Plastic waste exports in Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe: Plastic waste exports was 2,142 tonnes in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Plastic waste exports in Zimbabwe, 1995–2024
Source: United Nations Comtrade Database (2025); United Nations Comtrade Database (2023) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in tonnes.
Analysis
The most recent figure for plastic waste exports in Zimbabwe is 2,142 tonnes, measured in 2024.
The figure is up 285.6% on the previous year and up 258.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, plastic waste exports in Zimbabwe peaked at 3,488 tonnes in 2018 and was at its lowest, 5.88 tonnes, in 1995.
That places Zimbabwe 78th out of 167 countries with data for 2024, putting it 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 Zimbabwe, year by year
| Year | tonnes | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1995 | 5.88 tonnes | — |
| 2000 | 8.28 tonnes | +41.0% |
| 2002 | 112.85 tonnes | +1262.8% |
| 2003 | 130.14 tonnes | +15.3% |
| 2004 | 110.42 tonnes | -15.1% |
| 2005 | 64.2 tonnes | -41.9% |
| 2006 | 67.04 tonnes | +4.4% |
| 2007 | 70.08 tonnes | +4.5% |
| 2008 | 23.4 tonnes | -66.6% |
| 2010 | 39.62 tonnes | +69.3% |
| 2011 | 163.2 tonnes | +311.9% |
| 2012 | 30 tonnes | -81.6% |
| 2013 | 9.56 tonnes | -68.1% |
| 2014 | 597.8 tonnes | +6153.1% |
| 2015 | 980 tonnes | +63.9% |
| 2016 | 782 tonnes | -20.2% |
| 2017 | 781.56 tonnes | -0.1% |
| 2018 | 3,488 tonnes | +346.3% |
| 2019 | 1,860 tonnes | -46.7% |
| 2020 | 200 tonnes | -89.2% |
| 2021 | 983.1 tonnes | +391.5% |
| 2022 | 1,429 tonnes | +45.4% |
| 2023 | 555.5 tonnes | -61.1% |
| 2024 | 2,142 tonnes | +285.6% |
Zimbabwe compared with similar countries
- Zimbabwe's 2,142 tonnes is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 1,451 tonnes, 1.5× the median. (39 countries reporting)
- Zimbabwe's 2,142 tonnes is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 1,090 tonnes, 2.0× the median. (33 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Plastic waste exports in Zimbabwe 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | +6153.1% | 9.56 tonnes | 597.8 tonnes |
| 2002 | +1262.8% | 8.28 tonnes | 112.85 tonnes |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 5.88 tonnes | 5.88 tonnes | 5.88 tonnes | 1 |
| 2000s | 73.3 tonnes | 8.28 tonnes | 130.14 tonnes | 8 |
| 2010s | 873.19 tonnes | 9.56 tonnes | 3,488 tonnes | 10 |
| 2020s | 1,062 tonnes | 200 tonnes | 2,142 tonnes | 5 |
Countries ranked near Zimbabwe
- 75 Bosnia and Herzegovina 2,682 tonnes compare
- 76 India 2,621 tonnes compare
- 77 Mauritius 2,414 tonnes compare
- 79 Burkina Faso 2,119 tonnes compare
- 80 Mozambique 1,951 tonnes compare
- 81 Serbia 1,788 tonnes compare
More environment data for Zimbabwe
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly 2.93 Percentage change (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly 3.29 Percentage change (2025)
- Standard Deviation, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Standard Deviation 0.311 °C (2025)
- Temperature change 1.06 °C (2025)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual 2.19 % 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 1.53 % 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 Zimbabwe?
- Plastic waste exports in Zimbabwe was 2,142 tonnes in 2024, 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 Zimbabwe?
- The highest recorded value was 3,488 tonnes in 2018.
- What is the lowest plastic waste exports recorded in Zimbabwe?
- The lowest recorded value was 5.88 tonnes in 1995.
- How does Zimbabwe rank for plastic waste exports?
- Zimbabwe ranks 78th out of 167 countries with data for 2024.
- Is plastic waste exports rising or falling in Zimbabwe?
- Over the last ten years it is up 258.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Zimbabwe 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.