Plastic waste exports in Switzerland
Switzerland: Plastic waste exports was 86,849 tonnes in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
86,849 tonnes
Change on year
down 0.7%
World rank
10th
of 167 countries
All-time high
121,419 tonnes
in 2013
All-time low
0 tonnes
in 2000
Years of data
37
1988–2024
Plastic waste exports in Switzerland, 1988–2024
Source: United Nations Comtrade Database (2025); United Nations Comtrade Database (2023) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in tonnes.
Analysis
In 2024, plastic waste exports in Switzerland stood at 86,849 tonnes.
That represents a change of down 0.7% on the previous year and down 17.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, plastic waste exports in Switzerland peaked at 121,419 tonnes in 2013 and was at its lowest, 0 tonnes, in 2000.
That places Switzerland 10th 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 Switzerland, year by year
| Year | tonnes | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1988 | 11,425 tonnes | — |
| 1989 | 13,348 tonnes | +16.8% |
| 1990 | 16,710 tonnes | +25.2% |
| 1991 | 15,476 tonnes | -7.4% |
| 1992 | 18,010 tonnes | +16.4% |
| 1993 | 24,393 tonnes | +35.4% |
| 1994 | 26,151 tonnes | +7.2% |
| 1995 | 31,021 tonnes | +18.6% |
| 1996 | 25,179 tonnes | -18.8% |
| 1997 | 33,155 tonnes | +31.7% |
| 1998 | 28,115 tonnes | -15.2% |
| 1999 | 34,537 tonnes | +22.8% |
| 2000 | 0 tonnes | -100.0% |
| 2001 | 48,694 tonnes | — |
| 2002 | 59,302 tonnes | +21.8% |
| 2003 | 74,206 tonnes | +25.1% |
| 2004 | 0 tonnes | -100.0% |
| 2005 | 0 tonnes | — |
| 2006 | 0 tonnes | — |
| 2007 | 0 tonnes | — |
| 2008 | 97,350 tonnes | — |
| 2009 | 0 tonnes | -100.0% |
| 2010 | 93,943 tonnes | — |
| 2011 | 102,858 tonnes | +9.5% |
| 2012 | 111,743 tonnes | +8.6% |
| 2013 | 121,419 tonnes | +8.7% |
| 2014 | 105,212 tonnes | -13.3% |
| 2015 | 0 tonnes | -100.0% |
| 2016 | 99,026 tonnes | — |
| 2017 | 90,977 tonnes | -8.1% |
| 2018 | 0 tonnes | -100.0% |
| 2019 | 0 tonnes | — |
| 2020 | 0 tonnes | — |
| 2021 | 0 tonnes | — |
| 2022 | 87,786 tonnes | — |
| 2023 | 87,496 tonnes | -0.3% |
| 2024 | 86,849 tonnes | -0.7% |
Switzerland compared with similar countries
- Switzerland's 86,849 tonnes is above the median for high income countries, which is 4,588 tonnes, 18.9× the median. (64 countries reporting)
- Switzerland's 86,849 tonnes is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 7,198 tonnes, 12.1× the median. (50 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 12,386 tonnes | 11,425 tonnes | 13,348 tonnes | 2 |
| 1990s | 25,275 tonnes | 15,476 tonnes | 34,537 tonnes | 10 |
| 2000s | 27,955 tonnes | 0 tonnes | 97,350 tonnes | 10 |
| 2010s | 72,518 tonnes | 0 tonnes | 121,419 tonnes | 10 |
| 2020s | 52,426 tonnes | 0 tonnes | 87,786 tonnes | 5 |
Countries ranked near Switzerland
More environment data for Switzerland
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly -0.2925 Percentage change (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly -0.4333 Percentage change (2025)
- Standard Deviation, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Standard Deviation 0.458 °C (2025)
- Temperature change 2.33 °C (2025)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual 0.2741 % 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 0.0914 % 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 Switzerland?
- Plastic waste exports in Switzerland was 86,849 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 Switzerland?
- The highest recorded value was 121,419 tonnes in 2013.
- What is the lowest plastic waste exports recorded in Switzerland?
- The lowest recorded value was 0 tonnes in 2000.
- How does Switzerland rank for plastic waste exports?
- Switzerland ranks 10th out of 167 countries with data for 2024.
- Is plastic waste exports rising or falling in Switzerland?
- Over the last ten years it is down 17.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Switzerland 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.