Plastic waste exports in Sweden
Sweden: Plastic waste exports was 122,610 tonnes in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
122,610 tonnes
Change on year
up 7.5%
World rank
5th
of 167 countries
All-time high
131,787 tonnes
in 2021
All-time low
15,417 tonnes
in 1992
Years of data
33
1992–2024
Plastic waste exports in Sweden, 1992–2024
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 Sweden is 122,610 tonnes, measured in 2024.
The figure is up 7.5% on the previous year and up 22.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, plastic waste exports in Sweden peaked at 131,787 tonnes in 2021 and was at its lowest, 15,417 tonnes, in 1992.
That places Sweden 5th 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 Sweden, year by year
| Year | tonnes | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1992 | 15,417 tonnes | — |
| 1993 | 15,780 tonnes | +2.4% |
| 1994 | 19,194 tonnes | +21.6% |
| 1995 | 21,150 tonnes | +10.2% |
| 1996 | 15,432 tonnes | -27.0% |
| 1997 | 18,900 tonnes | +22.5% |
| 1998 | 19,868 tonnes | +5.1% |
| 1999 | 19,599 tonnes | -1.4% |
| 2000 | 26,351 tonnes | +34.5% |
| 2001 | 27,886 tonnes | +5.8% |
| 2002 | 31,341 tonnes | +12.4% |
| 2003 | 47,115 tonnes | +50.3% |
| 2004 | 42,901 tonnes | -8.9% |
| 2005 | 42,442 tonnes | -1.1% |
| 2006 | 53,892 tonnes | +27.0% |
| 2007 | 68,118 tonnes | +26.4% |
| 2008 | 69,568 tonnes | +2.1% |
| 2009 | 91,804 tonnes | +32.0% |
| 2010 | 90,614 tonnes | -1.3% |
| 2011 | 114,325 tonnes | +26.2% |
| 2012 | 110,080 tonnes | -3.7% |
| 2013 | 112,537 tonnes | +2.2% |
| 2014 | 99,868 tonnes | -11.3% |
| 2015 | 87,324 tonnes | -12.6% |
| 2016 | 96,942 tonnes | +11.0% |
| 2017 | 82,582 tonnes | -14.8% |
| 2018 | 79,861 tonnes | -3.3% |
| 2019 | 90,523 tonnes | +13.4% |
| 2020 | 111,514 tonnes | +23.2% |
| 2021 | 131,787 tonnes | +18.2% |
| 2022 | 111,864 tonnes | -15.1% |
| 2023 | 114,063 tonnes | +2.0% |
| 2024 | 122,610 tonnes | +7.5% |
Sweden compared with similar countries
- Sweden's 122,610 tonnes is above the median for high income countries, which is 4,588 tonnes, 26.7× the median. (64 countries reporting)
- Sweden's 122,610 tonnes is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 7,198 tonnes, 17.0× the median. (50 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 18,167 tonnes | 15,417 tonnes | 21,150 tonnes | 8 |
| 2000s | 50,142 tonnes | 26,351 tonnes | 91,804 tonnes | 10 |
| 2010s | 96,466 tonnes | 79,861 tonnes | 114,325 tonnes | 10 |
| 2020s | 118,368 tonnes | 111,514 tonnes | 131,787 tonnes | 5 |
Countries ranked near Sweden
More environment data for Sweden
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly 1.1 Percentage change (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly -2.12 Percentage change (2025)
- Standard Deviation, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Standard Deviation 0.852 °C (2025)
- Temperature change 2.72 °C (2025)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual 2.27 % 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 -0.0922 % 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 Sweden?
- Plastic waste exports in Sweden was 122,610 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 Sweden?
- The highest recorded value was 131,787 tonnes in 2021.
- What is the lowest plastic waste exports recorded in Sweden?
- The lowest recorded value was 15,417 tonnes in 1992.
- How does Sweden rank for plastic waste exports?
- Sweden ranks 5th out of 167 countries with data for 2024.
- Is plastic waste exports rising or falling in Sweden?
- Over the last ten years it is up 22.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Sweden 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 — 33 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.