Plastic waste exports in Guatemala
Guatemala: Plastic waste exports was 7,155 tonnes in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Plastic waste exports in Guatemala, 1993–2024
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 Guatemala is 7,155 tonnes, measured in 2024.
That represents a change of down 6.0% on the previous year and down 51.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, plastic waste exports in Guatemala peaked at 17,864 tonnes in 2015 and was at its lowest, 339.49 tonnes, in 1998.
Guatemala ranks 50th 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 Guatemala, year by year
| Year | tonnes | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1993 | 685.57 tonnes | — |
| 1994 | 572.66 tonnes | -16.5% |
| 1995 | 778.04 tonnes | +35.9% |
| 1996 | 549.18 tonnes | -29.4% |
| 1997 | 404.49 tonnes | -26.3% |
| 1998 | 339.49 tonnes | -16.1% |
| 1999 | 361.37 tonnes | +6.4% |
| 2000 | 532.78 tonnes | +47.4% |
| 2001 | 793.66 tonnes | +49.0% |
| 2002 | 1,008 tonnes | +27.0% |
| 2003 | 480.14 tonnes | -52.4% |
| 2004 | 2,500 tonnes | +420.7% |
| 2005 | 5,053 tonnes | +102.1% |
| 2006 | 4,933 tonnes | -2.4% |
| 2007 | 7,932 tonnes | +60.8% |
| 2008 | 5,538 tonnes | -30.2% |
| 2009 | 4,081 tonnes | -26.3% |
| 2010 | 6,693 tonnes | +64.0% |
| 2011 | 7,777 tonnes | +16.2% |
| 2012 | 11,785 tonnes | +51.5% |
| 2013 | 12,843 tonnes | +9.0% |
| 2014 | 14,768 tonnes | +15.0% |
| 2015 | 17,864 tonnes | +21.0% |
| 2016 | 17,039 tonnes | -4.6% |
| 2017 | 12,986 tonnes | -23.8% |
| 2018 | 10,349 tonnes | -20.3% |
| 2019 | 8,177 tonnes | -21.0% |
| 2020 | 5,380 tonnes | -34.2% |
| 2021 | 13,637 tonnes | +153.5% |
| 2022 | 7,143 tonnes | -47.6% |
| 2023 | 7,609 tonnes | +6.5% |
| 2024 | 7,155 tonnes | -6.0% |
Guatemala compared with similar countries
- Guatemala's 7,155 tonnes is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 1,066 tonnes, 6.7× the median. (49 countries reporting)
- Guatemala's 7,155 tonnes is above the median for Latin America & Caribbean, which is 1,293 tonnes, 5.5× the median. (30 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Plastic waste exports in Guatemala 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | +420.7% | 480.14 tonnes | 2,500 tonnes |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 527.26 tonnes | 339.49 tonnes | 778.04 tonnes | 7 |
| 2000s | 3,285 tonnes | 480.14 tonnes | 7,932 tonnes | 10 |
| 2010s | 12,028 tonnes | 6,693 tonnes | 17,864 tonnes | 10 |
| 2020s | 8,185 tonnes | 5,380 tonnes | 13,637 tonnes | 5 |
Countries ranked near Guatemala
- 47 El Salvador 8,675 tonnes compare
- 48 Nigeria 8,319 tonnes compare
- 49 Iceland 7,721 tonnes compare
- 51 Mauritania 6,843 tonnes compare
- 52 Tajikistan 6,675 tonnes compare
- 53 Chile 6,656 tonnes compare
More environment data for Guatemala
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly -4.45 Percentage change (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly -5.02 Percentage change (2025)
- Standard Deviation, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Standard Deviation 0.273 °C (2025)
- Temperature change 1.47 °C (2025)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual 1.11 % 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 % 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 Guatemala?
- Plastic waste exports in Guatemala was 7,155 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 Guatemala?
- The highest recorded value was 17,864 tonnes in 2015.
- What is the lowest plastic waste exports recorded in Guatemala?
- The lowest recorded value was 339.49 tonnes in 1998.
- How does Guatemala rank for plastic waste exports?
- Guatemala ranks 50th out of 167 countries with data for 2024.
- Is plastic waste exports rising or falling in Guatemala?
- Over the last ten years it is down 51.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Guatemala 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.