Plastic waste exports in Costa Rica
Costa Rica: Plastic waste exports was 6,468 tonnes in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Plastic waste exports in Costa Rica, 1994–2023
Source: United Nations Comtrade Database (2025); United Nations Comtrade Database (2023) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in tonnes.
Analysis
Costa Rica recorded 6,468 tonnes for plastic waste exports in 2023.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 22.6% on the previous year and down 32.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, plastic waste exports in Costa Rica peaked at 22,999 tonnes in 2019 and was at its lowest, 191.71 tonnes, in 1994.
Costa Rica ranks 56th 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.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 1,334 tonnes | 191.71 tonnes | 5,172 tonnes | 6 |
| 2000s | 3,268 tonnes | 1,071 tonnes | 6,099 tonnes | 10 |
| 2010s | 11,068 tonnes | 5,633 tonnes | 22,999 tonnes | 10 |
| 2020s | 7,884 tonnes | 6,468 tonnes | 8,825 tonnes | 3 |
Countries ranked near Costa Rica
More environment data for Costa Rica
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF 17.08 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF per capita 3.33 t CO2e/capita (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Agriculture 4.38 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Building (Energy) 0.0273 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Fugitive Emissions (Energy) 0.0074 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Industrial Combustion (Energy) 0.0131 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions (total) excluding LULUCF 6.38 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Power Industry (Energy) 0.0006 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Transport (Energy) 0.0288 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Waste 1.92 Mt CO2e (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is plastic waste exports in Costa Rica?
- Plastic waste exports in Costa Rica was 6,468 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 Costa Rica?
- The highest recorded value was 22,999 tonnes in 2019.
- What is the lowest plastic waste exports recorded in Costa Rica?
- The lowest recorded value was 191.71 tonnes in 1994.
- How does Costa Rica rank for plastic waste exports?
- Costa Rica ranks 56th out of 167 countries with data for 2023.
- Is plastic waste exports rising or falling in Costa Rica?
- Over the last ten years it is down 32.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Costa Rica 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
The amount of plastic waste a country exports to other countries, measured in tonnes per year.