Plastic waste exports in Sweden
Sweden: Plastic waste exports was 122,610 tonnes in 2024. ◆ Volatile
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.
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
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF 52.57 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF per capita 4.97 t CO2e/capita (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Agriculture 3.79 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Building (Energy) 0.3307 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Fugitive Emissions (Energy) 0.2101 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Industrial Combustion (Energy) 0.2019 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions (total) excluding LULUCF 8.12 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Power Industry (Energy) 0.1974 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Transport (Energy) 0.0287 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Waste 3.35 Mt CO2e (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
The amount of plastic waste a country exports to other countries, measured in tonnes per year.