Plastic waste exports in Iceland
Iceland: Plastic waste exports was 7,721 tonnes in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Plastic waste exports in Iceland, 1988–2024
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 Iceland stood at 7,721 tonnes.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 8.5% on the previous year and up 74.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, plastic waste exports in Iceland peaked at 10,672 tonnes in 2020 and was at its lowest, 19.6 tonnes, in 1988.
Iceland ranks 49th 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 Iceland, year by year
| Year | tonnes | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1988 | 19.6 tonnes | — |
| 1989 | 24.86 tonnes | +26.8% |
| 1990 | 540.44 tonnes | +2074.4% |
| 1991 | 797.44 tonnes | +47.6% |
| 1992 | 899.62 tonnes | +12.8% |
| 1993 | 1,098 tonnes | +22.0% |
| 1994 | 1,189 tonnes | +8.3% |
| 1995 | 1,157 tonnes | -2.7% |
| 1996 | 1,129 tonnes | -2.4% |
| 1997 | 1,266 tonnes | +12.1% |
| 1998 | 1,407 tonnes | +11.1% |
| 1999 | 1,392 tonnes | -1.0% |
| 2000 | 1,740 tonnes | +25.0% |
| 2001 | 1,362 tonnes | -21.7% |
| 2002 | 1,688 tonnes | +24.0% |
| 2003 | 1,621 tonnes | -4.0% |
| 2004 | 1,789 tonnes | +10.4% |
| 2005 | 1,946 tonnes | +8.8% |
| 2006 | 2,279 tonnes | +17.1% |
| 2007 | 3,514 tonnes | +54.2% |
| 2008 | 4,386 tonnes | +24.8% |
| 2009 | 4,707 tonnes | +7.3% |
| 2010 | 3,997 tonnes | -15.1% |
| 2011 | 4,325 tonnes | +8.2% |
| 2012 | 4,111 tonnes | -4.9% |
| 2013 | 4,100 tonnes | -0.3% |
| 2014 | 4,425 tonnes | +7.9% |
| 2015 | 5,729 tonnes | +29.5% |
| 2016 | 6,288 tonnes | +9.8% |
| 2017 | 5,404 tonnes | -14.1% |
| 2018 | 8,561 tonnes | +58.4% |
| 2019 | 7,652 tonnes | -10.6% |
| 2020 | 10,672 tonnes | +39.5% |
| 2021 | 3,281 tonnes | -69.3% |
| 2022 | 4,856 tonnes | +48.0% |
| 2023 | 7,114 tonnes | +46.5% |
| 2024 | 7,721 tonnes | +8.5% |
Iceland compared with similar countries
- Iceland's 7,721 tonnes is above the median for high income countries, which is 4,588 tonnes, 1.7× the median. (64 countries reporting)
- Iceland's 7,721 tonnes is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 7,198 tonnes, 1.1× the median. (50 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Plastic waste exports in Iceland 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | +2074.4% | 24.86 tonnes | 540.44 tonnes |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 22.23 tonnes | 19.6 tonnes | 24.86 tonnes | 2 |
| 1990s | 1,087 tonnes | 540.44 tonnes | 1,407 tonnes | 10 |
| 2000s | 2,503 tonnes | 1,362 tonnes | 4,707 tonnes | 10 |
| 2010s | 5,459 tonnes | 3,997 tonnes | 8,561 tonnes | 10 |
| 2020s | 6,729 tonnes | 3,281 tonnes | 10,672 tonnes | 5 |
Countries ranked near Iceland
- 46 Brazil 8,988 tonnes compare
- 47 El Salvador 8,675 tonnes compare
- 48 Nigeria 8,319 tonnes compare
- 50 Guatemala 7,155 tonnes compare
- 51 Mauritania 6,843 tonnes compare
- 52 Tajikistan 6,675 tonnes compare
More environment data for Iceland
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly 3.89 Percentage change (2025)
- Standard Deviation, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Standard Deviation 0.587 °C (2025)
- Temperature change 1.47 °C (2025)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual 0.8549 % 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 -1.93 % 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)
Frequently asked questions
- What is plastic waste exports in Iceland?
- Plastic waste exports in Iceland was 7,721 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 Iceland?
- The highest recorded value was 10,672 tonnes in 2020.
- What is the lowest plastic waste exports recorded in Iceland?
- The lowest recorded value was 19.6 tonnes in 1988.
- How does Iceland rank for plastic waste exports?
- Iceland ranks 49th out of 167 countries with data for 2024.
- Is plastic waste exports rising or falling in Iceland?
- Over the last ten years it is up 74.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Iceland 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.