Plastic waste exports in Malawi
Malawi: Plastic waste exports was 30.2 tonnes in 2021. ◆ Volatile
Plastic waste exports in Malawi, 1999–2021
Source: United Nations Comtrade Database (2025); United Nations Comtrade Database (2023) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in tonnes.
Analysis
Malawi recorded 30.2 tonnes for plastic waste exports in 2021.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 17.5% on the previous year and down 45.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, plastic waste exports in Malawi peaked at 296.34 tonnes in 2017 and was at its lowest, 0 tonnes, in 2013.
Malawi ranks 130th 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 Malawi, year by year
| Year | tonnes | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1999 | 17.75 tonnes | — |
| 2000 | 65 tonnes | +266.2% |
| 2003 | 0.248 tonnes | -99.6% |
| 2004 | 13 tonnes | +5140.7% |
| 2005 | 16.32 tonnes | +25.6% |
| 2006 | 72 tonnes | +341.1% |
| 2007 | 2.4 tonnes | -96.7% |
| 2008 | 10.4 tonnes | +333.3% |
| 2010 | 49.91 tonnes | +379.9% |
| 2011 | 55.35 tonnes | +10.9% |
| 2012 | 84 tonnes | +51.8% |
| 2013 | 0 tonnes | -100.0% |
| 2014 | 105 tonnes | — |
| 2015 | 138 tonnes | +31.4% |
| 2016 | 125.25 tonnes | -9.2% |
| 2017 | 296.34 tonnes | +136.6% |
| 2018 | 94.75 tonnes | -68.0% |
| 2019 | 48.3 tonnes | -49.0% |
| 2020 | 25.71 tonnes | -46.8% |
| 2021 | 30.2 tonnes | +17.5% |
Malawi compared with similar countries
- Malawi's 30.2 tonnes is below the median for low income countries, which is 963.54 tonnes, 3% of the median. (15 countries reporting)
- Malawi's 30.2 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 Malawi 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | +5140.7% | 0.248 tonnes | 13 tonnes |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 17.75 tonnes | 17.75 tonnes | 17.75 tonnes | 1 |
| 2000s | 25.62 tonnes | 0.248 tonnes | 72 tonnes | 7 |
| 2010s | 99.69 tonnes | 0 tonnes | 296.34 tonnes | 10 |
| 2020s | 27.95 tonnes | 25.71 tonnes | 30.2 tonnes | 2 |
Countries ranked near Malawi
More environment data for Malawi
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly -0.9153 Percentage change (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly -0.8098 Percentage change (2025)
- Standard Deviation, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Standard Deviation 0.254 °C (2025)
- Temperature change 1.07 °C (2025)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual 3.65 % 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 5.3 % 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 Malawi?
- Plastic waste exports in Malawi was 30.2 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 Malawi?
- The highest recorded value was 296.34 tonnes in 2017.
- What is the lowest plastic waste exports recorded in Malawi?
- The lowest recorded value was 0 tonnes in 2013.
- How does Malawi rank for plastic waste exports?
- Malawi ranks 130th out of 167 countries with data for 2021.
- Is plastic waste exports rising or falling in Malawi?
- Over the last ten years it is down 45.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Malawi 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 — 20 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.