Plastic waste exports in Kiribati
Kiribati: Plastic waste exports was 2.5 tonnes in 2017. ◆ Volatile
Plastic waste exports in Kiribati, 2005–2017
Source: United Nations Comtrade Database (2025); United Nations Comtrade Database (2023) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in tonnes.
Analysis
Kiribati recorded 2.5 tonnes for plastic waste exports in 2017.
That represents a change of down 67.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, plastic waste exports in Kiribati peaked at 13.98 tonnes in 2008 and was at its lowest, 0.527 tonnes, in 2009.
That places Kiribati 140th out of 167 countries with data for 2017, putting it in the bottom quarter.
Plastic waste exports in Kiribati, year by year
| Year | tonnes | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2005 | 3.43 tonnes | — |
| 2007 | 7.78 tonnes | +126.6% |
| 2008 | 13.98 tonnes | +79.7% |
| 2009 | 0.527 tonnes | -96.2% |
| 2012 | 2.19 tonnes | +315.9% |
| 2017 | 2.5 tonnes | +14.1% |
Kiribati compared with similar countries
- Kiribati's 2.5 tonnes is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 1,451 tonnes, 0% of the median. (39 countries reporting)
- Kiribati's 2.5 tonnes is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 277.15 tonnes, 1% of the median. (26 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 6.43 tonnes | 0.527 tonnes | 13.98 tonnes | 4 |
| 2010s | 2.35 tonnes | 2.19 tonnes | 2.5 tonnes | 2 |
Countries ranked near Kiribati
More environment data for Kiribati
- Standard Deviation, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Standard Deviation 0.182 °C (2025)
- Temperature change 1.02 °C (2025)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual 3.97 % 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 3.12 % 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 % change on previous year (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is plastic waste exports in Kiribati?
- Plastic waste exports in Kiribati was 2.5 tonnes in 2017, 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 Kiribati?
- The highest recorded value was 13.98 tonnes in 2008.
- What is the lowest plastic waste exports recorded in Kiribati?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.527 tonnes in 2009.
- How does Kiribati rank for plastic waste exports?
- Kiribati ranks 140th out of 167 countries with data for 2017.
- Is plastic waste exports rising or falling in Kiribati?
- Over the last ten years it is down 67.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Kiribati 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.