Plastic waste exports in Nicaragua
Nicaragua: Plastic waste exports was 9,325 tonnes in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Plastic waste exports in Nicaragua, 1993–2023
Source: United Nations Comtrade Database (2025); United Nations Comtrade Database (2023) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in tonnes.
Analysis
In 2023, plastic waste exports in Nicaragua stood at 9,325 tonnes.
That represents a change of down 17.7% on the previous year and down 15.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, plastic waste exports in Nicaragua peaked at 13,805 tonnes in 2014 and was at its lowest, 22 tonnes, in 1994.
Nicaragua ranks 45th 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 Nicaragua, year by year
| Year | tonnes | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1993 | 162.82 tonnes | — |
| 1994 | 22 tonnes | -86.5% |
| 1995 | 941.25 tonnes | +4178.4% |
| 1996 | 756.44 tonnes | -19.6% |
| 1997 | 289.31 tonnes | -61.8% |
| 1998 | 117.4 tonnes | -59.4% |
| 1999 | 33.46 tonnes | -71.5% |
| 2000 | 218.48 tonnes | +552.9% |
| 2001 | 195.28 tonnes | -10.6% |
| 2002 | 388.6 tonnes | +99.0% |
| 2003 | 516.14 tonnes | +32.8% |
| 2004 | 631.22 tonnes | +22.3% |
| 2005 | 1,485 tonnes | +135.3% |
| 2006 | 2,642 tonnes | +77.9% |
| 2007 | 5,286 tonnes | +100.1% |
| 2008 | 6,753 tonnes | +27.7% |
| 2009 | 4,014 tonnes | -40.6% |
| 2010 | 5,241 tonnes | +30.6% |
| 2011 | 6,016 tonnes | +14.8% |
| 2012 | 8,935 tonnes | +48.5% |
| 2013 | 11,045 tonnes | +23.6% |
| 2014 | 13,805 tonnes | +25.0% |
| 2015 | 12,932 tonnes | -6.3% |
| 2016 | 12,050 tonnes | -6.8% |
| 2017 | 11,358 tonnes | -5.7% |
| 2018 | 10,810 tonnes | -4.8% |
| 2019 | 11,669 tonnes | +7.9% |
| 2020 | 11,514 tonnes | -1.3% |
| 2021 | 11,866 tonnes | +3.1% |
| 2022 | 11,325 tonnes | -4.6% |
| 2023 | 9,325 tonnes | -17.7% |
Nicaragua compared with similar countries
- Nicaragua's 9,325 tonnes is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 1,451 tonnes, 6.4× the median. (39 countries reporting)
- Nicaragua's 9,325 tonnes is above the median for Latin America & Caribbean, which is 1,293 tonnes, 7.2× the median. (30 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Plastic waste exports in Nicaragua 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | +4178.4% | 22 tonnes | 941.25 tonnes |
| 2000 | +552.9% | 33.46 tonnes | 218.48 tonnes |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 331.81 tonnes | 22 tonnes | 941.25 tonnes | 7 |
| 2000s | 2,213 tonnes | 195.28 tonnes | 6,753 tonnes | 10 |
| 2010s | 10,386 tonnes | 5,241 tonnes | 13,805 tonnes | 10 |
| 2020s | 11,007 tonnes | 9,325 tonnes | 11,866 tonnes | 4 |
Countries ranked near Nicaragua
More environment data for Nicaragua
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly 3.64 Percentage change (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly 4.53 Percentage change (2025)
- Standard Deviation, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2024)
- Standard Deviation 0.243 °C (2024)
- Temperature change 1.89 °C (2024)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual 1.04 % 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 -0.0474 % 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 Nicaragua?
- Plastic waste exports in Nicaragua was 9,325 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 Nicaragua?
- The highest recorded value was 13,805 tonnes in 2014.
- What is the lowest plastic waste exports recorded in Nicaragua?
- The lowest recorded value was 22 tonnes in 1994.
- How does Nicaragua rank for plastic waste exports?
- Nicaragua ranks 45th out of 167 countries with data for 2023.
- Is plastic waste exports rising or falling in Nicaragua?
- Over the last ten years it is down 15.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Nicaragua 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 — 31 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.