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.
Plastic waste exports in Bangladesh, year by year
| Year | tonnes | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 0.082 tonnes | — |
| 2002 | 0.065 tonnes | -20.7% |
| 2003 | 1,312 tonnes | +2018146.2% |
| 2004 | 9,911 tonnes | +655.5% |
| 2005 | 11,828 tonnes | +19.3% |
| 2006 | 11,762 tonnes | -0.6% |
| 2007 | 15,052 tonnes | +28.0% |
| 2008 | 17,120 tonnes | +13.7% |
| 2009 | 20,106 tonnes | +17.4% |
| 2010 | 32,399 tonnes | +61.1% |
| 2011 | 21,590 tonnes | -33.4% |
| 2012 | 34,076 tonnes | +57.8% |
| 2013 | 36,365 tonnes | +6.7% |
| 2015 | 39,011 tonnes | +7.3% |
Bangladesh compared with similar countries
- Bangladesh's 39,011 tonnes is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 1,451 tonnes, 26.9× the median. (39 countries reporting)
- Bangladesh's 39,011 tonnes is above the median for South Asia, which is 1,050 tonnes, 37.1× the median. (6 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Plastic waste exports in Bangladesh 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | +2018146.2% | 0.065 tonnes | 1,312 tonnes |
| 2004 | +655.5% | 1,312 tonnes | 9,911 tonnes |
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
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly -2.59 Percentage change (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly -2.3 Percentage change (2025)
- Standard Deviation, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Standard Deviation 0.236 °C (2025)
- Temperature change 1.67 °C (2025)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual 2.31 % 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 -2.43 % change on previous year (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Agriculture (Mt CO2e), per unit of GDP 0 Mt CO2e per US$ of GDP (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
Amount of plastic waste a country exports to other countries, measured in tonnes per year.