Plastic waste exports in Cameroon
Cameroon: Plastic waste exports was 218.22 tonnes in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Plastic waste exports in Cameroon, 1995–2023
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 Cameroon is 218.22 tonnes, measured in 2023.
The figure is down 78.4% on the previous year and up 286.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, plastic waste exports in Cameroon peaked at 1,012 tonnes in 2021 and was at its lowest, 0.05 tonnes, in 2010.
Cameroon ranks 115th of 167 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 exports in Cameroon, year by year
| Year | tonnes | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1995 | 62.4 tonnes | — |
| 1996 | 51.2 tonnes | -17.9% |
| 1997 | 18.43 tonnes | -64.0% |
| 2000 | 200.6 tonnes | +988.5% |
| 2003 | 36 tonnes | -82.1% |
| 2004 | 115.35 tonnes | +220.4% |
| 2007 | 55.81 tonnes | -51.6% |
| 2008 | 16.99 tonnes | -69.6% |
| 2010 | 0.05 tonnes | -99.7% |
| 2012 | 57.3 tonnes | +114500.0% |
| 2013 | 56.5 tonnes | -1.4% |
| 2014 | 256.33 tonnes | +353.7% |
| 2015 | 317.4 tonnes | +23.8% |
| 2016 | 155.22 tonnes | -51.1% |
| 2017 | 463.8 tonnes | +198.8% |
| 2018 | 399.88 tonnes | -13.8% |
| 2019 | 331.81 tonnes | -17.0% |
| 2020 | 499.03 tonnes | +50.4% |
| 2021 | 1,012 tonnes | +102.9% |
| 2023 | 218.22 tonnes | -78.4% |
Cameroon compared with similar countries
- Cameroon's 218.22 tonnes is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 1,451 tonnes, 15% of the median. (39 countries reporting)
- Cameroon's 218.22 tonnes is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 1,090 tonnes, 20% of the median. (33 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Plastic waste exports in Cameroon 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | +114500.0% | 0.05 tonnes | 57.3 tonnes |
| 2000 | +988.5% | 18.43 tonnes | 200.6 tonnes |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 44.01 tonnes | 18.43 tonnes | 62.4 tonnes | 3 |
| 2000s | 84.95 tonnes | 16.99 tonnes | 200.6 tonnes | 5 |
| 2010s | 226.48 tonnes | 0.05 tonnes | 463.8 tonnes | 9 |
| 2020s | 576.56 tonnes | 218.22 tonnes | 1,012 tonnes | 3 |
Countries ranked near Cameroon
More environment data for Cameroon
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly -8.11 Percentage change (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly -7.68 Percentage change (2025)
- Standard Deviation, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Standard Deviation 0.211 °C (2025)
- Temperature change 1.15 °C (2025)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual 0.6539 % 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 0.4385 % 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 Cameroon?
- Plastic waste exports in Cameroon was 218.22 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 Cameroon?
- The highest recorded value was 1,012 tonnes in 2021.
- What is the lowest plastic waste exports recorded in Cameroon?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.05 tonnes in 2010.
- How does Cameroon rank for plastic waste exports?
- Cameroon ranks 115th out of 167 countries with data for 2023.
- Is plastic waste exports rising or falling in Cameroon?
- Over the last ten years it is up 286.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Cameroon 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 — 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.