Plastic waste exports in Estonia
Estonia: Plastic waste exports was 16,459 tonnes in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Plastic waste exports in Estonia, 1995–2024
Source: United Nations Comtrade Database (2025); United Nations Comtrade Database (2023) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in tonnes.
Analysis
Estonia recorded 16,459 tonnes for plastic waste exports in 2024.
The figure is up 2.7% on the previous year and down 6.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, plastic waste exports in Estonia peaked at 38,614 tonnes in 2012 and was at its lowest, 0 tonnes, in 2004.
Estonia ranks 35th of 167 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Plastic waste exports in Estonia, year by year
| Year | tonnes | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1995 | 391.79 tonnes | — |
| 1996 | 363.08 tonnes | -7.3% |
| 1997 | 157.55 tonnes | -56.6% |
| 1998 | 74.2 tonnes | -52.9% |
| 1999 | 168.52 tonnes | +127.1% |
| 2000 | 725 tonnes | +330.2% |
| 2001 | 660.83 tonnes | -8.9% |
| 2002 | 1,308 tonnes | +98.0% |
| 2003 | 1,916 tonnes | +46.4% |
| 2004 | 0 tonnes | -100.0% |
| 2005 | 4,784 tonnes | — |
| 2006 | 6,872 tonnes | +43.6% |
| 2007 | 12,810 tonnes | +86.4% |
| 2008 | 12,720 tonnes | -0.7% |
| 2009 | 21,293 tonnes | +67.4% |
| 2010 | 15,322 tonnes | -28.0% |
| 2011 | 13,983 tonnes | -8.7% |
| 2012 | 38,614 tonnes | +176.1% |
| 2013 | 15,495 tonnes | -59.9% |
| 2014 | 17,508 tonnes | +13.0% |
| 2015 | 15,924 tonnes | -9.0% |
| 2016 | 16,952 tonnes | +6.5% |
| 2017 | 13,627 tonnes | -19.6% |
| 2018 | 14,052 tonnes | +3.1% |
| 2019 | 16,451 tonnes | +17.1% |
| 2020 | 16,295 tonnes | -0.9% |
| 2021 | 17,178 tonnes | +5.4% |
| 2022 | 20,404 tonnes | +18.8% |
| 2023 | 16,032 tonnes | -21.4% |
| 2024 | 16,459 tonnes | +2.7% |
Estonia compared with similar countries
- Estonia's 16,459 tonnes is above the median for high income countries, which is 4,588 tonnes, 3.6× the median. (64 countries reporting)
- Estonia's 16,459 tonnes is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 7,198 tonnes, 2.3× the median. (50 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Plastic waste exports in Estonia 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | +330.2% | 168.52 tonnes | 725 tonnes |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 231.03 tonnes | 74.2 tonnes | 391.79 tonnes | 5 |
| 2000s | 6,309 tonnes | 0 tonnes | 21,293 tonnes | 10 |
| 2010s | 17,793 tonnes | 13,627 tonnes | 38,614 tonnes | 10 |
| 2020s | 17,274 tonnes | 16,032 tonnes | 20,404 tonnes | 5 |
Countries ranked near Estonia
More environment data for Estonia
- Standard Deviation, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Standard Deviation 0.899 °C (2025)
- Temperature change 2.78 °C (2025)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual -5.71 % 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 -0.0832 % change on previous year (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Agriculture (Mt CO2e), per unit of GDP 0 Mt CO2e per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Agriculture (Mt CO2e), per capita 0 Mt CO2e per person (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Building (Energy) (Mt CO2e), annual 0 % change on previous year (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is plastic waste exports in Estonia?
- Plastic waste exports in Estonia was 16,459 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 Estonia?
- The highest recorded value was 38,614 tonnes in 2012.
- What is the lowest plastic waste exports recorded in Estonia?
- The lowest recorded value was 0 tonnes in 2004.
- How does Estonia rank for plastic waste exports?
- Estonia ranks 35th out of 167 countries with data for 2024.
- Is plastic waste exports rising or falling in Estonia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 6.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Estonia 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.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 30 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Amount of plastic waste a country exports to other countries, measured in tonnes per year.