Plastic waste exports in Zambia
Zambia: Plastic waste exports was 1,492 tonnes in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Plastic waste exports in Zambia, 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
In 2023, plastic waste exports in Zambia stood at 1,492 tonnes.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 13.0% on the previous year and up 580.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, plastic waste exports in Zambia peaked at 2,841 tonnes in 2019 and was at its lowest, 0.05 tonnes, in 1998.
Zambia ranks 83rd 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 Zambia, year by year
| Year | tonnes | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1998 | 0.05 tonnes | — |
| 2001 | 1.71 tonnes | +3312.0% |
| 2004 | 0.2 tonnes | -88.3% |
| 2006 | 29.5 tonnes | +14650.0% |
| 2007 | 0.6 tonnes | -98.0% |
| 2008 | 228.37 tonnes | +37961.8% |
| 2009 | 327.5 tonnes | +43.4% |
| 2010 | 9.01 tonnes | -97.3% |
| 2011 | 79.47 tonnes | +782.5% |
| 2012 | 273.2 tonnes | +243.8% |
| 2013 | 219.24 tonnes | -19.8% |
| 2014 | 200.11 tonnes | -8.7% |
| 2015 | 896.9 tonnes | +348.2% |
| 2016 | 1,353 tonnes | +50.9% |
| 2017 | 1,732 tonnes | +28.0% |
| 2018 | 1,921 tonnes | +10.9% |
| 2019 | 2,841 tonnes | +47.9% |
| 2020 | 1,699 tonnes | -40.2% |
| 2021 | 1,714 tonnes | +0.9% |
| 2023 | 1,492 tonnes | -13.0% |
Zambia compared with similar countries
- Zambia's 1,492 tonnes is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 1,451 tonnes, 1.0× the median. (39 countries reporting)
- Zambia's 1,492 tonnes is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 1,090 tonnes, 1.4× the median. (33 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Plastic waste exports in Zambia 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | +37961.8% | 0.6 tonnes | 228.37 tonnes |
| 2006 | +14650.0% | 0.2 tonnes | 29.5 tonnes |
| 2001 | +3312.0% | 0.05 tonnes | 1.71 tonnes |
| 2011 | +782.5% | 9.01 tonnes | 79.47 tonnes |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 0.05 tonnes | 0.05 tonnes | 0.05 tonnes | 1 |
| 2000s | 97.98 tonnes | 0.2 tonnes | 327.5 tonnes | 6 |
| 2010s | 952.56 tonnes | 9.01 tonnes | 2,841 tonnes | 10 |
| 2020s | 1,635 tonnes | 1,492 tonnes | 1,714 tonnes | 3 |
Countries ranked near Zambia
More environment data for Zambia
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly -2.98 Percentage change (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly -3.03 Percentage change (2025)
- Standard Deviation, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Standard Deviation 0.265 °C (2025)
- Temperature change 1.11 °C (2025)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual 2.74 % 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 3.49 % 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 Zambia?
- Plastic waste exports in Zambia was 1,492 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 Zambia?
- The highest recorded value was 2,841 tonnes in 2019.
- What is the lowest plastic waste exports recorded in Zambia?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.05 tonnes in 1998.
- How does Zambia rank for plastic waste exports?
- Zambia ranks 83rd out of 167 countries with data for 2023.
- Is plastic waste exports rising or falling in Zambia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 580.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Zambia 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 — 20 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.