Share of global plastic waste imports in France
France: Share of global plastic waste imports was 2.9% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Share of global plastic waste imports in France, 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 global plastic waste imports in France is 2.9%, measured in 2024.
The figure is up 18.5% on the previous year and up 296.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of global plastic waste imports in France peaked at 3.3% in 2022 and was at its lowest, 0.0%, in 2019.
That places France 14th out of 183 countries with data for 2024, putting it 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 France, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1994 | 0.7% | — |
| 1995 | 0.7% | -0.3% |
| 1996 | 1.1% | +54.2% |
| 1997 | 0.7% | -33.6% |
| 1998 | 0.6% | -14.4% |
| 1999 | 0.6% | -4.4% |
| 2000 | 0.6% | +2.5% |
| 2001 | 0.7% | +12.2% |
| 2002 | 0.6% | -8.6% |
| 2003 | 0.6% | +6.3% |
| 2004 | 0.5% | -23.6% |
| 2005 | 0.5% | -6.0% |
| 2006 | 0.5% | +8.1% |
| 2007 | 0.5% | +0.2% |
| 2008 | 0.6% | +13.6% |
| 2009 | 0.4% | -32.3% |
| 2010 | 0.6% | +58.2% |
| 2011 | 0.7% | +9.3% |
| 2012 | 0.7% | +3.5% |
| 2013 | 0.8% | +9.4% |
| 2014 | 0.7% | -4.6% |
| 2015 | 0.8% | +8.7% |
| 2016 | 0.7% | -4.9% |
| 2017 | 1.1% | +51.3% |
| 2018 | 2.0% | +74.0% |
| 2019 | 0.0% | -100.0% |
| 2020 | 2.6% | — |
| 2021 | 0.0% | -100.0% |
| 2022 | 3.3% | — |
| 2023 | 2.4% | -27.5% |
| 2024 | 2.9% | +18.5% |
France compared with similar countries
- France's 2.9% is above the median for high income countries, which is 0.0%, 152.8× the median. (68 countries reporting)
- France's 2.9% is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 0.1%, 23.2× the median. (50 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Share of global plastic waste imports in France changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | -100.0% | 2.0% | 0.0% |
| 2021 | -100.0% | 2.6% | 0.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 0.7% | 0.6% | 1.1% | 6 |
| 2000s | 0.5% | 0.4% | 0.7% | 10 |
| 2010s | 0.8% | 0.0% | 2.0% | 10 |
| 2020s | 2.2% | 0.0% | 3.3% | 5 |
Countries ranked near France
More environment data for France
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly -2.44 Percentage change (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly -3.44 Percentage change (2025)
- Standard Deviation, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Standard Deviation 0.427 °C (2025)
- Temperature change 2.31 °C (2025)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual -3.23 % 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 -0.1777 % 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 France?
- Share of global plastic waste imports in France was 2.9% 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 France?
- The highest recorded value was 3.3% in 2022.
- What is the lowest share of global plastic waste imports recorded in France?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.0% in 2019.
- How does France rank for share of global plastic waste imports?
- France ranks 14th out of 183 countries with data for 2024.
- Is share of global plastic waste imports rising or falling in France?
- Over the last ten years it is up 296.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this France 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.