Plastic waste exports in Mongolia
Mongolia: Plastic waste exports was 1,066 tonnes in 2019. ◆ Volatile
Plastic waste exports in Mongolia, 1997–2019
Source: United Nations Comtrade Database (2025); United Nations Comtrade Database (2023) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in tonnes.
Analysis
In 2019, plastic waste exports in Mongolia stood at 1,066 tonnes.
That represents a change of up 257.8% on the previous year and down 77.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, plastic waste exports in Mongolia peaked at 7,149 tonnes in 2013 and was at its lowest, 2 tonnes, in 2000.
That places Mongolia 91st out of 167 countries with data for 2019, putting it 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 Mongolia, year by year
| Year | tonnes | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1997 | 8 tonnes | — |
| 2000 | 2 tonnes | -75.0% |
| 2001 | 95 tonnes | +4650.0% |
| 2002 | 525.64 tonnes | +453.3% |
| 2003 | 1,646 tonnes | +213.2% |
| 2004 | 3,536 tonnes | +114.8% |
| 2005 | 3,939 tonnes | +11.4% |
| 2006 | 5,626 tonnes | +42.8% |
| 2007 | 4,776 tonnes | -15.1% |
| 2013 | 7,149 tonnes | +49.7% |
| 2014 | 6,895 tonnes | -3.6% |
| 2015 | 7,013 tonnes | +1.7% |
| 2016 | 6,189 tonnes | -11.8% |
| 2017 | 5,275 tonnes | -14.8% |
| 2018 | 298 tonnes | -94.4% |
| 2019 | 1,066 tonnes | +257.8% |
Mongolia compared with similar countries
- Mongolia's 1,066 tonnes is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 1,066 tonnes, 1.0× the median. (49 countries reporting)
- Mongolia's 1,066 tonnes is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 277.15 tonnes, 3.8× the median. (26 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Plastic waste exports in Mongolia 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | +4650.0% | 2 tonnes | 95 tonnes |
| 2002 | +453.3% | 95 tonnes | 525.64 tonnes |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 8 tonnes | 8 tonnes | 8 tonnes | 1 |
| 2000s | 2,518 tonnes | 2 tonnes | 5,626 tonnes | 8 |
| 2010s | 4,841 tonnes | 298 tonnes | 7,149 tonnes | 7 |
Countries ranked near Mongolia
More environment data for Mongolia
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly -5.5 Percentage change (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly -6.27 Percentage change (2025)
- Standard Deviation, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Standard Deviation 0.602 °C (2025)
- Temperature change 2.37 °C (2025)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual 11.35 % 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 1.42 % 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 Mongolia?
- Plastic waste exports in Mongolia was 1,066 tonnes in 2019, 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 Mongolia?
- The highest recorded value was 7,149 tonnes in 2013.
- What is the lowest plastic waste exports recorded in Mongolia?
- The lowest recorded value was 2 tonnes in 2000.
- How does Mongolia rank for plastic waste exports?
- Mongolia ranks 91st out of 167 countries with data for 2019.
- Is plastic waste exports rising or falling in Mongolia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 77.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Mongolia 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.