Share of plastic waste exports in Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia: Share of plastic waste exports was 0.8% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Share of plastic waste exports in Saudi Arabia, 1994–2024
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 Saudi Arabia is 0.8%, measured in 2024.
The figure is down 43.7% on the previous year and up 61.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of plastic waste exports in Saudi Arabia peaked at 1.4% in 2023 and was at its lowest, 0.0%, in 1994.
That places Saudi Arabia 25th out of 162 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the top quarter.
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 | 0.1% | 0.0% | 0.2% | 3 |
| 2000s | 0.2% | 0.2% | 0.2% | 3 |
| 2010s | 0.7% | 0.5% | 0.8% | 10 |
| 2020s | 0.8% | 0.5% | 1.4% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Saudi Arabia
More environment data for Saudi Arabia
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF 838.88 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF per capita 23.76 t CO2e/capita (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Agriculture 8.68 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Building (Energy) 0.0153 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Fugitive Emissions (Energy) 69.55 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Industrial Combustion (Energy) 0.0811 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions (total) excluding LULUCF 113.12 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Power Industry (Energy) 0.3635 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Transport (Energy) 0.3983 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Waste 33.24 Mt CO2e (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of plastic waste exports in Saudi Arabia?
- Share of plastic waste exports in Saudi Arabia was 0.8% 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 Saudi Arabia?
- The highest recorded value was 1.4% in 2023.
- What is the lowest share of plastic waste exports recorded in Saudi Arabia?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.0% in 1994.
- How does Saudi Arabia rank for share of plastic waste exports?
- Saudi Arabia ranks 25th out of 162 countries with data for 2024.
- Is share of plastic waste exports rising or falling in Saudi Arabia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 61.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Saudi Arabia 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
The percentage of global plastic waste exports that a country accounts for.