Share of plastic waste exports in United States
United States: Share of plastic waste exports was 0.0% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Share of plastic waste exports in United States, 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 United States stood at 0.0%. That is the lowest value across all 21 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 100.0% on the previous year and down 100.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of plastic waste exports in United States peaked at 17.7% in 2001 and was at its lowest, 0.0%, in 2016.
United States ranks 139th of 162 countries on this measure, in the bottom 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 | 10.9% | 10.1% | 11.7% | 3 |
| 2000s | 13.8% | 11.6% | 17.7% | 3 |
| 2010s | 8.8% | 0.0% | 15.7% | 10 |
| 2020s | 4.6% | 0.0% | 13.4% | 5 |
Countries ranked near United States
- 136 Brunei 0.0% compare
- 137 Angola 0.0% compare
- 138 East Timor 0.0% compare
- 139 Austria 0.0% compare
- 139 Bahrain 0.0% compare
- 139 Canada 0.0% compare
- 139 Fiji 0.0% compare
- 139 France 0.0% compare
- 139 Germany 0.0% compare
- 139 Ghana 0.0% compare
- 139 Hungary 0.0% compare
- 139 Italy 0.0% compare
- 139 Jordan 0.0% compare
- 139 Kazakhstan 0.0% compare
- 139 Lebanon 0.0% compare
- 139 Malaysia 0.0% compare
- 139 Mexico 0.0% compare
- 139 Oman 0.0% compare
- 139 Qatar 0.0% compare
- 139 Romania 0.0% compare
- 139 Singapore 0.0% compare
- 139 South Korea 0.0% compare
- 139 Spain 0.0% compare
- 139 Thailand 0.0% compare
- 139 United Arab Emirates 0.0% compare
- 139 United Kingdom 0.0% compare
More environment data for United States
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF 5,913 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF per capita 17.39 t CO2e/capita (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Agriculture 257.35 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Building (Energy) 9.47 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Fugitive Emissions (Energy) 418.87 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Industrial Combustion (Energy) 1.54 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions (total) excluding LULUCF 843.36 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Power Industry (Energy) 2 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Transport (Energy) 3.59 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Waste 149.52 Mt CO2e (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of plastic waste exports in United States?
- Share of plastic waste exports in United States was 0.0% 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 United States?
- The highest recorded value was 17.7% in 2001.
- What is the lowest share of plastic waste exports recorded in United States?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.0% in 2016.
- How does United States rank for share of plastic waste exports?
- United States ranks 139th out of 162 countries with data for 2024.
- Is share of plastic waste exports rising or falling in United States?
- Over the last ten years it is down 100.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this United States 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
The percentage of global plastic waste exports that a country accounts for.