Plastic waste exports in Mozambique
Mozambique: Plastic waste exports was 1,951 tonnes in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Plastic waste exports in Mozambique, 1999–2023
Source: United Nations Comtrade Database (2025); United Nations Comtrade Database (2023) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in tonnes.
Analysis
The most recent figure for plastic waste exports in Mozambique is 1,951 tonnes, measured in 2023.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 0.2% on the previous year and up 1,169.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, plastic waste exports in Mozambique peaked at 1,955 tonnes in 2022 and was at its lowest, 0 tonnes, in 1999.
That places Mozambique 80th out of 167 countries with data for 2023, 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 Mozambique, year by year
| Year | tonnes | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1999 | 0 tonnes | — |
| 2005 | 2.92 tonnes | — |
| 2008 | 9.44 tonnes | +222.9% |
| 2009 | 48.03 tonnes | +409.0% |
| 2010 | 3.21 tonnes | -93.3% |
| 2011 | 93.01 tonnes | +2797.4% |
| 2012 | 395.86 tonnes | +325.6% |
| 2013 | 153.7 tonnes | -61.2% |
| 2014 | 695.74 tonnes | +352.7% |
| 2015 | 93.79 tonnes | -86.5% |
| 2016 | 0 tonnes | -100.0% |
| 2017 | 213.06 tonnes | — |
| 2018 | 662.02 tonnes | +210.7% |
| 2019 | 1,628 tonnes | +145.9% |
| 2020 | 1,470 tonnes | -9.7% |
| 2021 | 1,478 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 2022 | 1,955 tonnes | +32.3% |
| 2023 | 1,951 tonnes | -0.2% |
Mozambique compared with similar countries
- Mozambique's 1,951 tonnes is above the median for low income countries, which is 963.54 tonnes, 2.0× the median. (15 countries reporting)
- Mozambique's 1,951 tonnes is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 1,090 tonnes, 1.8× the median. (33 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Plastic waste exports in Mozambique 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | +2797.4% | 3.21 tonnes | 93.01 tonnes |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 0 tonnes | 0 tonnes | 0 tonnes | 1 |
| 2000s | 20.13 tonnes | 2.92 tonnes | 48.03 tonnes | 3 |
| 2010s | 393.8 tonnes | 0 tonnes | 1,628 tonnes | 10 |
| 2020s | 1,714 tonnes | 1,470 tonnes | 1,955 tonnes | 4 |
Countries ranked near Mozambique
More environment data for Mozambique
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly -3.62 Percentage change (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly -2.58 Percentage change (2025)
- Standard Deviation, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Standard Deviation 0.256 °C (2025)
- Temperature change 1.23 °C (2025)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual -2.02 % 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 0.2476 % 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 Mozambique?
- Plastic waste exports in Mozambique was 1,951 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 Mozambique?
- The highest recorded value was 1,955 tonnes in 2022.
- What is the lowest plastic waste exports recorded in Mozambique?
- The lowest recorded value was 0 tonnes in 1999.
- How does Mozambique rank for plastic waste exports?
- Mozambique ranks 80th out of 167 countries with data for 2023.
- Is plastic waste exports rising or falling in Mozambique?
- Over the last ten years it is up 1,169.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Mozambique 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 — 18 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.