Plastic waste exports in Ethiopia
Ethiopia: Plastic waste exports was 3,161 tonnes in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Plastic waste exports in Ethiopia, 2004–2023
Source: United Nations Comtrade Database (2025); United Nations Comtrade Database (2023) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in tonnes.
Analysis
In 2023, plastic waste exports in Ethiopia stood at 3,161 tonnes.
The figure is down 56.7% on the previous year and up 405.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, plastic waste exports in Ethiopia peaked at 7,304 tonnes in 2022 and was at its lowest, 57 tonnes, in 2008.
Ethiopia ranks 72nd 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 Ethiopia, year by year
| Year | tonnes | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2004 | 80 tonnes | — |
| 2006 | 168.38 tonnes | +110.5% |
| 2007 | 1,286 tonnes | +663.7% |
| 2008 | 57 tonnes | -95.6% |
| 2010 | 180.93 tonnes | +217.4% |
| 2011 | 430.76 tonnes | +138.1% |
| 2012 | 483.64 tonnes | +12.3% |
| 2013 | 625.26 tonnes | +29.3% |
| 2014 | 3,042 tonnes | +386.5% |
| 2015 | 4,010 tonnes | +31.8% |
| 2016 | 2,586 tonnes | -35.5% |
| 2017 | 4,939 tonnes | +90.9% |
| 2018 | 3,826 tonnes | -22.5% |
| 2019 | 5,262 tonnes | +37.5% |
| 2020 | 4,713 tonnes | -10.4% |
| 2021 | 6,912 tonnes | +46.6% |
| 2022 | 7,304 tonnes | +5.7% |
| 2023 | 3,161 tonnes | -56.7% |
Ethiopia compared with similar countries
- Ethiopia's 3,161 tonnes is above the median for low income countries, which is 963.54 tonnes, 3.3× the median. (15 countries reporting)
- Ethiopia's 3,161 tonnes is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 1,090 tonnes, 2.9× the median. (33 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Plastic waste exports in Ethiopia 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | +663.7% | 168.38 tonnes | 1,286 tonnes |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 397.85 tonnes | 57 tonnes | 1,286 tonnes | 4 |
| 2010s | 2,539 tonnes | 180.93 tonnes | 5,262 tonnes | 10 |
| 2020s | 5,522 tonnes | 3,161 tonnes | 7,304 tonnes | 4 |
Countries ranked near Ethiopia
More environment data for Ethiopia
- Standard Deviation, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Standard Deviation 0.272 °C (2025)
- Temperature change 1.39 °C (2025)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual 2.26 % 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 2.83 % 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 0.1478 % change on previous year (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is plastic waste exports in Ethiopia?
- Plastic waste exports in Ethiopia was 3,161 tonnes in 2023, 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 Ethiopia?
- The highest recorded value was 7,304 tonnes in 2022.
- What is the lowest plastic waste exports recorded in Ethiopia?
- The lowest recorded value was 57 tonnes in 2008.
- How does Ethiopia rank for plastic waste exports?
- Ethiopia ranks 72nd out of 167 countries with data for 2023.
- Is plastic waste exports rising or falling in Ethiopia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 405.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Ethiopia 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 — 18 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.