Share of plastic waste exports in Iran
Iran: Share of plastic waste exports was 0.3% in 2018. ◆ Volatile
Share of plastic waste exports in Iran, 2001–2018
Source: United Nations Comtrade Database (2025); United Nations Comtrade Database (2023) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for share of plastic waste exports in Iran is 0.3%, measured in 2018. That is the highest value across all 10 years on record.
That represents a change of up 414.9% on the previous year and up 256.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of plastic waste exports in Iran peaked at 0.3% in 2018 and was at its lowest, 0.0%, in 2001.
That places Iran 41st out of 162 countries with data for 2018, putting it in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Share of plastic waste exports in Iran, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 0.0% | — |
| 2005 | 0.1% | +703.3% |
| 2010 | 0.1% | +17.3% |
| 2011 | 0.1% | +7.8% |
| 2013 | 0.0% | -86.8% |
| 2014 | 0.0% | +110.8% |
| 2015 | 0.1% | +109.1% |
| 2016 | 0.1% | +1.8% |
| 2017 | 0.1% | +8.3% |
| 2018 | 0.3% | +414.9% |
Iran compared with similar countries
- Iran's 0.3% is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 0.0%, 11.1× the median. (48 countries reporting)
- Iran's 0.3% is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 0.0%, 19.4× the median. (19 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.1% | 2 |
| 2010s | 0.1% | 0.0% | 0.3% | 8 |
Countries ranked near Iran
More environment data for Iran
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly -30.46 Percentage change (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly -21.27 Percentage change (2025)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual 2.4 % 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 1.9 % change on previous year (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Agriculture (Mt CO2e), per unit of GDP 0 Mt CO2e per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Agriculture (Mt CO2e), per capita 0 Mt CO2e per person (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Building (Energy) (Mt CO2e), annual -0.0807 % change on previous year (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Building (Energy) (Mt CO2e), per unit of 0 Mt CO2e per US$ of GDP (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of plastic waste exports in Iran?
- Share of plastic waste exports in Iran was 0.3% in 2018, 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 Iran?
- The highest recorded value was 0.3% in 2018.
- What is the lowest share of plastic waste exports recorded in Iran?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.0% in 2001.
- How does Iran rank for share of plastic waste exports?
- Iran ranks 41st out of 162 countries with data for 2018.
- Is share of plastic waste exports rising or falling in Iran?
- Over the last ten years it is up 256.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Iran 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.
Download this data
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About this data
Percentage of global plastic waste exports that a country accounts for.