Plastic waste exports in Democratic Republic of Congo
Democratic Republic of Congo: Plastic waste exports was 20.5 tonnes in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2023)
20.5 tonnes
Change on year
down 87.9%
World rank
131st
of 167 countries
All-time high
169 tonnes
in 2021
All-time low
0.033 tonnes
in 2020
Years of data
6
2017–2023
Plastic waste exports in Democratic Republic of Congo, 2017–2023
Source: United Nations Comtrade Database (2025); United Nations Comtrade Database (2023) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in tonnes.
Analysis
Democratic Republic of Congo recorded 20.5 tonnes for plastic waste exports in 2023.
That represents a change of down 87.9% on the previous year and up 156.2% over ten years.
That places Democratic Republic of Congo 131st out of 167 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the bottom quarter.
Plastic waste exports in Democratic Republic of Congo, year by year
| Year | tonnes | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2017 | 8 tonnes | — |
| 2018 | 22 tonnes | +175.0% |
| 2019 | 128 tonnes | +481.8% |
| 2020 | 0.033 tonnes | -100.0% |
| 2021 | 169 tonnes | +512033.3% |
| 2023 | 20.5 tonnes | -87.9% |
Democratic Republic of Congo compared with similar countries
- Democratic Republic of Congo's 20.5 tonnes is below the median for low income countries, which is 963.54 tonnes, 2% of the median. (15 countries reporting)
- Democratic Republic of Congo's 20.5 tonnes is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 1,090 tonnes, 2% of the median. (33 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 52.67 tonnes | 8 tonnes | 128 tonnes | 3 |
| 2020s | 63.18 tonnes | 0.033 tonnes | 169 tonnes | 3 |
Countries ranked near Democratic Republic of Congo
- 128 Guyana 38 tonnes compare
- 129 Lesotho 31.01 tonnes compare
- 130 Malawi 30.2 tonnes compare
- 132 Grenada 17.44 tonnes compare
- 133 Antigua and Barbuda 16.08 tonnes
- 134 Saint Lucia 15.41 tonnes
More environment data for Democratic Republic of Congo
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual 2.26 % 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 5.2 % change on previous year (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Agriculture (Mt CO2e), per unit of GDP 0 Mt CO2e per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Agriculture (Mt CO2e), per capita 0 Mt CO2e per person (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Building (Energy) (Mt CO2e), annual 0 % change on previous year (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Building (Energy) (Mt CO2e), per unit of 0 Mt CO2e per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Building (Energy) (Mt CO2e), per capita 0 Mt CO2e per person (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Fugitive Emissions (Energy) (Mt CO2e) 0.338 % change on previous year (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is plastic waste exports in Democratic Republic of Congo?
- Plastic waste exports in Democratic Republic of Congo was 20.5 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 Democratic Republic of Congo?
- The highest recorded value was 169 tonnes in 2021.
- What is the lowest plastic waste exports recorded in Democratic Republic of Congo?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.033 tonnes in 2020.
- How does Democratic Republic of Congo rank for plastic waste exports?
- Democratic Republic of Congo ranks 131st out of 167 countries with data for 2023.
- Is plastic waste exports rising or falling in Democratic Republic of Congo?
- Over the last ten years it is up 156.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Democratic Republic of Congo 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.