Share of plastic waste exports in Belgium
Belgium: Share of plastic waste exports was 11.3% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Share of plastic waste exports in Belgium, 2001–2024
Source: United Nations Comtrade Database (2025); United Nations Comtrade Database (2023) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2024, share of plastic waste exports in Belgium stood at 11.3%. That is the highest value across all 18 years on record.
That represents a change of up 390.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of plastic waste exports in Belgium peaked at 11.3% in 2024 and was at its lowest, 0.0%, in 2023.
Belgium ranks 3rd of 162 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Share of plastic waste exports in Belgium, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 4.2% | — |
| 2005 | 3.6% | -14.1% |
| 2007 | 3.3% | -8.4% |
| 2010 | 1.7% | -50.1% |
| 2011 | 2.8% | +70.0% |
| 2012 | 2.2% | -21.0% |
| 2013 | 2.8% | +24.4% |
| 2014 | 2.3% | -17.5% |
| 2015 | 2.0% | -11.4% |
| 2016 | 2.5% | +20.6% |
| 2017 | 3.2% | +32.2% |
| 2018 | 5.0% | +52.6% |
| 2019 | 5.9% | +18.6% |
| 2020 | 6.6% | +12.7% |
| 2021 | 6.8% | +2.4% |
| 2022 | 9.3% | +37.0% |
| 2023 | 0.0% | -100.0% |
| 2024 | 11.3% | — |
Belgium compared with similar countries
- Belgium's 11.3% is above the median for high income countries, which is 0.1%, 79.3× the median. (63 countries reporting)
- Belgium's 11.3% is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 0.2%, 46.9× the median. (49 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 3.7% | 3.3% | 4.2% | 3 |
| 2010s | 3.0% | 1.7% | 5.9% | 10 |
| 2020s | 6.8% | 0.0% | 11.3% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Belgium
More environment data for Belgium
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly -5.46 Percentage change (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly -6.46 Percentage change (2025)
- Standard Deviation, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Standard Deviation 0.574 °C (2025)
- Temperature change 2.19 °C (2025)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual 0.5577 % 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 0.0605 % 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 share of plastic waste exports in Belgium?
- Share of plastic waste exports in Belgium was 11.3% in 2024, according to United Nations Comtrade Database (2025); United Nations Comtrade Database (2023) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of plastic waste exports recorded in Belgium?
- The highest recorded value was 11.3% in 2024.
- What is the lowest share of plastic waste exports recorded in Belgium?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.0% in 2023.
- How does Belgium rank for share of plastic waste exports?
- Belgium ranks 3rd out of 162 countries with data for 2024.
- Is share of plastic waste exports rising or falling in Belgium?
- Over the last ten years it is up 390.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Belgium data come from?
- The figures come from United Nations Comtrade Database (2025); United Nations Comtrade Database (2023) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of plastic waste exports. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Percentage of global plastic waste exports that a country accounts for.