Plastic waste exports in Madagascar
Madagascar: Plastic waste exports was 11.1 tonnes in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Plastic waste exports in Madagascar, 1990–2023
Source: United Nations Comtrade Database (2025); United Nations Comtrade Database (2023) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in tonnes.
Analysis
Madagascar recorded 11.1 tonnes for plastic waste exports in 2023.
That represents a change of up 607.1% on the previous year and down 84.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, plastic waste exports in Madagascar peaked at 422.56 tonnes in 2011 and was at its lowest, 0.002 tonnes, in 1990.
That places Madagascar 135th out of 167 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Plastic waste exports in Madagascar, year by year
| Year | tonnes | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 0.002 tonnes | — |
| 2001 | 0.02 tonnes | +900.0% |
| 2003 | 0.04 tonnes | +100.0% |
| 2005 | 40 tonnes | +99900.0% |
| 2006 | 282.75 tonnes | +606.9% |
| 2007 | 25.17 tonnes | -91.1% |
| 2008 | 272.78 tonnes | +983.9% |
| 2009 | 166.74 tonnes | -38.9% |
| 2010 | 360.89 tonnes | +116.4% |
| 2011 | 422.56 tonnes | +17.1% |
| 2012 | 120.36 tonnes | -71.5% |
| 2013 | 70.23 tonnes | -41.6% |
| 2014 | 124.68 tonnes | +77.5% |
| 2015 | 88.11 tonnes | -29.3% |
| 2016 | 62.92 tonnes | -28.6% |
| 2017 | 98.08 tonnes | +55.9% |
| 2018 | 149.21 tonnes | +52.1% |
| 2019 | 50 tonnes | -66.5% |
| 2021 | 2 tonnes | -96.0% |
| 2022 | 1.57 tonnes | -21.5% |
| 2023 | 11.1 tonnes | +607.1% |
Madagascar compared with similar countries
- Madagascar's 11.1 tonnes is below the median for low income countries, which is 963.54 tonnes, 1% of the median. (15 countries reporting)
- Madagascar's 11.1 tonnes is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 1,090 tonnes, 1% of the median. (33 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Plastic waste exports in Madagascar 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | +99900.0% | 0.04 tonnes | 40 tonnes |
| 2008 | +983.9% | 25.17 tonnes | 272.78 tonnes |
| 2001 | +900.0% | 0.002 tonnes | 0.02 tonnes |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 0.002 tonnes | 0.002 tonnes | 0.002 tonnes | 1 |
| 2000s | 112.5 tonnes | 0.02 tonnes | 282.75 tonnes | 7 |
| 2010s | 154.7 tonnes | 50 tonnes | 422.56 tonnes | 10 |
| 2020s | 4.89 tonnes | 1.57 tonnes | 11.1 tonnes | 3 |
Countries ranked near Madagascar
More environment data for Madagascar
- Standard Deviation, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Standard Deviation 0.297 °C (2025)
- Temperature change 1.17 °C (2025)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual 0.2369 % 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 -1.01 % 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 Madagascar?
- Plastic waste exports in Madagascar was 11.1 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 Madagascar?
- The highest recorded value was 422.56 tonnes in 2011.
- What is the lowest plastic waste exports recorded in Madagascar?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.002 tonnes in 1990.
- How does Madagascar rank for plastic waste exports?
- Madagascar ranks 135th out of 167 countries with data for 2023.
- Is plastic waste exports rising or falling in Madagascar?
- Over the last ten years it is down 84.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Madagascar 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 — 21 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.