Plastic waste exports in Laos
Laos: Plastic waste exports was 3,375 tonnes in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Plastic waste exports in Laos, 2010–2023
Source: United Nations Comtrade Database (2025); United Nations Comtrade Database (2023) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in tonnes.
Analysis
Laos recorded 3,375 tonnes for plastic waste exports in 2023. That is the highest value across all 13 years on record.
That represents a change of up 29.3% on the previous year and up 742.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, plastic waste exports in Laos peaked at 3,375 tonnes in 2023 and was at its lowest, 175.44 tonnes, in 2010.
That places Laos 69th out of 167 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Plastic waste exports in Laos, year by year
| Year | tonnes | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 175.44 tonnes | — |
| 2011 | 648.04 tonnes | +269.4% |
| 2012 | 548.61 tonnes | -15.3% |
| 2013 | 400.6 tonnes | -27.0% |
| 2014 | 678.56 tonnes | +69.4% |
| 2015 | 861.98 tonnes | +27.0% |
| 2016 | 1,919 tonnes | +122.6% |
| 2017 | 1,353 tonnes | -29.5% |
| 2018 | 822.22 tonnes | -39.2% |
| 2019 | 2,197 tonnes | +167.1% |
| 2020 | 3,124 tonnes | +42.2% |
| 2021 | 2,610 tonnes | -16.4% |
| 2023 | 3,375 tonnes | +29.3% |
Laos compared with similar countries
- Laos's 3,375 tonnes is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 1,451 tonnes, 2.3× the median. (39 countries reporting)
- Laos's 3,375 tonnes is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 277.15 tonnes, 12.2× the median. (26 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 960.42 tonnes | 175.44 tonnes | 2,197 tonnes | 10 |
| 2020s | 3,036 tonnes | 2,610 tonnes | 3,375 tonnes | 3 |
Countries ranked near Laos
More environment data for Laos
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly -1.77 Percentage change (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly -1.51 Percentage change (2025)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual 0.9142 % 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 0.4183 % 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)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Building (Energy) (Mt CO2e), per unit of 0 Mt CO2e per US$ of GDP (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is plastic waste exports in Laos?
- Plastic waste exports in Laos was 3,375 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 Laos?
- The highest recorded value was 3,375 tonnes in 2023.
- What is the lowest plastic waste exports recorded in Laos?
- The lowest recorded value was 175.44 tonnes in 2010.
- How does Laos rank for plastic waste exports?
- Laos ranks 69th out of 167 countries with data for 2023.
- Is plastic waste exports rising or falling in Laos?
- Over the last ten years it is up 742.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Laos 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.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 13 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Amount of plastic waste a country exports to other countries, measured in tonnes per year.