Plastic waste exports in Japan
Japan: Plastic waste exports was 683,123 tonnes in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
683,123 tonnes
Change on year
up 12.7%
World rank
1st
of 167 countries
All-time high
1.68 million tonnes
in 2013
All-time low
36,171 tonnes
in 1989
Years of data
37
1988–2024
Plastic waste exports in Japan, 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 Japan stood at 683,123 tonnes.
The figure is up 12.7% on the previous year and down 59.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, plastic waste exports in Japan peaked at 1.68 million tonnes in 2013 and was at its lowest, 36,171 tonnes, in 1989.
That places Japan 1st out of 167 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Plastic waste exports in Japan, year by year
| Year | tonnes | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1988 | 45,787 tonnes | — |
| 1989 | 36,171 tonnes | -21.0% |
| 1990 | 41,401 tonnes | +14.5% |
| 1991 | 54,764 tonnes | +32.3% |
| 1992 | 67,618 tonnes | +23.5% |
| 1993 | 68,923 tonnes | +1.9% |
| 1994 | 92,534 tonnes | +34.3% |
| 1995 | 122,792 tonnes | +32.7% |
| 1996 | 150,958 tonnes | +22.9% |
| 1997 | 121,218 tonnes | -19.7% |
| 1998 | 140,908 tonnes | +16.2% |
| 1999 | 190,627 tonnes | +35.3% |
| 2000 | 299,959 tonnes | +57.4% |
| 2001 | 392,163 tonnes | +30.7% |
| 2002 | 549,557 tonnes | +40.1% |
| 2003 | 681,680 tonnes | +24.0% |
| 2004 | 848,528 tonnes | +24.5% |
| 2005 | 1.06 million tonnes | +24.7% |
| 2006 | 1.30 million tonnes | +22.5% |
| 2007 | 1.52 million tonnes | +17.1% |
| 2008 | 1.51 million tonnes | -0.3% |
| 2009 | 1.49 million tonnes | -1.7% |
| 2010 | 1.64 million tonnes | +10.2% |
| 2011 | 1.63 million tonnes | -0.5% |
| 2012 | 1.67 million tonnes | +2.6% |
| 2013 | 1.68 million tonnes | +0.5% |
| 2014 | 1.67 million tonnes | -0.7% |
| 2015 | 1.61 million tonnes | -3.8% |
| 2016 | 1.53 million tonnes | -4.9% |
| 2017 | 1.43 million tonnes | -6.3% |
| 2018 | 1.01 million tonnes | -29.6% |
| 2019 | 898,436 tonnes | -10.9% |
| 2020 | 820,742 tonnes | -8.6% |
| 2021 | 623,200 tonnes | -24.1% |
| 2022 | 563,454 tonnes | -9.6% |
| 2023 | 606,374 tonnes | +7.6% |
| 2024 | 683,123 tonnes | +12.7% |
Japan compared with similar countries
- Japan's 683,123 tonnes is above the median for high income countries, which is 4,588 tonnes, 148.9× the median. (64 countries reporting)
- Japan's 683,123 tonnes is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 277.15 tonnes, 2464.8× the median. (26 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 40,979 tonnes | 36,171 tonnes | 45,787 tonnes | 2 |
| 1990s | 105,174 tonnes | 41,401 tonnes | 190,627 tonnes | 10 |
| 2000s | 964,474 tonnes | 299,959 tonnes | 1.52 million tonnes | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.48 million tonnes | 898,436 tonnes | 1.68 million tonnes | 10 |
| 2020s | 659,379 tonnes | 563,454 tonnes | 820,742 tonnes | 5 |
Countries ranked near Japan
More environment data for Japan
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly -4.51 Percentage change (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly -4.8 Percentage change (2025)
- Standard Deviation, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Standard Deviation 0.358 °C (2025)
- Temperature change 1.86 °C (2025)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual -2.8 % 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 -0.4957 % 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 Japan?
- Plastic waste exports in Japan was 683,123 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 Japan?
- The highest recorded value was 1.68 million tonnes in 2013.
- What is the lowest plastic waste exports recorded in Japan?
- The lowest recorded value was 36,171 tonnes in 1989.
- How does Japan rank for plastic waste exports?
- Japan ranks 1st out of 167 countries with data for 2024.
- Is plastic waste exports rising or falling in Japan?
- Over the last ten years it is down 59.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Japan 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.