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.
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
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF 38.52 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF per capita 1.81 t CO2e/capita (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Agriculture 6.39 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Building (Energy) 2.21 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Fugitive Emissions (Energy) 8.56 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Industrial Combustion (Energy) 0.0539 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions (total) excluding LULUCF 18.28 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Power Industry (Energy) 0.0026 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Transport (Energy) 0.0155 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Waste 1.04 Mt CO2e (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
The amount of plastic waste a country exports to other countries, measured in tonnes per year.