Plastic waste exports in Egypt
Egypt: Plastic waste exports was 170.75 tonnes in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Plastic waste exports in Egypt, 1994–2024
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 Egypt stood at 170.75 tonnes.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 117.0% on the previous year and down 69.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, plastic waste exports in Egypt peaked at 21,084 tonnes in 2009 and was at its lowest, 0.1082 tonnes, in 2021.
Egypt ranks 117th 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.
Plastic waste exports in Egypt, year by year
| Year | tonnes | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1994 | 9.94 tonnes | — |
| 1995 | 105.38 tonnes | +960.4% |
| 1996 | 246.26 tonnes | +133.7% |
| 1997 | 18.75 tonnes | -92.4% |
| 2000 | 12.92 tonnes | -31.1% |
| 2001 | 245.65 tonnes | +1801.8% |
| 2002 | 2,263 tonnes | +821.3% |
| 2003 | 1,279 tonnes | -43.5% |
| 2004 | 6,037 tonnes | +372.1% |
| 2005 | 10,998 tonnes | +82.2% |
| 2006 | 12,318 tonnes | +12.0% |
| 2007 | 13,540 tonnes | +9.9% |
| 2008 | 8,228 tonnes | -39.2% |
| 2009 | 21,084 tonnes | +156.3% |
| 2010 | 20,990 tonnes | -0.4% |
| 2011 | 15,673 tonnes | -25.3% |
| 2012 | 17,152 tonnes | +9.4% |
| 2013 | 6,500 tonnes | -62.1% |
| 2014 | 554.67 tonnes | -91.5% |
| 2015 | 384.22 tonnes | -30.7% |
| 2016 | 3,353 tonnes | +772.7% |
| 2017 | 2,358 tonnes | -29.7% |
| 2018 | 3.77 tonnes | -99.8% |
| 2019 | 458.31 tonnes | +12056.7% |
| 2020 | 1,348 tonnes | +194.1% |
| 2021 | 0.1082 tonnes | -100.0% |
| 2022 | 444.13 tonnes | +410239.6% |
| 2023 | 78.68 tonnes | -82.3% |
| 2024 | 170.75 tonnes | +117.0% |
Egypt compared with similar countries
- Egypt's 170.75 tonnes is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 1,451 tonnes, 12% of the median. (39 countries reporting)
- Egypt's 170.75 tonnes is below the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 2,459 tonnes, 7% of the median. (20 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Plastic waste exports in Egypt 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | +410239.6% | 0.1082 tonnes | 444.13 tonnes |
| 2019 | +12056.7% | 3.77 tonnes | 458.31 tonnes |
| 2001 | +1801.8% | 12.92 tonnes | 245.65 tonnes |
| 1995 | +960.4% | 9.94 tonnes | 105.38 tonnes |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 95.08 tonnes | 9.94 tonnes | 246.26 tonnes | 4 |
| 2000s | 7,600 tonnes | 12.92 tonnes | 21,084 tonnes | 10 |
| 2010s | 6,743 tonnes | 3.77 tonnes | 20,990 tonnes | 10 |
| 2020s | 408.35 tonnes | 0.1082 tonnes | 1,348 tonnes | 5 |
Countries ranked near Egypt
- 114 Armenia 285.63 tonnes compare
- 115 Cameroon 218.22 tonnes compare
- 116 Macao 181.03 tonnes compare
- 118 Central African Republic 135.02 tonnes compare
- 119 Azerbaijan 131.19 tonnes compare
- 120 Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 130.19 tonnes compare
More environment data for Egypt
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly -20.54 Percentage change (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly -13.21 Percentage change (2025)
- Standard Deviation, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Standard Deviation 0.361 °C (2025)
- Temperature change 1.4 °C (2025)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual 4.56 % 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 -3.07 % 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 Egypt?
- Plastic waste exports in Egypt was 170.75 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 Egypt?
- The highest recorded value was 21,084 tonnes in 2009.
- What is the lowest plastic waste exports recorded in Egypt?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.1082 tonnes in 2021.
- How does Egypt rank for plastic waste exports?
- Egypt ranks 117th out of 167 countries with data for 2024.
- Is plastic waste exports rising or falling in Egypt?
- Over the last ten years it is down 69.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Egypt 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.