Plastic waste exports in Uruguay
Uruguay: Plastic waste exports was 815.31 tonnes in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Plastic waste exports in Uruguay, 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
In 2023, plastic waste exports in Uruguay stood at 815.31 tonnes.
That represents a change of down 13.3% on the previous year and down 62.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, plastic waste exports in Uruguay peaked at 5,947 tonnes in 2006 and was at its lowest, 95 tonnes, in 1994.
Uruguay ranks 97th of 167 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Plastic waste exports in Uruguay, year by year
| Year | tonnes | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1994 | 95 tonnes | — |
| 1995 | 829.04 tonnes | +772.7% |
| 1996 | 613.49 tonnes | -26.0% |
| 1997 | 1,256 tonnes | +104.8% |
| 1998 | 1,498 tonnes | +19.2% |
| 1999 | 2,554 tonnes | +70.5% |
| 2000 | 3,911 tonnes | +53.1% |
| 2001 | 2,321 tonnes | -40.7% |
| 2002 | 2,473 tonnes | +6.6% |
| 2003 | 1,999 tonnes | -19.2% |
| 2004 | 4,600 tonnes | +130.1% |
| 2005 | 5,068 tonnes | +10.2% |
| 2006 | 5,947 tonnes | +17.3% |
| 2007 | 5,607 tonnes | -5.7% |
| 2008 | 4,066 tonnes | -27.5% |
| 2009 | 1,291 tonnes | -68.2% |
| 2010 | 1,628 tonnes | +26.1% |
| 2011 | 1,877 tonnes | +15.3% |
| 2012 | 1,860 tonnes | -0.9% |
| 2013 | 2,149 tonnes | +15.6% |
| 2014 | 1,981 tonnes | -7.8% |
| 2015 | 1,969 tonnes | -0.6% |
| 2016 | 1,379 tonnes | -29.9% |
| 2017 | 726 tonnes | -47.4% |
| 2018 | 736.33 tonnes | +1.4% |
| 2019 | 1,013 tonnes | +37.6% |
| 2020 | 1,115 tonnes | +10.0% |
| 2021 | 949.77 tonnes | -14.8% |
| 2022 | 940.69 tonnes | -1.0% |
| 2023 | 815.31 tonnes | -13.3% |
Uruguay compared with similar countries
- Uruguay's 815.31 tonnes is below the median for high income countries, which is 4,588 tonnes, 18% of the median. (64 countries reporting)
- Uruguay's 815.31 tonnes is below the median for Latin America & Caribbean, which is 1,293 tonnes, 63% of the median. (30 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Plastic waste exports in Uruguay 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | +772.7% | 95 tonnes | 829.04 tonnes |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 1,141 tonnes | 95 tonnes | 2,554 tonnes | 6 |
| 2000s | 3,728 tonnes | 1,291 tonnes | 5,947 tonnes | 10 |
| 2010s | 1,532 tonnes | 726 tonnes | 2,149 tonnes | 10 |
| 2020s | 955.1 tonnes | 815.31 tonnes | 1,115 tonnes | 4 |
Countries ranked near Uruguay
More environment data for Uruguay
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly -3.58 Percentage change (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly -3.3 Percentage change (2025)
- Standard Deviation, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Standard Deviation 0.385 °C (2025)
- Temperature change 0.622 °C (2025)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual 3.96 % 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 3.64 % 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 Uruguay?
- Plastic waste exports in Uruguay was 815.31 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 Uruguay?
- The highest recorded value was 5,947 tonnes in 2006.
- What is the lowest plastic waste exports recorded in Uruguay?
- The lowest recorded value was 95 tonnes in 1994.
- How does Uruguay rank for plastic waste exports?
- Uruguay ranks 97th out of 167 countries with data for 2023.
- Is plastic waste exports rising or falling in Uruguay?
- Over the last ten years it is down 62.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Uruguay 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.