Plastic waste exports in Iran
Iran: Plastic waste exports was 21,047 tonnes in 2018. ◆ Volatile
Plastic waste exports in Iran, 1997–2018
Source: United Nations Comtrade Database (2025); United Nations Comtrade Database (2023) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in tonnes.
Analysis
Iran recorded 21,047 tonnes for plastic waste exports in 2018. That is the highest value across all 17 years on record.
That represents a change of up 261.0% on the previous year and up 77.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, plastic waste exports in Iran peaked at 21,047 tonnes in 2018 and was at its lowest, 8 tonnes, in 1997.
Iran ranks 31st 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 Iran, year by year
| Year | tonnes | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1997 | 8 tonnes | — |
| 1999 | 13.29 tonnes | +66.1% |
| 2000 | 359.21 tonnes | +2603.3% |
| 2001 | 404.5 tonnes | +12.6% |
| 2002 | 1,352 tonnes | +234.2% |
| 2003 | 2,330 tonnes | +72.3% |
| 2004 | 3,697 tonnes | +58.7% |
| 2005 | 6,770 tonnes | +83.1% |
| 2006 | 11,843 tonnes | +74.9% |
| 2010 | 12,850 tonnes | +8.5% |
| 2011 | 13,310 tonnes | +3.6% |
| 2013 | 1,499 tonnes | -88.7% |
| 2014 | 3,531 tonnes | +135.6% |
| 2015 | 7,271 tonnes | +105.9% |
| 2016 | 6,099 tonnes | -16.1% |
| 2017 | 5,831 tonnes | -4.4% |
| 2018 | 21,047 tonnes | +261.0% |
Iran compared with similar countries
- Iran's 21,047 tonnes is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 1,066 tonnes, 19.7× the median. (49 countries reporting)
- Iran's 21,047 tonnes is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 2,459 tonnes, 8.6× the median. (20 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Plastic waste exports in Iran 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 | +2603.3% | 13.29 tonnes | 359.21 tonnes |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 10.64 tonnes | 8 tonnes | 13.29 tonnes | 2 |
| 2000s | 3,822 tonnes | 359.21 tonnes | 11,843 tonnes | 7 |
| 2010s | 8,930 tonnes | 1,499 tonnes | 21,047 tonnes | 8 |
Countries ranked near Iran
More environment data for Iran
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly -30.46 Percentage change (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly -21.27 Percentage change (2025)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual 2.4 % 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 1.9 % 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 -0.0807 % change on previous year (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Building (Energy) (Mt CO2e), per unit of 0 Mt CO2e per US$ of GDP (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is plastic waste exports in Iran?
- Plastic waste exports in Iran was 21,047 tonnes in 2018, 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 Iran?
- The highest recorded value was 21,047 tonnes in 2018.
- What is the lowest plastic waste exports recorded in Iran?
- The lowest recorded value was 8 tonnes in 1997.
- How does Iran rank for plastic waste exports?
- Iran ranks 31st out of 167 countries with data for 2018.
- Is plastic waste exports rising or falling in Iran?
- Over the last ten years it is up 77.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Iran 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 — 17 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.