Plastic waste exports in North Macedonia
North Macedonia: Plastic waste exports was 4,985 tonnes in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Plastic waste exports in North Macedonia, 1995–2024
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 North Macedonia is 4,985 tonnes, measured in 2024.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 53.8% on the previous year and down 18.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, plastic waste exports in North Macedonia peaked at 7,821 tonnes in 2019 and was at its lowest, 59.84 tonnes, in 1995.
That places North Macedonia 60th out of 167 countries with data for 2024, 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 North Macedonia, year by year
| Year | tonnes | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1995 | 59.84 tonnes | — |
| 1996 | 358.23 tonnes | +498.7% |
| 1997 | 458.95 tonnes | +28.1% |
| 1998 | 162.76 tonnes | -64.5% |
| 1999 | 424.77 tonnes | +161.0% |
| 2000 | 853.09 tonnes | +100.8% |
| 2001 | 1,007 tonnes | +18.0% |
| 2002 | 529.15 tonnes | -47.4% |
| 2003 | 739.86 tonnes | +39.8% |
| 2004 | 384.52 tonnes | -48.0% |
| 2005 | 587.72 tonnes | +52.8% |
| 2006 | 1,486 tonnes | +152.8% |
| 2007 | 3,023 tonnes | +103.5% |
| 2008 | 1,708 tonnes | -43.5% |
| 2009 | 1,502 tonnes | -12.0% |
| 2010 | 1,150 tonnes | -23.5% |
| 2011 | 2,730 tonnes | +137.5% |
| 2012 | 6,311 tonnes | +131.1% |
| 2013 | 6,435 tonnes | +2.0% |
| 2014 | 6,121 tonnes | -4.9% |
| 2015 | 5,917 tonnes | -3.3% |
| 2016 | 6,160 tonnes | +4.1% |
| 2017 | 5,448 tonnes | -11.6% |
| 2018 | 5,929 tonnes | +8.8% |
| 2019 | 7,821 tonnes | +31.9% |
| 2020 | 3,477 tonnes | -55.5% |
| 2021 | 3,209 tonnes | -7.7% |
| 2022 | 4,995 tonnes | +55.6% |
| 2023 | 3,241 tonnes | -35.1% |
| 2024 | 4,985 tonnes | +53.8% |
North Macedonia compared with similar countries
- North Macedonia's 4,985 tonnes is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 1,066 tonnes, 4.7× the median. (49 countries reporting)
- North Macedonia's 4,985 tonnes is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 7,198 tonnes, 69% of the median. (50 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Plastic waste exports in North Macedonia 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | +498.7% | 59.84 tonnes | 358.23 tonnes |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 292.91 tonnes | 59.84 tonnes | 458.95 tonnes | 5 |
| 2000s | 1,182 tonnes | 384.52 tonnes | 3,023 tonnes | 10 |
| 2010s | 5,402 tonnes | 1,150 tonnes | 7,821 tonnes | 10 |
| 2020s | 3,982 tonnes | 3,209 tonnes | 4,995 tonnes | 5 |
Countries ranked near North Macedonia
More environment data for North Macedonia
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly 2.21 Percentage change (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly 3.08 Percentage change (2025)
- Standard Deviation, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Standard Deviation 0.483 °C (2025)
- Temperature change 2.22 °C (2025)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual -7.16 % 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 -10.18 % 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 North Macedonia?
- Plastic waste exports in North Macedonia was 4,985 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 North Macedonia?
- The highest recorded value was 7,821 tonnes in 2019.
- What is the lowest plastic waste exports recorded in North Macedonia?
- The lowest recorded value was 59.84 tonnes in 1995.
- How does North Macedonia rank for plastic waste exports?
- North Macedonia ranks 60th out of 167 countries with data for 2024.
- Is plastic waste exports rising or falling in North Macedonia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 18.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this North Macedonia 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 — 30 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.