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.
Share of global plastic waste imports in Canada, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1989 | 8.2% | — |
| 1990 | 8.1% | -2.1% |
| 1991 | 6.4% | -20.9% |
| 1992 | 3.4% | -46.2% |
| 1993 | 2.1% | -38.5% |
| 1994 | 2.9% | +36.7% |
| 1995 | 3.2% | +9.2% |
| 1996 | 4.1% | +28.8% |
| 1997 | 3.9% | -4.4% |
| 1998 | 3.7% | -3.5% |
| 1999 | 3.2% | -14.6% |
| 2000 | 3.2% | +1.0% |
| 2001 | 3.5% | +7.3% |
| 2002 | 2.9% | -17.1% |
| 2003 | 2.4% | -16.2% |
| 2004 | 2.3% | -3.9% |
| 2005 | 2.0% | -14.7% |
| 2006 | 1.6% | -18.1% |
| 2007 | 1.3% | -17.1% |
| 2008 | 1.1% | -15.2% |
| 2009 | 0.9% | -24.8% |
| 2010 | 0.9% | +7.1% |
| 2011 | 0.9% | +2.6% |
| 2012 | 1.0% | +4.1% |
| 2013 | 1.0% | +1.4% |
| 2014 | 1.2% | +23.4% |
| 2015 | 1.7% | +36.5% |
| 2016 | 1.0% | -37.7% |
| 2017 | 1.1% | +5.4% |
| 2018 | 1.9% | +77.0% |
| 2019 | 3.0% | +56.1% |
| 2020 | 3.2% | +4.9% |
| 2021 | 3.3% | +3.8% |
| 2022 | 3.0% | -7.9% |
| 2023 | 3.5% | +16.1% |
| 2024 | 3.3% | -6.6% |
Canada compared with similar countries
- Canada's 3.3% is above the median for high income countries, which is 0.0%, 175.8× the median. (68 countries reporting)
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
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly -2.52 Percentage change (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly -6.76 Percentage change (2025)
- Standard Deviation, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Standard Deviation 0.642 °C (2025)
- Temperature change 2.96 °C (2025)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual 1.7 % 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 -0.3398 % change on previous year (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Agriculture (Mt CO2e), per unit of GDP 0 Mt CO2e per US$ of GDP (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
Percentage of global plastic waste imports that a country accounts for.