Plastic waste exports in Cambodia
Cambodia: Plastic waste exports was 1,226 tonnes in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Plastic waste exports in Cambodia, 2000–2023
Source: United Nations Comtrade Database (2025); United Nations Comtrade Database (2023) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in tonnes.
Analysis
In 2023, plastic waste exports in Cambodia stood at 1,226 tonnes.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 39.5% on the previous year and down 82.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, plastic waste exports in Cambodia peaked at 17,087 tonnes in 2016 and was at its lowest, 27.68 tonnes, in 2005.
That places Cambodia 86th out of 167 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Plastic waste exports in Cambodia, year by year
| Year | tonnes | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 31.35 tonnes | — |
| 2005 | 27.68 tonnes | -11.7% |
| 2006 | 247.31 tonnes | +793.5% |
| 2007 | 244.53 tonnes | -1.1% |
| 2008 | 275 tonnes | +12.5% |
| 2009 | 150 tonnes | -45.5% |
| 2010 | 1,735 tonnes | +1056.9% |
| 2011 | 3,061 tonnes | +76.4% |
| 2012 | 5,734 tonnes | +87.3% |
| 2013 | 7,138 tonnes | +24.5% |
| 2014 | 7,960 tonnes | +11.5% |
| 2015 | 14,315 tonnes | +79.8% |
| 2016 | 17,087 tonnes | +19.4% |
| 2017 | 11,577 tonnes | -32.2% |
| 2018 | 4,446 tonnes | -61.6% |
| 2019 | 8,067 tonnes | +81.4% |
| 2020 | 6,952 tonnes | -13.8% |
| 2021 | 5,169 tonnes | -25.6% |
| 2022 | 2,028 tonnes | -60.8% |
| 2023 | 1,226 tonnes | -39.5% |
Cambodia compared with similar countries
- Cambodia's 1,226 tonnes is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 1,451 tonnes, 85% of the median. (39 countries reporting)
- Cambodia's 1,226 tonnes is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 277.15 tonnes, 4.4× the median. (26 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Plastic waste exports in Cambodia 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | +1056.9% | 150 tonnes | 1,735 tonnes |
| 2006 | +793.5% | 27.68 tonnes | 247.31 tonnes |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 162.65 tonnes | 27.68 tonnes | 275 tonnes | 6 |
| 2010s | 8,112 tonnes | 1,735 tonnes | 17,087 tonnes | 10 |
| 2020s | 3,844 tonnes | 1,226 tonnes | 6,952 tonnes | 4 |
Countries ranked near Cambodia
More environment data for Cambodia
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly 0.5487 Percentage change (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly 1.06 Percentage change (2025)
- Standard Deviation, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Standard Deviation 0.288 °C (2025)
- Temperature change 0.929 °C (2025)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual 1.74 % 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 0.8631 % 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 Cambodia?
- Plastic waste exports in Cambodia was 1,226 tonnes in 2023, 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 Cambodia?
- The highest recorded value was 17,087 tonnes in 2016.
- What is the lowest plastic waste exports recorded in Cambodia?
- The lowest recorded value was 27.68 tonnes in 2005.
- How does Cambodia rank for plastic waste exports?
- Cambodia ranks 86th out of 167 countries with data for 2023.
- Is plastic waste exports rising or falling in Cambodia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 82.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Cambodia 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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CSV · JSON — 20 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.