Plastic waste exports in Kuwait
Kuwait: Plastic waste exports was 4,612 tonnes in 2023. ▼ Falling
Plastic waste exports in Kuwait, 2006–2023
Source: United Nations Comtrade Database (2025); United Nations Comtrade Database (2023) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in tonnes.
Analysis
Kuwait recorded 4,612 tonnes for plastic waste exports in 2023.
That represents a change of up 91.6% on the previous year and down 63.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, plastic waste exports in Kuwait peaked at 15,226 tonnes in 2018 and was at its lowest, 2,408 tonnes, in 2020.
That places Kuwait 62nd out of 167 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 15 years of available data.
Plastic waste exports in Kuwait, year by year
| Year | tonnes | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2006 | 6,816 tonnes | — |
| 2007 | 5,864 tonnes | -14.0% |
| 2008 | 10,581 tonnes | +80.4% |
| 2009 | 9,833 tonnes | -7.1% |
| 2010 | 12,315 tonnes | +25.2% |
| 2011 | 14,138 tonnes | +14.8% |
| 2013 | 12,507 tonnes | -11.5% |
| 2014 | 10,138 tonnes | -18.9% |
| 2015 | 8,300 tonnes | -18.1% |
| 2016 | 10,720 tonnes | +29.1% |
| 2017 | 7,886 tonnes | -26.4% |
| 2018 | 15,226 tonnes | +93.1% |
| 2019 | 9,377 tonnes | -38.4% |
| 2020 | 2,408 tonnes | -74.3% |
| 2023 | 4,612 tonnes | +91.6% |
Kuwait compared with similar countries
- Kuwait's 4,612 tonnes is above the median for high income countries, which is 4,588 tonnes, 1.0× the median. (64 countries reporting)
- Kuwait's 4,612 tonnes is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 2,459 tonnes, 1.9× the median. (20 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 8,273 tonnes | 5,864 tonnes | 10,581 tonnes | 4 |
| 2010s | 11,179 tonnes | 7,886 tonnes | 15,226 tonnes | 9 |
| 2020s | 3,510 tonnes | 2,408 tonnes | 4,612 tonnes | 2 |
Countries ranked near Kuwait
More environment data for Kuwait
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly -57.51 Percentage change (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly -61.88 Percentage change (2025)
- Standard Deviation, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Standard Deviation 0.516 °C (2025)
- Temperature change 1.95 °C (2025)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual 3.24 % 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 1.84 % 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 Kuwait?
- Plastic waste exports in Kuwait was 4,612 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 Kuwait?
- The highest recorded value was 15,226 tonnes in 2018.
- What is the lowest plastic waste exports recorded in Kuwait?
- The lowest recorded value was 2,408 tonnes in 2020.
- How does Kuwait rank for plastic waste exports?
- Kuwait ranks 62nd out of 167 countries with data for 2023.
- Is plastic waste exports rising or falling in Kuwait?
- Over the last ten years it is down 63.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Kuwait 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.