Plastic waste exports in Denmark
Denmark: Plastic waste exports was 87,149 tonnes in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Plastic waste exports in Denmark, 1989–2024
Source: United Nations Comtrade Database (2025); United Nations Comtrade Database (2023) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in tonnes.
Analysis
Denmark recorded 87,149 tonnes for plastic waste exports in 2024.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 23.5% on the previous year and up 6.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, plastic waste exports in Denmark peaked at 493,556 tonnes in 2010 and was at its lowest, 0 tonnes, in 2020.
Denmark ranks 9th of 167 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Plastic waste exports in Denmark, year by year
| Year | tonnes | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1989 | 8,684 tonnes | — |
| 1990 | 7,957 tonnes | -8.4% |
| 1991 | 8,723 tonnes | +9.6% |
| 1992 | 8,804 tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1993 | 7,903 tonnes | -10.2% |
| 1994 | 7,688 tonnes | -2.7% |
| 1995 | 6,530 tonnes | -15.1% |
| 1996 | 8,589 tonnes | +31.5% |
| 1998 | 11,406 tonnes | +32.8% |
| 1999 | 19,706 tonnes | +72.8% |
| 2000 | 15,628 tonnes | -20.7% |
| 2001 | 16,970 tonnes | +8.6% |
| 2002 | 23,172 tonnes | +36.5% |
| 2003 | 29,573 tonnes | +27.6% |
| 2004 | 36,730 tonnes | +24.2% |
| 2005 | 44,216 tonnes | +20.4% |
| 2006 | 42,111 tonnes | -4.8% |
| 2007 | 46,730 tonnes | +11.0% |
| 2008 | 247,468 tonnes | +429.6% |
| 2009 | 131,446 tonnes | -46.9% |
| 2010 | 493,556 tonnes | +275.5% |
| 2011 | 79,843 tonnes | -83.8% |
| 2012 | 85,281 tonnes | +6.8% |
| 2013 | 68,018 tonnes | -20.2% |
| 2014 | 82,236 tonnes | +20.9% |
| 2015 | 74,241 tonnes | -9.7% |
| 2016 | 59,116 tonnes | -20.4% |
| 2017 | 55,652 tonnes | -5.9% |
| 2018 | 55,232 tonnes | -0.8% |
| 2019 | 61,151 tonnes | +10.7% |
| 2020 | 0 tonnes | -100.0% |
| 2021 | 0 tonnes | — |
| 2022 | 85,468 tonnes | — |
| 2023 | 70,549 tonnes | -17.5% |
| 2024 | 87,149 tonnes | +23.5% |
Denmark compared with similar countries
- Denmark's 87,149 tonnes is above the median for high income countries, which is 4,588 tonnes, 19.0× the median. (64 countries reporting)
- Denmark's 87,149 tonnes is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 7,198 tonnes, 12.1× the median. (50 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Plastic waste exports in Denmark 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | +429.6% | 46,730 tonnes | 247,468 tonnes |
| 2010 | +275.5% | 131,446 tonnes | 493,556 tonnes |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 8,684 tonnes | 8,684 tonnes | 8,684 tonnes | 1 |
| 1990s | 9,701 tonnes | 6,530 tonnes | 19,706 tonnes | 9 |
| 2000s | 63,404 tonnes | 15,628 tonnes | 247,468 tonnes | 10 |
| 2010s | 111,433 tonnes | 55,232 tonnes | 493,556 tonnes | 10 |
| 2020s | 48,633 tonnes | 0 tonnes | 87,149 tonnes | 5 |
Countries ranked near Denmark
More environment data for Denmark
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly -2.66 Percentage change (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly -2.67 Percentage change (2025)
- Standard Deviation, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Standard Deviation 0.696 °C (2025)
- Temperature change 2.29 °C (2025)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual -1.75 % 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 0.0189 % 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 Denmark?
- Plastic waste exports in Denmark was 87,149 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 Denmark?
- The highest recorded value was 493,556 tonnes in 2010.
- What is the lowest plastic waste exports recorded in Denmark?
- The lowest recorded value was 0 tonnes in 2020.
- How does Denmark rank for plastic waste exports?
- Denmark ranks 9th out of 167 countries with data for 2024.
- Is plastic waste exports rising or falling in Denmark?
- Over the last ten years it is up 6.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Denmark 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.