Plastic waste exports in Tanzania
Tanzania: Plastic waste exports was 22,310 tonnes in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Plastic waste exports in Tanzania, 1998–2023
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 Tanzania is 22,310 tonnes, measured in 2023. That is the highest value across all 25 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 13.2% on the previous year and up 40.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, plastic waste exports in Tanzania peaked at 22,310 tonnes in 2023 and was at its lowest, 0.095 tonnes, in 1998.
That places Tanzania 30th out of 167 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the top quarter.
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 | 0.131 tonnes | 0.095 tonnes | 0.167 tonnes | 2 |
| 2000s | 1,754 tonnes | 0.964 tonnes | 5,051 tonnes | 9 |
| 2010s | 13,986 tonnes | 4,490 tonnes | 19,615 tonnes | 10 |
| 2020s | 18,308 tonnes | 14,479 tonnes | 22,310 tonnes | 4 |
Countries ranked near Tanzania
More environment data for Tanzania
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF 102.53 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF per capita 1.5 t CO2e/capita (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Agriculture 43.66 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Building (Energy) 5.56 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Fugitive Emissions (Energy) 6.87 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Industrial Combustion (Energy) 0.0551 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions (total) excluding LULUCF 59.72 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Power Industry (Energy) 0.0064 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Transport (Energy) 0.0605 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Waste 3.51 Mt CO2e (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is plastic waste exports in Tanzania?
- Plastic waste exports in Tanzania was 22,310 tonnes in 2023, 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 Tanzania?
- The highest recorded value was 22,310 tonnes in 2023.
- What is the lowest plastic waste exports recorded in Tanzania?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.095 tonnes in 1998.
- How does Tanzania rank for plastic waste exports?
- Tanzania ranks 30th out of 167 countries with data for 2023.
- Is plastic waste exports rising or falling in Tanzania?
- Over the last ten years it is up 40.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Tanzania 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 — 25 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.