Share of global plastic waste imports in Canada
Canada: Share of global plastic waste imports was 3.3% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Share of global plastic waste imports in Canada, 1989–2024
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 global plastic waste imports in Canada is 3.3%, measured in 2024.
The figure is down 6.6% on the previous year and up 169.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of global plastic waste imports in Canada peaked at 8.2% in 1989 and was at its lowest, 0.9%, in 2009.
Canada ranks 12th of 183 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 8.2% | 8.2% | 8.2% | 1 |
| 1990s | 4.1% | 2.1% | 8.1% | 10 |
| 2000s | 2.1% | 0.9% | 3.5% | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.4% | 0.9% | 3.0% | 10 |
| 2020s | 3.3% | 3.0% | 3.5% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Canada
More environment data for Canada
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF 768.06 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF per capita 18.61 t CO2e/capita (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Agriculture 30.53 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Building (Energy) 0.7994 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Fugitive Emissions (Energy) 71.72 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Industrial Combustion (Energy) 0.2499 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions (total) excluding LULUCF 133.08 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Power Industry (Energy) 0.1643 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Transport (Energy) 0.5773 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Waste 28.85 Mt CO2e (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of global plastic waste imports in Canada?
- Share of global plastic waste imports in Canada was 3.3% 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 global plastic waste imports recorded in Canada?
- The highest recorded value was 8.2% in 1989.
- What is the lowest share of global plastic waste imports recorded in Canada?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.9% in 2009.
- How does Canada rank for share of global plastic waste imports?
- Canada ranks 12th out of 183 countries with data for 2024.
- Is share of global plastic waste imports rising or falling in Canada?
- Over the last ten years it is up 169.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Canada 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 global plastic waste imports. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
The percentage of global plastic waste imports that a country accounts for.