Plastic waste exports in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka: Plastic waste exports was 912.6 tonnes in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Plastic waste exports in Sri Lanka, 1990–2024
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 Sri Lanka is 912.6 tonnes, measured in 2024.
The figure is up 185.2% on the previous year and down 38.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, plastic waste exports in Sri Lanka peaked at 1,594 tonnes in 2013 and was at its lowest, 16 tonnes, in 1993.
That places Sri Lanka 95th 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.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 54.85 tonnes | 16 tonnes | 86.55 tonnes | 6 |
| 2000s | 407.96 tonnes | 84.62 tonnes | 1,161 tonnes | 10 |
| 2010s | 1,197 tonnes | 814.81 tonnes | 1,594 tonnes | 9 |
| 2020s | 424.08 tonnes | 165.37 tonnes | 912.6 tonnes | 5 |
Countries ranked near Sri Lanka
More environment data for Sri Lanka
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF 37.17 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF per capita 1.7 t CO2e/capita (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Agriculture 5.57 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Building (Energy) 0.6851 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Fugitive Emissions (Energy) 0.0046 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Industrial Combustion (Energy) 0.0737 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions (total) excluding LULUCF 11.12 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Power Industry (Energy) 0.0059 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Transport (Energy) 0.0632 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Waste 4.72 Mt CO2e (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is plastic waste exports in Sri Lanka?
- Plastic waste exports in Sri Lanka was 912.6 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 Sri Lanka?
- The highest recorded value was 1,594 tonnes in 2013.
- What is the lowest plastic waste exports recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The lowest recorded value was 16 tonnes in 1993.
- How does Sri Lanka rank for plastic waste exports?
- Sri Lanka ranks 95th out of 167 countries with data for 2024.
- Is plastic waste exports rising or falling in Sri Lanka?
- Over the last ten years it is down 38.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Sri Lanka 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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CSV · JSON — 30 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
The amount of plastic waste a country exports to other countries, measured in tonnes per year.