Plastic waste exports in Uganda
Uganda: Plastic waste exports was 13,622 tonnes in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Plastic waste exports in Uganda, 1994–2023
Source: United Nations Comtrade Database (2025); United Nations Comtrade Database (2023) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in tonnes.
Analysis
Uganda recorded 13,622 tonnes for plastic waste exports in 2023. That is the highest value across all 23 years on record.
The figure is up 208.3% on the previous year and up 194.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, plastic waste exports in Uganda peaked at 13,622 tonnes in 2023 and was at its lowest, 0.656 tonnes, in 1998.
That places Uganda 40th 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 | 4.31 tonnes | 0.656 tonnes | 15 tonnes | 4 |
| 2000s | 656.39 tonnes | 1.45 tonnes | 2,395 tonnes | 7 |
| 2010s | 4,255 tonnes | 1,633 tonnes | 5,784 tonnes | 10 |
| 2020s | 9,021 tonnes | 4,419 tonnes | 13,622 tonnes | 2 |
Countries ranked near Uganda
More environment data for Uganda
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF 57.3 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF per capita 1.15 t CO2e/capita (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Agriculture 20.51 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Building (Energy) 3.96 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Fugitive Emissions (Energy) 9.27 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Industrial Combustion (Energy) 0.2833 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions (total) excluding LULUCF 38.19 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Power Industry (Energy) 0.0052 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Transport (Energy) 0.0269 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Waste 4.15 Mt CO2e (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is plastic waste exports in Uganda?
- Plastic waste exports in Uganda was 13,622 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 Uganda?
- The highest recorded value was 13,622 tonnes in 2023.
- What is the lowest plastic waste exports recorded in Uganda?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.656 tonnes in 1998.
- How does Uganda rank for plastic waste exports?
- Uganda ranks 40th out of 167 countries with data for 2023.
- Is plastic waste exports rising or falling in Uganda?
- Over the last ten years it is up 194.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Uganda 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 — 23 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.