia 10th out of 183 countries with data for 2024, putting it 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 Malaysia, year by year
| Year | kilograms | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1989 | 0.8468 kilograms | — |
| 1990 | 1.03 kilograms | +21.2% |
| 1991 | 0.913 kilograms | -11.0% |
| 1992 | 1.17 kilograms | +27.8% |
| 1993 | 1.78 kilograms | +52.2% |
| 1994 | 0.343 kilograms | -80.7% |
| 1995 | 0.2712 kilograms | -20.9% |
| 1996 | 0.392 kilograms | +44.5% |
| 1997 | 0.4254 kilograms | +8.5% |
| 1998 | 0.2416 kilograms | -43.2% |
| 1999 | 0.3303 kilograms | +36.7% |
| 2000 | 0.4956 kilograms | +50.1% |
| 2001 | 0.6527 kilograms | +31.7% |
| 2002 | 0.609 kilograms | -6.7% |
| 2003 | 1.12 kilograms | +84.6% |
| 2004 | 2.45 kilograms | +118.0% |
| 2005 | 2.97 kilograms | +21.3% |
| 2006 | 2.78 kilograms | -6.3% |
| 2007 | 3.02 kilograms | +8.6% |
| 2008 | 1.38 kilograms | -54.3% |
| 2009 | 3.27 kilograms | +137.0% |
| 2010 | 2.85 kilograms | -12.9% |
| 2011 | 4.9 kilograms | +71.7% |
| 2012 | 5.96 kilograms | +21.8% |
| 2013 | 10 kilograms | +67.8% |
| 2014 | 7.38 kilograms | -26.2% |
| 2015 | 8.04 kilograms | +9.0% |
| 2016 | 9.12 kilograms | +13.4% |
| 2017 | 17.19 kilograms | +88.4% |
| 2018 | 26.93 kilograms | +56.6% |
| 2019 | 10.17 kilograms | -62.2% |
| 2020 | 14.4 kilograms | +41.6% |
| 2021 | 12.06 kilograms | -16.2% |
| 2022 | 10.35 kilograms | -14.2% |
| 2023 | 0 kilograms | -100.0% |
| 2024 | 12.19 kilograms | — |
Malaysia compared with similar countries
- Malaysia's 12.19 kilograms is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 0.0308 kilograms, 395.5× the median. (52 countries reporting)
- Malaysia's 12.19 kilograms is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 0.042 kilograms, 290.1× the median. (30 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 0.8468 kilograms | 0.8468 kilograms | 0.8468 kilograms | 1 |
| 1990s | 0.6886 kilograms | 0.2416 kilograms | 1.78 kilograms | 10 |
| 2000s | 1.88 kilograms | 0.4956 kilograms | 3.27 kilograms | 10 |
| 2010s | 10.26 kilograms | 2.85 kilograms | 26.93 kilograms | 10 |
| 2020s | 9.8 kilograms | 0 kilograms | 14.4 kilograms | 5 |
Countries ranked near Malaysia
More environment data for Malaysia
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly -1.65 Percentage change (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly -1.9 Percentage change (2025)
- Standard Deviation, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Standard Deviation 0.179 °C (2025)
- Temperature change 1.25 °C (2025)
- Wood-based panels — Production, annual growth rate -2.55 % change on previous year (2024)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual 4.33 % 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 0.9114 % change on previous year (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is plastic waste per capita imports vs. exports in Malaysia?
- Plastic waste per capita imports vs. exports in Malaysia was 12.19 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 Malaysia?
- The highest recorded value was 26.93 kilograms in 2018.
- What is the lowest plastic waste per capita imports vs. exports recorded in Malaysia?
- The lowest recorded value was 0 kilograms in 2023.
- How does Malaysia rank for plastic waste per capita imports vs. exports?
- Malaysia ranks 10th out of 183 countries with data for 2024.
- Is plastic waste per capita imports vs. exports rising or falling in Malaysia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 65.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Malaysia 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.