Plastic waste exports in Bulgaria
Bulgaria: Plastic waste exports was 15,529 tonnes in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Plastic waste exports in Bulgaria, 1996–2024
Source: United Nations Comtrade Database (2025); United Nations Comtrade Database (2023) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in tonnes.
Analysis
Bulgaria recorded 15,529 tonnes for plastic waste exports in 2024.
The figure is up 53.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, plastic waste exports in Bulgaria peaked at 18,219 tonnes in 2021 and was at its lowest, 0 tonnes, in 2023.
Bulgaria ranks 38th 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 Bulgaria, year by year
| Year | tonnes | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1996 | 2,390 tonnes | — |
| 1997 | 1,927 tonnes | -19.4% |
| 1998 | 1,173 tonnes | -39.1% |
| 1999 | 930.63 tonnes | -20.6% |
| 2000 | 1,160 tonnes | +24.7% |
| 2001 | 143.44 tonnes | -87.6% |
| 2002 | 769.92 tonnes | +436.8% |
| 2003 | 1,137 tonnes | +47.7% |
| 2004 | 2,625 tonnes | +130.8% |
| 2005 | 7,540 tonnes | +187.2% |
| 2006 | 4,804 tonnes | -36.3% |
| 2007 | 7,376 tonnes | +53.5% |
| 2008 | 5,557 tonnes | -24.7% |
| 2009 | 7,146 tonnes | +28.6% |
| 2010 | 11,526 tonnes | +61.3% |
| 2011 | 11,748 tonnes | +1.9% |
| 2012 | 12,634 tonnes | +7.5% |
| 2013 | 8,879 tonnes | -29.7% |
| 2014 | 10,109 tonnes | +13.9% |
| 2015 | 9,119 tonnes | -9.8% |
| 2016 | 8,941 tonnes | -2.0% |
| 2017 | 14,378 tonnes | +60.8% |
| 2018 | 12,542 tonnes | -12.8% |
| 2019 | 11,359 tonnes | -9.4% |
| 2020 | 9,618 tonnes | -15.3% |
| 2021 | 18,219 tonnes | +89.4% |
| 2022 | 17,224 tonnes | -5.5% |
| 2023 | 0 tonnes | -100.0% |
| 2024 | 15,529 tonnes | — |
Bulgaria compared with similar countries
- Bulgaria's 15,529 tonnes is above the median for high income countries, which is 4,588 tonnes, 3.4× the median. (64 countries reporting)
- Bulgaria's 15,529 tonnes is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 7,198 tonnes, 2.2× the median. (50 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Plastic waste exports in Bulgaria 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | +436.8% | 143.44 tonnes | 769.92 tonnes |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 1,605 tonnes | 930.63 tonnes | 2,390 tonnes | 4 |
| 2000s | 3,826 tonnes | 143.44 tonnes | 7,540 tonnes | 10 |
| 2010s | 11,124 tonnes | 8,879 tonnes | 14,378 tonnes | 10 |
| 2020s | 12,118 tonnes | 0 tonnes | 18,219 tonnes | 5 |
Countries ranked near Bulgaria
More environment data for Bulgaria
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly -1.39 Percentage change (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly -1.52 Percentage change (2025)
- Standard Deviation, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Standard Deviation 0.573 °C (2025)
- Temperature change 2.18 °C (2025)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual -6.02 % 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 -0.7509 % 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 Bulgaria?
- Plastic waste exports in Bulgaria was 15,529 tonnes in 2024, 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 Bulgaria?
- The highest recorded value was 18,219 tonnes in 2021.
- What is the lowest plastic waste exports recorded in Bulgaria?
- The lowest recorded value was 0 tonnes in 2023.
- How does Bulgaria rank for plastic waste exports?
- Bulgaria ranks 38th out of 167 countries with data for 2024.
- Is plastic waste exports rising or falling in Bulgaria?
- Over the last ten years it is up 53.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Bulgaria 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.
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About this data
Amount of plastic waste a country exports to other countries, measured in tonnes per year.