Plastic waste exports in Congo
Congo: Plastic waste exports was 346.11 tonnes in 2021. ◆ Volatile
Plastic waste exports in Congo, 2007–2021
Source: United Nations Comtrade Database (2025); United Nations Comtrade Database (2023) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in tonnes.
Analysis
In 2021, plastic waste exports in Congo stood at 346.11 tonnes. That is the highest value across all 10 years on record.
That represents a change of up 268.2% on the previous year and up 41,399.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, plastic waste exports in Congo peaked at 346.11 tonnes in 2021 and was at its lowest, 0.834 tonnes, in 2013.
That places Congo 112th out of 167 countries with data for 2021, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 9.76 tonnes | 9.76 tonnes | 9.76 tonnes | 1 |
| 2010s | 102.4 tonnes | 0.834 tonnes | 206.5 tonnes | 7 |
| 2020s | 220.05 tonnes | 94 tonnes | 346.11 tonnes | 2 |
Countries ranked near Congo
More environment data for Congo
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF 24.62 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF per capita 3.89 t CO2e/capita (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Agriculture 0.4604 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Building (Energy) 0.4601 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Fugitive Emissions (Energy) 13.3 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Industrial Combustion (Energy) 0.0013 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions (total) excluding LULUCF 14.96 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Power Industry (Energy) 0.0052 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Transport (Energy) 0.0073 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Waste 0.7254 Mt CO2e (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is plastic waste exports in Congo?
- Plastic waste exports in Congo was 346.11 tonnes in 2021, 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 Congo?
- The highest recorded value was 346.11 tonnes in 2021.
- What is the lowest plastic waste exports recorded in Congo?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.834 tonnes in 2013.
- How does Congo rank for plastic waste exports?
- Congo ranks 112th out of 167 countries with data for 2021.
- Is plastic waste exports rising or falling in Congo?
- Over the last ten years it is up 41,399.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this 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.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 10 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
The amount of plastic waste a country exports to other countries, measured in tonnes per year.