Plastic waste exports in El Salvador
El Salvador: Plastic waste exports was 8,675 tonnes in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Plastic waste exports in El Salvador, 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
The most recent figure for plastic waste exports in El Salvador is 8,675 tonnes, measured in 2024.
That represents a change of up 0.3% on the previous year and down 29.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, plastic waste exports in El Salvador peaked at 53,983 tonnes in 2008 and was at its lowest, 40.9 tonnes, in 1995.
El Salvador ranks 47th 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 El Salvador, year by year
| Year | tonnes | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1994 | 44.59 tonnes | — |
| 1995 | 40.9 tonnes | -8.3% |
| 1996 | 394.08 tonnes | +863.6% |
| 1998 | 525.84 tonnes | +33.4% |
| 1999 | 917.42 tonnes | +74.5% |
| 2000 | 837.76 tonnes | -8.7% |
| 2001 | 834.9 tonnes | -0.3% |
| 2002 | 1,232 tonnes | +47.6% |
| 2003 | 1,416 tonnes | +14.9% |
| 2004 | 1,536 tonnes | +8.4% |
| 2005 | 4,584 tonnes | +198.5% |
| 2006 | 6,837 tonnes | +49.1% |
| 2007 | 6,858 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 2008 | 53,983 tonnes | +687.1% |
| 2009 | 8,281 tonnes | -84.7% |
| 2010 | 11,201 tonnes | +35.3% |
| 2011 | 13,621 tonnes | +21.6% |
| 2012 | 14,253 tonnes | +4.6% |
| 2013 | 14,338 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 2014 | 12,360 tonnes | -13.8% |
| 2015 | 11,999 tonnes | -2.9% |
| 2016 | 8,586 tonnes | -28.4% |
| 2017 | 8,752 tonnes | +1.9% |
| 2018 | 9,699 tonnes | +10.8% |
| 2019 | 10,445 tonnes | +7.7% |
| 2020 | 7,059 tonnes | -32.4% |
| 2021 | 9,523 tonnes | +34.9% |
| 2022 | 10,572 tonnes | +11.0% |
| 2023 | 8,648 tonnes | -18.2% |
| 2024 | 8,675 tonnes | +0.3% |
El Salvador compared with similar countries
- El Salvador's 8,675 tonnes is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 1,066 tonnes, 8.1× the median. (49 countries reporting)
- El Salvador's 8,675 tonnes is above the median for Latin America & Caribbean, which is 1,293 tonnes, 6.7× the median. (30 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Plastic waste exports in El Salvador 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | +863.6% | 40.9 tonnes | 394.08 tonnes |
| 2008 | +687.1% | 6,858 tonnes | 53,983 tonnes |
| 2005 | +198.5% | 1,536 tonnes | 4,584 tonnes |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 384.56 tonnes | 40.9 tonnes | 917.42 tonnes | 5 |
| 2000s | 8,640 tonnes | 834.9 tonnes | 53,983 tonnes | 10 |
| 2010s | 11,526 tonnes | 8,586 tonnes | 14,338 tonnes | 10 |
| 2020s | 8,895 tonnes | 7,059 tonnes | 10,572 tonnes | 5 |
Countries ranked near El Salvador
More environment data for El Salvador
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly -3.31 Percentage change (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly -3.1 Percentage change (2025)
- Standard Deviation, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Standard Deviation 0.27 °C (2025)
- Temperature change 1.28 °C (2025)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual 2.58 % 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 0.0446 % 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 El Salvador?
- Plastic waste exports in El Salvador was 8,675 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 El Salvador?
- The highest recorded value was 53,983 tonnes in 2008.
- What is the lowest plastic waste exports recorded in El Salvador?
- The lowest recorded value was 40.9 tonnes in 1995.
- How does El Salvador rank for plastic waste exports?
- El Salvador ranks 47th out of 167 countries with data for 2024.
- Is plastic waste exports rising or falling in El Salvador?
- Over the last ten years it is down 29.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this El Salvador 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.