Plastic waste exports in Nigeria
Nigeria: Plastic waste exports was 8,319 tonnes in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Plastic waste exports in Nigeria, 1997–2024
Source: United Nations Comtrade Database (2025); United Nations Comtrade Database (2023) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in tonnes.
Analysis
In 2024, plastic waste exports in Nigeria stood at 8,319 tonnes.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 49.7% on the previous year and up 871.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, plastic waste exports in Nigeria peaked at 74,640 tonnes in 2020 and was at its lowest, 4.38 tonnes, in 1997.
Nigeria ranks 48th 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 Nigeria, year by year
| Year | tonnes | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1997 | 4.38 tonnes | — |
| 2009 | 355.6 tonnes | +8027.9% |
| 2010 | 63.8 tonnes | -82.1% |
| 2011 | 15.5 tonnes | -75.7% |
| 2013 | 4,434 tonnes | +28506.2% |
| 2014 | 856.03 tonnes | -80.7% |
| 2015 | 1,383 tonnes | +61.6% |
| 2016 | 193.44 tonnes | -86.0% |
| 2017 | 307.43 tonnes | +58.9% |
| 2018 | 2,165 tonnes | +604.1% |
| 2019 | 2,051 tonnes | -5.2% |
| 2020 | 74,640 tonnes | +3539.0% |
| 2021 | 42,948 tonnes | -42.5% |
| 2022 | 16,682 tonnes | -61.2% |
| 2023 | 5,559 tonnes | -66.7% |
| 2024 | 8,319 tonnes | +49.7% |
Nigeria compared with similar countries
- Nigeria's 8,319 tonnes is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 1,451 tonnes, 5.7× the median. (39 countries reporting)
- Nigeria's 8,319 tonnes is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 1,090 tonnes, 7.6× the median. (33 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Plastic waste exports in Nigeria 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | +28506.2% | 15.5 tonnes | 4,434 tonnes |
| 2009 | +8027.9% | 4.38 tonnes | 355.6 tonnes |
| 2020 | +3539.0% | 2,051 tonnes | 74,640 tonnes |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 4.38 tonnes | 4.38 tonnes | 4.38 tonnes | 1 |
| 2000s | 355.6 tonnes | 355.6 tonnes | 355.6 tonnes | 1 |
| 2010s | 1,274 tonnes | 15.5 tonnes | 4,434 tonnes | 9 |
| 2020s | 29,629 tonnes | 5,559 tonnes | 74,640 tonnes | 5 |
Countries ranked near Nigeria
More environment data for Nigeria
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly -5.73 Percentage change (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly -5.07 Percentage change (2025)
- Standard Deviation, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Standard Deviation 0.281 °C (2025)
- Temperature change 1.15 °C (2025)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual 3.78 % 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 0.4617 % 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 Nigeria?
- Plastic waste exports in Nigeria was 8,319 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 Nigeria?
- The highest recorded value was 74,640 tonnes in 2020.
- What is the lowest plastic waste exports recorded in Nigeria?
- The lowest recorded value was 4.38 tonnes in 1997.
- How does Nigeria rank for plastic waste exports?
- Nigeria ranks 48th out of 167 countries with data for 2024.
- Is plastic waste exports rising or falling in Nigeria?
- Over the last ten years it is up 871.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Nigeria 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.