Plastic waste exports in Lesotho
Lesotho: Plastic waste exports was 31.01 tonnes in 2021. ◆ Volatile
Plastic waste exports in Lesotho, 2001–2021
Source: United Nations Comtrade Database (2025); United Nations Comtrade Database (2023) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in tonnes.
Analysis
Lesotho recorded 31.01 tonnes for plastic waste exports in 2021.
That represents a change of up 23,215.8% on the previous year and up 127.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, plastic waste exports in Lesotho peaked at 103.07 tonnes in 2012 and was at its lowest, 0.001 tonnes, in 2014.
Lesotho ranks 129th of 167 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Plastic waste exports in Lesotho, year by year
| Year | tonnes | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 7.63 tonnes | — |
| 2002 | 1.24 tonnes | -83.7% |
| 2004 | 1.43 tonnes | +14.9% |
| 2008 | 15.26 tonnes | +970.4% |
| 2009 | 8.78 tonnes | -42.5% |
| 2010 | 53.43 tonnes | +508.4% |
| 2011 | 13.62 tonnes | -74.5% |
| 2012 | 103.07 tonnes | +656.6% |
| 2013 | 2.34 tonnes | -97.7% |
| 2014 | 0.001 tonnes | -100.0% |
| 2015 | 0.651 tonnes | +65000.0% |
| 2016 | 78.5 tonnes | +11958.4% |
| 2017 | 13.19 tonnes | -83.2% |
| 2018 | 53 tonnes | +301.8% |
| 2019 | 80.42 tonnes | +51.7% |
| 2020 | 0.133 tonnes | -99.8% |
| 2021 | 31.01 tonnes | +23215.8% |
Lesotho compared with similar countries
- Lesotho's 31.01 tonnes is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 1,451 tonnes, 2% of the median. (39 countries reporting)
- Lesotho's 31.01 tonnes is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 1,090 tonnes, 3% of the median. (33 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Plastic waste exports in Lesotho 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | +65000.0% | 0.001 tonnes | 0.651 tonnes |
| 2021 | +23215.8% | 0.133 tonnes | 31.01 tonnes |
| 2016 | +11958.4% | 0.651 tonnes | 78.5 tonnes |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 6.87 tonnes | 1.24 tonnes | 15.26 tonnes | 5 |
| 2010s | 39.82 tonnes | 0.001 tonnes | 103.07 tonnes | 10 |
| 2020s | 15.57 tonnes | 0.133 tonnes | 31.01 tonnes | 2 |
Countries ranked near Lesotho
More environment data for Lesotho
- Standard Deviation, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Standard Deviation 0.284 °C (2025)
- Temperature change 0.783 °C (2025)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual -0.521 % 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 -2.27 % 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 -0.4197 % change on previous year (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is plastic waste exports in Lesotho?
- Plastic waste exports in Lesotho was 31.01 tonnes in 2021, 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 Lesotho?
- The highest recorded value was 103.07 tonnes in 2012.
- What is the lowest plastic waste exports recorded in Lesotho?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.001 tonnes in 2014.
- How does Lesotho rank for plastic waste exports?
- Lesotho ranks 129th out of 167 countries with data for 2021.
- Is plastic waste exports rising or falling in Lesotho?
- Over the last ten years it is up 127.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Lesotho 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 — 17 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.