Plastic waste exports in Nepal
Nepal: Plastic waste exports was 8 tonnes in 2022. ◆ Volatile
Plastic waste exports in Nepal, 2013–2022
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 Nepal is 8 tonnes, measured in 2022.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 6.7% on the previous year and down 71.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, plastic waste exports in Nepal peaked at 1,095 tonnes in 2016 and was at its lowest, 7.5 tonnes, in 2020.
That places Nepal 138th out of 167 countries with data for 2022, putting it in the bottom quarter.
Plastic waste exports in Nepal, year by year
| Year | tonnes | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2013 | 28.17 tonnes | — |
| 2014 | 610.91 tonnes | +2068.7% |
| 2015 | 569.91 tonnes | -6.7% |
| 2016 | 1,095 tonnes | +92.1% |
| 2017 | 385.8 tonnes | -64.8% |
| 2018 | 992.88 tonnes | +157.4% |
| 2019 | 409.7 tonnes | -58.7% |
| 2020 | 7.5 tonnes | -98.2% |
| 2022 | 8 tonnes | +6.7% |
Nepal compared with similar countries
- Nepal's 8 tonnes is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 1,451 tonnes, 1% of the median. (39 countries reporting)
- Nepal's 8 tonnes is below the median for South Asia, which is 1,050 tonnes, 1% of the median. (6 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 584.63 tonnes | 28.17 tonnes | 1,095 tonnes | 7 |
| 2020s | 7.75 tonnes | 7.5 tonnes | 8 tonnes | 2 |
Countries ranked near Nepal
More environment data for Nepal
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly 2.73 Percentage change (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly 2.41 Percentage change (2025)
- Standard Deviation, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Standard Deviation 0.265 °C (2025)
- Temperature change 1.43 °C (2025)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual -1.54 % 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 -6.53 % 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 Nepal?
- Plastic waste exports in Nepal was 8 tonnes in 2022, 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 Nepal?
- The highest recorded value was 1,095 tonnes in 2016.
- What is the lowest plastic waste exports recorded in Nepal?
- The lowest recorded value was 7.5 tonnes in 2020.
- How does Nepal rank for plastic waste exports?
- Nepal ranks 138th out of 167 countries with data for 2022.
- Is plastic waste exports rising or falling in Nepal?
- Over the last ten years it is down 71.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Nepal 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.