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.
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
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF 1,055 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF per capita 11.52 t CO2e/capita (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Agriculture 23.95 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Building (Energy) 1.36 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Fugitive Emissions (Energy) 132.92 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Industrial Combustion (Energy) 0.0799 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions (total) excluding LULUCF 175.7 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Power Industry (Energy) 0.3082 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Transport (Energy) 2.67 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Waste 13.99 Mt CO2e (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
The amount of plastic waste a country exports to other countries, measured in tonnes per year.