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.
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
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF 19.02 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF per capita 0.8785 t CO2e/capita (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Agriculture 5.42 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Building (Energy) 0.7527 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Fugitive Emissions (Energy) 1.9 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Industrial Combustion (Energy) 0.0074 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions (total) excluding LULUCF 9.34 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Power Industry (Energy) 0.0006 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Transport (Energy) 0.0087 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Waste 1.25 Mt CO2e (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
The amount of plastic waste a country exports to other countries, measured in tonnes per year.