Plastic waste exports in Ecuador
Ecuador: Plastic waste exports was 3,917 tonnes in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Plastic waste exports in Ecuador, 1992–2024
Source: United Nations Comtrade Database (2025); United Nations Comtrade Database (2023) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in tonnes.
Analysis
In 2024, plastic waste exports in Ecuador stood at 3,917 tonnes.
The figure is down 88.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, plastic waste exports in Ecuador peaked at 34,722 tonnes in 2014 and was at its lowest, 0 tonnes, in 2023.
That places Ecuador 67th out of 167 countries with data for 2024, putting it 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 Ecuador, year by year
| Year | tonnes | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1992 | 0.023 tonnes | — |
| 1995 | 81.5 tonnes | +354247.8% |
| 1996 | 0.539 tonnes | -99.3% |
| 1998 | 2,416 tonnes | +448080.0% |
| 1999 | 808.65 tonnes | -66.5% |
| 2000 | 859.07 tonnes | +6.2% |
| 2001 | 283.68 tonnes | -67.0% |
| 2002 | 1,074 tonnes | +278.5% |
| 2003 | 978.75 tonnes | -8.9% |
| 2004 | 1,211 tonnes | +23.7% |
| 2005 | 2,462 tonnes | +103.2% |
| 2006 | 4,661 tonnes | +89.3% |
| 2007 | 8,045 tonnes | +72.6% |
| 2008 | 9,221 tonnes | +14.6% |
| 2009 | 8,513 tonnes | -7.7% |
| 2010 | 10,036 tonnes | +17.9% |
| 2011 | 14,993 tonnes | +49.4% |
| 2012 | 24,324 tonnes | +62.2% |
| 2013 | 29,628 tonnes | +21.8% |
| 2014 | 34,722 tonnes | +17.2% |
| 2015 | 34,144 tonnes | -1.7% |
| 2016 | 17,624 tonnes | -48.4% |
| 2017 | 16,882 tonnes | -4.2% |
| 2018 | 5,536 tonnes | -67.2% |
| 2019 | 3,280 tonnes | -40.8% |
| 2020 | 3,484 tonnes | +6.2% |
| 2021 | 6,440 tonnes | +84.8% |
| 2022 | 3,646 tonnes | -43.4% |
| 2023 | 0 tonnes | -100.0% |
| 2024 | 3,917 tonnes | — |
Ecuador compared with similar countries
- Ecuador's 3,917 tonnes is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 1,066 tonnes, 3.7× the median. (49 countries reporting)
- Ecuador's 3,917 tonnes is above the median for Latin America & Caribbean, which is 1,293 tonnes, 3.0× the median. (30 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Plastic waste exports in Ecuador 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 | +448080.0% | 0.539 tonnes | 2,416 tonnes |
| 1995 | +354247.8% | 0.023 tonnes | 81.5 tonnes |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 661.28 tonnes | 0.023 tonnes | 2,416 tonnes | 5 |
| 2000s | 3,731 tonnes | 283.68 tonnes | 9,221 tonnes | 10 |
| 2010s | 19,117 tonnes | 3,280 tonnes | 34,722 tonnes | 10 |
| 2020s | 3,497 tonnes | 0 tonnes | 6,440 tonnes | 5 |
Countries ranked near Ecuador
More environment data for Ecuador
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly 0.3767 Percentage change (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly -1.05 Percentage change (2025)
- Standard Deviation, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Standard Deviation 0.4 °C (2025)
- Temperature change 1.49 °C (2025)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual 1.65 % 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 -1.14 % 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 Ecuador?
- Plastic waste exports in Ecuador was 3,917 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 Ecuador?
- The highest recorded value was 34,722 tonnes in 2014.
- What is the lowest plastic waste exports recorded in Ecuador?
- The lowest recorded value was 0 tonnes in 2023.
- How does Ecuador rank for plastic waste exports?
- Ecuador ranks 67th out of 167 countries with data for 2024.
- Is plastic waste exports rising or falling in Ecuador?
- Over the last ten years it is down 88.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Ecuador 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.