Plastic waste exports in Jamaica
Jamaica: Plastic waste exports was 16,938 tonnes in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Plastic waste exports in Jamaica, 1997–2023
Source: United Nations Comtrade Database (2025); United Nations Comtrade Database (2023) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in tonnes.
Analysis
In 2023, plastic waste exports in Jamaica stood at 16,938 tonnes.
The figure is down 7.4% on the previous year and up 2,202.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, plastic waste exports in Jamaica peaked at 18,291 tonnes in 2022 and was at its lowest, 16.04 tonnes, in 2005.
That places Jamaica 34th out of 167 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Plastic waste exports in Jamaica, year by year
| Year | tonnes | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1997 | 75.58 tonnes | — |
| 1998 | 250.38 tonnes | +231.3% |
| 1999 | 336.57 tonnes | +34.4% |
| 2000 | 431.62 tonnes | +28.2% |
| 2001 | 493.27 tonnes | +14.3% |
| 2002 | 670.04 tonnes | +35.8% |
| 2003 | 416.85 tonnes | -37.8% |
| 2004 | 155.65 tonnes | -62.7% |
| 2005 | 16.04 tonnes | -89.7% |
| 2006 | 100.01 tonnes | +523.6% |
| 2007 | 139.89 tonnes | +39.9% |
| 2008 | 90.37 tonnes | -35.4% |
| 2009 | 54.62 tonnes | -39.6% |
| 2010 | 25.64 tonnes | -53.1% |
| 2011 | 232.57 tonnes | +807.2% |
| 2012 | 247.84 tonnes | +6.6% |
| 2013 | 735.53 tonnes | +196.8% |
| 2014 | 2,157 tonnes | +193.3% |
| 2015 | 1,781 tonnes | -17.5% |
| 2016 | 2,835 tonnes | +59.2% |
| 2017 | 2,484 tonnes | -12.4% |
| 2018 | 3,916 tonnes | +57.7% |
| 2019 | 10,691 tonnes | +173.0% |
| 2020 | 9,018 tonnes | -15.7% |
| 2021 | 13,432 tonnes | +49.0% |
| 2022 | 18,291 tonnes | +36.2% |
| 2023 | 16,938 tonnes | -7.4% |
Jamaica compared with similar countries
- Jamaica's 16,938 tonnes is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 1,066 tonnes, 15.9× the median. (49 countries reporting)
- Jamaica's 16,938 tonnes is above the median for Latin America & Caribbean, which is 1,293 tonnes, 13.1× the median. (30 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Plastic waste exports in Jamaica 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | +807.2% | 25.64 tonnes | 232.57 tonnes |
| 2006 | +523.6% | 16.04 tonnes | 100.01 tonnes |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 220.84 tonnes | 75.58 tonnes | 336.57 tonnes | 3 |
| 2000s | 256.84 tonnes | 16.04 tonnes | 670.04 tonnes | 10 |
| 2010s | 2,511 tonnes | 25.64 tonnes | 10,691 tonnes | 10 |
| 2020s | 14,420 tonnes | 9,018 tonnes | 18,291 tonnes | 4 |
Countries ranked near Jamaica
More environment data for Jamaica
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly -2.93 Percentage change (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly -3.15 Percentage change (2025)
- Standard Deviation, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Standard Deviation 0.284 °C (2025)
- Temperature change 1.76 °C (2025)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual 4.23 % 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 -0.7158 % 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 Jamaica?
- Plastic waste exports in Jamaica was 16,938 tonnes in 2023, 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 Jamaica?
- The highest recorded value was 18,291 tonnes in 2022.
- What is the lowest plastic waste exports recorded in Jamaica?
- The lowest recorded value was 16.04 tonnes in 2005.
- How does Jamaica rank for plastic waste exports?
- Jamaica ranks 34th out of 167 countries with data for 2023.
- Is plastic waste exports rising or falling in Jamaica?
- Over the last ten years it is up 2,202.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Jamaica 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.