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.
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
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF 3.06 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF per capita 1.31 t CO2e/capita (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Agriculture 0.7882 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Building (Energy) 0.2847 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Fugitive Emissions (Energy) 0.3356 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Industrial Combustion (Energy) 0.0003 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions (total) excluding LULUCF 1.6 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Power Industry (Energy) 0.0002 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Transport (Energy) 0.0038 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Waste 0.1865 Mt CO2e (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
The amount of plastic waste a country exports to other countries, measured in tonnes per year.