Share of plastic waste exports in Netherlands
Netherlands: Share of plastic waste exports was 17.4% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Share of plastic waste exports in Netherlands, 1994–2024
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 Netherlands stood at 17.4%. That is the highest value across all 21 years on record.
That represents a change of up 49.1% on the previous year and up 160.6% over five years.
Over the whole period, share of plastic waste exports in Netherlands peaked at 17.4% in 2024 and was at its lowest, 0.0%, in 2014.
Netherlands ranks 2nd 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 Netherlands, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1994 | 10.3% | — |
| 1995 | 5.6% | -45.7% |
| 1996 | 5.7% | +0.6% |
| 2001 | 5.9% | +4.5% |
| 2005 | 3.8% | -35.3% |
| 2007 | 3.4% | -10.0% |
| 2010 | 2.4% | -31.0% |
| 2011 | 2.6% | +9.8% |
| 2012 | 2.9% | +9.8% |
| 2013 | 3.7% | +27.9% |
| 2014 | 0.0% | -100.0% |
| 2015 | 3.7% | — |
| 2016 | 4.3% | +17.8% |
| 2017 | 3.8% | -11.4% |
| 2018 | 4.9% | +27.1% |
| 2019 | 6.7% | +36.5% |
| 2020 | 8.8% | +32.7% |
| 2021 | 12.4% | +39.9% |
| 2022 | 16.1% | +29.8% |
| 2023 | 11.6% | -27.5% |
| 2024 | 17.4% | +49.1% |
Netherlands compared with similar countries
- Netherlands's 17.4% is above the median for high income countries, which is 0.1%, 122.2× the median. (63 countries reporting)
- Netherlands's 17.4% is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 0.2%, 72.2× the median. (49 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 7.2% | 5.6% | 10.3% | 3 |
| 2000s | 4.4% | 3.4% | 5.9% | 3 |
| 2010s | 3.5% | 0.0% | 6.7% | 10 |
| 2020s | 13.3% | 8.8% | 17.4% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Netherlands
More environment data for Netherlands
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual -3 % 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 -0.1867 % 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 -0.2541 % change on previous year (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Building (Energy) (Mt CO2e), per unit of 0 Mt CO2e per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Building (Energy) (Mt CO2e), per capita 0 Mt CO2e per person (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Fugitive Emissions (Energy) (Mt CO2e) -6.03 % change on previous year (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of plastic waste exports in Netherlands?
- Share of plastic waste exports in Netherlands was 17.4% 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 Netherlands?
- The highest recorded value was 17.4% in 2024.
- What is the lowest share of plastic waste exports recorded in Netherlands?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.0% in 2014.
- How does Netherlands rank for share of plastic waste exports?
- Netherlands ranks 2nd out of 162 countries with data for 2024.
- Where does this Netherlands 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.