Plastic waste exports in Chile
Chile: Plastic waste exports was 6,656 tonnes in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Plastic waste exports in Chile, 1990–2024
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 Chile is 6,656 tonnes, measured in 2024.
The figure is down 55.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, plastic waste exports in Chile peaked at 15,646 tonnes in 2017 and was at its lowest, 0 tonnes, in 1990.
Chile ranks 53rd 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 Chile, year by year
| Year | tonnes | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 0 tonnes | — |
| 1991 | 33.88 tonnes | — |
| 1992 | 18.22 tonnes | -46.2% |
| 1993 | 106.75 tonnes | +485.8% |
| 1994 | 165.13 tonnes | +54.7% |
| 1995 | 946.48 tonnes | +473.2% |
| 1996 | 337.73 tonnes | -64.3% |
| 1997 | 205.77 tonnes | -39.1% |
| 1998 | 2,028 tonnes | +885.7% |
| 1999 | 430.38 tonnes | -78.8% |
| 2000 | 973.19 tonnes | +126.1% |
| 2001 | 701.55 tonnes | -27.9% |
| 2002 | 731.27 tonnes | +4.2% |
| 2003 | 1,663 tonnes | +127.4% |
| 2004 | 3,237 tonnes | +94.7% |
| 2005 | 3,505 tonnes | +8.3% |
| 2006 | 5,724 tonnes | +63.3% |
| 2007 | 6,688 tonnes | +16.8% |
| 2008 | 8,052 tonnes | +20.4% |
| 2009 | 9,487 tonnes | +17.8% |
| 2010 | 13,443 tonnes | +41.7% |
| 2011 | 14,385 tonnes | +7.0% |
| 2012 | 12,975 tonnes | -9.8% |
| 2013 | 12,324 tonnes | -5.0% |
| 2014 | 14,968 tonnes | +21.5% |
| 2015 | 0 tonnes | -100.0% |
| 2016 | 0 tonnes | — |
| 2017 | 15,646 tonnes | — |
| 2018 | 9,764 tonnes | -37.6% |
| 2019 | 10,725 tonnes | +9.8% |
| 2020 | 10,237 tonnes | -4.5% |
| 2021 | 9,684 tonnes | -5.4% |
| 2022 | 9,449 tonnes | -2.4% |
| 2023 | 0 tonnes | -100.0% |
| 2024 | 6,656 tonnes | — |
Chile compared with similar countries
- Chile's 6,656 tonnes is above the median for high income countries, which is 4,588 tonnes, 1.5× the median. (64 countries reporting)
- Chile's 6,656 tonnes is above the median for Latin America & Caribbean, which is 1,293 tonnes, 5.1× the median. (30 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Plastic waste exports in Chile 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 | +885.7% | 205.77 tonnes | 2,028 tonnes |
| 1993 | +485.8% | 18.22 tonnes | 106.75 tonnes |
| 1995 | +473.2% | 165.13 tonnes | 946.48 tonnes |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 427.26 tonnes | 0 tonnes | 2,028 tonnes | 10 |
| 2000s | 4,076 tonnes | 701.55 tonnes | 9,487 tonnes | 10 |
| 2010s | 10,423 tonnes | 0 tonnes | 15,646 tonnes | 10 |
| 2020s | 7,205 tonnes | 0 tonnes | 10,237 tonnes | 5 |
Countries ranked near Chile
- 50 Guatemala 7,155 tonnes compare
- 51 Mauritania 6,843 tonnes compare
- 52 Tajikistan 6,675 tonnes compare
- 54 Myanmar 6,543 tonnes compare
- 55 Hong Kong 6,535 tonnes compare
- 56 Costa Rica 6,468 tonnes compare
More environment data for Chile
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly -2.67 Percentage change (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly -0.3357 Percentage change (2025)
- Standard Deviation, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Standard Deviation 0.266 °C (2025)
- Temperature change 0.82 °C (2025)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual 1.1 % 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 0.202 % 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 Chile?
- Plastic waste exports in Chile was 6,656 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 Chile?
- The highest recorded value was 15,646 tonnes in 2017.
- What is the lowest plastic waste exports recorded in Chile?
- The lowest recorded value was 0 tonnes in 1990.
- How does Chile rank for plastic waste exports?
- Chile ranks 53rd out of 167 countries with data for 2024.
- Is plastic waste exports rising or falling in Chile?
- Over the last ten years it is down 55.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Chile 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.