Plastic waste exports in Malta
Malta: Plastic waste exports was 4,548 tonnes in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Plastic waste exports in Malta, 1994–2024
Source: United Nations Comtrade Database (2025); United Nations Comtrade Database (2023) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in tonnes.
Analysis
Malta recorded 4,548 tonnes for plastic waste exports in 2024.
That represents a change of up 61.2% on the previous year and down 3.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, plastic waste exports in Malta peaked at 5,734 tonnes in 2016 and was at its lowest, 0 tonnes, in 1994.
Malta ranks 65th of 167 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Plastic waste exports in Malta, year by year
| Year | tonnes | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1994 | 0 tonnes | — |
| 1995 | 235.91 tonnes | — |
| 1996 | 259.1 tonnes | +9.8% |
| 1997 | 326.92 tonnes | +26.2% |
| 1998 | 223.92 tonnes | -31.5% |
| 1999 | 312.79 tonnes | +39.7% |
| 2000 | 787.08 tonnes | +151.6% |
| 2001 | 681.52 tonnes | -13.4% |
| 2002 | 968.42 tonnes | +42.1% |
| 2003 | 1,666 tonnes | +72.0% |
| 2004 | 1,977 tonnes | +18.7% |
| 2005 | 1,084 tonnes | -45.2% |
| 2006 | 1,372 tonnes | +26.5% |
| 2007 | 80.94 tonnes | -94.1% |
| 2008 | 451.56 tonnes | +457.9% |
| 2009 | 1,518 tonnes | +236.1% |
| 2010 | 958.41 tonnes | -36.9% |
| 2011 | 2,037 tonnes | +112.6% |
| 2012 | 3,564 tonnes | +74.9% |
| 2013 | 3,718 tonnes | +4.3% |
| 2014 | 4,723 tonnes | +27.0% |
| 2015 | 3,675 tonnes | -22.2% |
| 2016 | 5,734 tonnes | +56.0% |
| 2017 | 4,781 tonnes | -16.6% |
| 2018 | 3,770 tonnes | -21.2% |
| 2019 | 2,173 tonnes | -42.4% |
| 2020 | 1,293 tonnes | -40.5% |
| 2021 | 2,632 tonnes | +103.5% |
| 2022 | 1,081 tonnes | -58.9% |
| 2023 | 2,822 tonnes | +161.1% |
| 2024 | 4,548 tonnes | +61.2% |
Malta compared with similar countries
- Malta's 4,548 tonnes is below the median for high income countries, which is 4,588 tonnes, 99% of the median. (64 countries reporting)
- Malta's 4,548 tonnes is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 2,459 tonnes, 1.8× the median. (20 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Plastic waste exports in Malta 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | +457.9% | 80.94 tonnes | 451.56 tonnes |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 226.44 tonnes | 0 tonnes | 326.92 tonnes | 6 |
| 2000s | 1,059 tonnes | 80.94 tonnes | 1,977 tonnes | 10 |
| 2010s | 3,513 tonnes | 958.41 tonnes | 5,734 tonnes | 10 |
| 2020s | 2,475 tonnes | 1,081 tonnes | 4,548 tonnes | 5 |
Countries ranked near Malta
More environment data for Malta
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly -1.15 Percentage change (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly -1.15 Percentage change (2025)
- Standard Deviation, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Standard Deviation 0.365 °C (2025)
- Temperature change 2.16 °C (2025)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual 0.8269 % 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 0 % 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 Malta?
- Plastic waste exports in Malta was 4,548 tonnes in 2024, 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 Malta?
- The highest recorded value was 5,734 tonnes in 2016.
- What is the lowest plastic waste exports recorded in Malta?
- The lowest recorded value was 0 tonnes in 1994.
- How does Malta rank for plastic waste exports?
- Malta ranks 65th out of 167 countries with data for 2024.
- Is plastic waste exports rising or falling in Malta?
- Over the last ten years it is down 3.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Malta 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.
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About this data
Amount of plastic waste a country exports to other countries, measured in tonnes per year.