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.
Plastic waste exports in Uganda, year by year
| Year | tonnes | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1994 | 15 tonnes | — |
| 1996 | 0.796 tonnes | -94.7% |
| 1998 | 0.656 tonnes | -17.6% |
| 1999 | 0.796 tonnes | +21.3% |
| 2001 | 7.47 tonnes | +838.9% |
| 2002 | 13.97 tonnes | +86.9% |
| 2005 | 1.45 tonnes | -89.6% |
| 2006 | 4.5 tonnes | +210.3% |
| 2007 | 361.11 tonnes | +7924.6% |
| 2008 | 1,811 tonnes | +401.5% |
| 2009 | 2,395 tonnes | +32.2% |
| 2010 | 2,199 tonnes | -8.2% |
| 2011 | 1,633 tonnes | -25.7% |
| 2012 | 3,309 tonnes | +102.6% |
| 2013 | 4,628 tonnes | +39.9% |
| 2014 | 5,784 tonnes | +25.0% |
| 2015 | 4,944 tonnes | -14.5% |
| 2016 | 5,041 tonnes | +2.0% |
| 2017 | 5,715 tonnes | +13.4% |
| 2018 | 4,710 tonnes | -17.6% |
| 2019 | 4,592 tonnes | -2.5% |
| 2020 | 4,419 tonnes | -3.8% |
| 2023 | 13,622 tonnes | +208.3% |
Uganda compared with similar countries
- Uganda's 13,622 tonnes is above the median for low income countries, which is 963.54 tonnes, 14.1× the median. (15 countries reporting)
- Uganda's 13,622 tonnes is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 1,090 tonnes, 12.5× the median. (33 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Plastic waste exports in Uganda changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | +7924.6% | 4.5 tonnes | 361.11 tonnes |
| 2001 | +838.9% | 0.796 tonnes | 7.47 tonnes |
| 2008 | +401.5% | 361.11 tonnes | 1,811 tonnes |
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
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly -11.7 Percentage change (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly -12.54 Percentage change (2025)
- Standard Deviation, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Standard Deviation 0.255 °C (2025)
- Temperature change 1.23 °C (2025)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual 1.23 % 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 1.38 % 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 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.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 23 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.