Plastic waste per capita imports vs. exports in South Africa
South Africa: Plastic waste per capita imports vs. exports was 0.1265 kilograms in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Plastic waste per capita imports vs. exports in South Africa, 2000–2024
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 South Africa is 0.1265 kilograms, measured in 2024.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 33.9% on the previous year and up 40.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, plastic waste per capita imports vs. exports in South Africa peaked at 0.3152 kilograms in 2018 and was at its lowest, 0.0195 kilograms, in 2000.
South Africa ranks 64th of 183 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Plastic waste per capita imports vs. exports in South Africa, year by year
| Year | kilograms | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 0.0195 kilograms | — |
| 2001 | 0.0226 kilograms | +16.1% |
| 2002 | 0.0411 kilograms | +81.7% |
| 2003 | 0.0316 kilograms | -22.9% |
| 2004 | 0.028 kilograms | -11.6% |
| 2005 | 0.056 kilograms | +100.3% |
| 2006 | 0.0437 kilograms | -22.0% |
| 2007 | 0.0383 kilograms | -12.3% |
| 2008 | 0.0247 kilograms | -35.4% |
| 2009 | 0.0529 kilograms | +113.7% |
| 2010 | 0.1114 kilograms | +110.6% |
| 2011 | 0.0935 kilograms | -16.1% |
| 2012 | 0.1095 kilograms | +17.1% |
| 2013 | 0.0989 kilograms | -9.7% |
| 2014 | 0.09 kilograms | -9.0% |
| 2015 | 0.1259 kilograms | +40.0% |
| 2016 | 0.1072 kilograms | -14.9% |
| 2017 | 0.1199 kilograms | +11.9% |
| 2018 | 0.3152 kilograms | +162.9% |
| 2019 | 0.2953 kilograms | -6.3% |
| 2020 | 0.1702 kilograms | -42.4% |
| 2021 | 0.2227 kilograms | +30.8% |
| 2022 | 0.2572 kilograms | +15.5% |
| 2023 | 0.1915 kilograms | -25.5% |
| 2024 | 0.1265 kilograms | -33.9% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 0.0358 kilograms | 0.0195 kilograms | 0.056 kilograms | 10 |
| 2010s | 0.1467 kilograms | 0.09 kilograms | 0.3152 kilograms | 10 |
| 2020s | 0.1936 kilograms | 0.1265 kilograms | 0.2572 kilograms | 5 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
More environment data for South Africa
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly 5.46 Percentage change (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly 8.52 Percentage change (2025)
- Standard Deviation, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Standard Deviation 0.275 °C (2025)
- Temperature change 1.05 °C (2025)
- Paper and paperboard — Import quantity, annual growth rate 20.46 % change on previous year (2024)
- Paper and paperboard — Import quantity, per unit of GDP 0 t per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Paper and paperboard — Import quantity, per capita 0.012 t per person (2024)
- Paper and paperboard — Import value, annual growth rate 3.25 % change on previous year (2024)
- Paper and paperboard — Import value, per unit of GDP 0 1000 USD per US$ of GDP (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is plastic waste per capita imports vs. exports in South Africa?
- Plastic waste per capita imports vs. exports in South Africa was 0.1265 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 South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 0.3152 kilograms in 2018.
- What is the lowest plastic waste per capita imports vs. exports recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.0195 kilograms in 2000.
- How does South Africa rank for plastic waste per capita imports vs. exports?
- South Africa ranks 64th out of 183 countries with data for 2024.
- Is plastic waste per capita imports vs. exports rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 40.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South Africa 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.