Plastic waste exports in Italy
Italy: Plastic waste exports was 0 tonnes in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
0 tonnes
World rank
144th
of 167 countries
All-time high
269,601 tonnes
in 2011
All-time low
0 tonnes
in 2005
Years of data
31
1994–2024
Plastic waste exports in Italy, 1994–2024
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 Italy is 0 tonnes, measured in 2024. That is the lowest value across all 31 years on record.
The figure is down 100.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, plastic waste exports in Italy peaked at 269,601 tonnes in 2011 and was at its lowest, 0 tonnes, in 2005.
That places Italy 144th out of 167 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Plastic waste exports in Italy, year by year
| Year | tonnes | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1994 | 20,275 tonnes | — |
| 1995 | 14,135 tonnes | -30.3% |
| 1996 | 16,110 tonnes | +14.0% |
| 1997 | 18,730 tonnes | +16.3% |
| 1998 | 25,944 tonnes | +38.5% |
| 1999 | 38,556 tonnes | +48.6% |
| 2000 | 33,239 tonnes | -13.8% |
| 2001 | 40,600 tonnes | +22.1% |
| 2002 | 35,495 tonnes | -12.6% |
| 2003 | 53,797 tonnes | +51.6% |
| 2004 | 104,096 tonnes | +93.5% |
| 2005 | 0 tonnes | -100.0% |
| 2006 | 101,847 tonnes | — |
| 2007 | 0 tonnes | -100.0% |
| 2008 | 0 tonnes | — |
| 2009 | 212,414 tonnes | — |
| 2010 | 263,949 tonnes | +24.3% |
| 2011 | 269,601 tonnes | +2.1% |
| 2012 | 228,019 tonnes | -15.4% |
| 2013 | 191,621 tonnes | -16.0% |
| 2014 | 175,859 tonnes | -8.2% |
| 2015 | 223,054 tonnes | +26.8% |
| 2016 | 0 tonnes | -100.0% |
| 2017 | 0 tonnes | — |
| 2018 | 213,265 tonnes | — |
| 2019 | 206,109 tonnes | -3.4% |
| 2020 | 0 tonnes | -100.0% |
| 2021 | 209,802 tonnes | — |
| 2022 | 205,621 tonnes | -2.0% |
| 2023 | 0 tonnes | -100.0% |
| 2024 | 0 tonnes | — |
Italy compared with similar countries
- Italy's 0 tonnes is below the median for high income countries, which is 4,588 tonnes. (64 countries reporting)
- Italy's 0 tonnes is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 7,198 tonnes. (50 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 22,292 tonnes | 14,135 tonnes | 38,556 tonnes | 6 |
| 2000s | 58,149 tonnes | 0 tonnes | 212,414 tonnes | 10 |
| 2010s | 177,148 tonnes | 0 tonnes | 269,601 tonnes | 10 |
| 2020s | 83,085 tonnes | 0 tonnes | 209,802 tonnes | 5 |
Countries ranked near Italy
- 141 Angola 2.03 tonnes compare
- 142 East Timor 1 tonnes compare
- 143 Papua New Guinea 0.828 tonnes compare
- 144 Austria 0 tonnes compare
- 144 Bahrain 0 tonnes compare
- 144 Canada 0 tonnes compare
- 144 Fiji 0 tonnes compare
- 144 France 0 tonnes compare
- 144 Germany 0 tonnes compare
- 144 Ghana 0 tonnes compare
- 144 Hungary 0 tonnes compare
- 144 Jordan 0 tonnes compare
- 144 Kazakhstan 0 tonnes compare
- 144 Lebanon 0 tonnes compare
- 144 Malaysia 0 tonnes compare
- 144 Mexico 0 tonnes compare
- 144 Oman 0 tonnes compare
- 144 Qatar 0 tonnes compare
- 144 Romania 0 tonnes compare
- 144 Singapore 0 tonnes compare
- 144 South Korea 0 tonnes compare
- 144 Spain 0 tonnes compare
- 144 Thailand 0 tonnes compare
- 144 United Arab Emirates 0 tonnes compare
- 144 United Kingdom 0 tonnes compare
- 144 United States 0 tonnes compare
More environment data for Italy
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly 2.04 Percentage change (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly 2.47 Percentage change (2025)
- Standard Deviation, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Standard Deviation 0.324 °C (2025)
- Temperature change 2.18 °C (2025)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual -1.94 % 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 -0.2257 % 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 Italy?
- Plastic waste exports in Italy was 0 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 Italy?
- The highest recorded value was 269,601 tonnes in 2011.
- What is the lowest plastic waste exports recorded in Italy?
- The lowest recorded value was 0 tonnes in 2005.
- How does Italy rank for plastic waste exports?
- Italy ranks 144th out of 167 countries with data for 2024.
- Is plastic waste exports rising or falling in Italy?
- Over the last ten years it is down 100.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Italy 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.