Plastic waste exports in Bangladesh
Bangladesh: Plastic waste exports was 39,011 tonnes in 2015. ◆ Volatile
Plastic waste exports in Bangladesh, 1990–2015
Source: United Nations Comtrade Database (2025); United Nations Comtrade Database (2023) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in tonnes.
Analysis
The most recent figure for plastic waste exports in Bangladesh is 39,011 tonnes, measured in 2015. That is the highest value across all 14 years on record.
The figure is up 7.3% on the previous year and up 229.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, plastic waste exports in Bangladesh peaked at 39,011 tonnes in 2015 and was at its lowest, 0.065 tonnes, in 2002.
Bangladesh ranks 22nd of 167 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 0.082 tonnes | 0.082 tonnes | 0.082 tonnes | 1 |
| 2000s | 10,886 tonnes | 0.065 tonnes | 20,106 tonnes | 8 |
| 2010s | 32,688 tonnes | 21,590 tonnes | 39,011 tonnes | 5 |
Countries ranked near Bangladesh
More environment data for Bangladesh
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF 220.83 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF per capita 1.27 t CO2e/capita (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Agriculture 47.41 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Building (Energy) 3.57 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Fugitive Emissions (Energy) 2.2 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Industrial Combustion (Energy) 0.0339 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions (total) excluding LULUCF 70.46 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Power Industry (Energy) 0.0703 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Transport (Energy) 0.1507 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Waste 17.03 Mt CO2e (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is plastic waste exports in Bangladesh?
- Plastic waste exports in Bangladesh was 39,011 tonnes in 2015, according to United Nations Comtrade Database (2025); United Nations Comtrade Database (2023) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest plastic waste exports recorded in Bangladesh?
- The highest recorded value was 39,011 tonnes in 2015.
- What is the lowest plastic waste exports recorded in Bangladesh?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.065 tonnes in 2002.
- How does Bangladesh rank for plastic waste exports?
- Bangladesh ranks 22nd out of 167 countries with data for 2015.
- Is plastic waste exports rising or falling in Bangladesh?
- Over the last ten years it is up 229.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Bangladesh data come from?
- The figures come from United Nations Comtrade Database (2025); United Nations Comtrade Database (2023) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Plastic waste exports. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 14 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
The amount of plastic waste a country exports to other countries, measured in tonnes per year.