Plastic waste exports in Norway
Norway: Plastic waste exports was 68,644 tonnes in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Plastic waste exports in Norway, 1993–2024
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 Norway is 68,644 tonnes, measured in 2024.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 0.3% on the previous year and up 14.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, plastic waste exports in Norway peaked at 76,514 tonnes in 2021 and was at its lowest, 2,818 tonnes, in 1993.
That places Norway 12th out of 167 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Plastic waste exports in Norway, year by year
| Year | tonnes | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1993 | 2,818 tonnes | — |
| 1994 | 4,372 tonnes | +55.1% |
| 1995 | 5,630 tonnes | +28.8% |
| 1996 | 9,194 tonnes | +63.3% |
| 1997 | 11,046 tonnes | +20.1% |
| 1998 | 11,993 tonnes | +8.6% |
| 1999 | 14,913 tonnes | +24.4% |
| 2000 | 14,407 tonnes | -3.4% |
| 2001 | 18,893 tonnes | +31.1% |
| 2002 | 20,191 tonnes | +6.9% |
| 2003 | 20,650 tonnes | +2.3% |
| 2004 | 22,329 tonnes | +8.1% |
| 2005 | 25,913 tonnes | +16.1% |
| 2006 | 27,475 tonnes | +6.0% |
| 2007 | 46,631 tonnes | +69.7% |
| 2008 | 44,766 tonnes | -4.0% |
| 2009 | 28,570 tonnes | -36.2% |
| 2010 | 33,425 tonnes | +17.0% |
| 2011 | 40,912 tonnes | +22.4% |
| 2012 | 50,980 tonnes | +24.6% |
| 2013 | 57,343 tonnes | +12.5% |
| 2014 | 59,751 tonnes | +4.2% |
| 2015 | 54,543 tonnes | -8.7% |
| 2016 | 57,325 tonnes | +5.1% |
| 2017 | 59,844 tonnes | +4.4% |
| 2018 | 57,127 tonnes | -4.5% |
| 2019 | 64,692 tonnes | +13.2% |
| 2020 | 71,373 tonnes | +10.3% |
| 2021 | 76,514 tonnes | +7.2% |
| 2022 | 68,991 tonnes | -9.8% |
| 2023 | 68,844 tonnes | -0.2% |
| 2024 | 68,644 tonnes | -0.3% |
Norway compared with similar countries
- Norway's 68,644 tonnes is above the median for high income countries, which is 4,588 tonnes, 15.0× the median. (64 countries reporting)
- Norway's 68,644 tonnes is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 7,198 tonnes, 9.5× the median. (50 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 8,567 tonnes | 2,818 tonnes | 14,913 tonnes | 7 |
| 2000s | 26,983 tonnes | 14,407 tonnes | 46,631 tonnes | 10 |
| 2010s | 53,594 tonnes | 33,425 tonnes | 64,692 tonnes | 10 |
| 2020s | 70,873 tonnes | 68,644 tonnes | 76,514 tonnes | 5 |
Countries ranked near Norway
More environment data for Norway
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly 0.9857 Percentage change (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly 0.8118 Percentage change (2025)
- Standard Deviation, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Standard Deviation 0.738 °C (2025)
- Temperature change 2.52 °C (2025)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual -3.08 % 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 -0.28 % 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 Norway?
- Plastic waste exports in Norway was 68,644 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 Norway?
- The highest recorded value was 76,514 tonnes in 2021.
- What is the lowest plastic waste exports recorded in Norway?
- The lowest recorded value was 2,818 tonnes in 1993.
- How does Norway rank for plastic waste exports?
- Norway ranks 12th out of 167 countries with data for 2024.
- Is plastic waste exports rising or falling in Norway?
- Over the last ten years it is up 14.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Norway 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.