Share of global plastic waste imports in Germany
Germany: Share of global plastic waste imports was 10.8% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Share of global plastic waste imports in Germany, 1991–2024
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 global plastic waste imports in Germany stood at 10.8%.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 227.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of global plastic waste imports in Germany peaked at 14.2% in 1991 and was at its lowest, 0.0%, in 2020.
That places Germany 3rd 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.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 3.7% | 1.3% | 14.2% | 9 |
| 2000s | 1.8% | 1.5% | 2.1% | 10 |
| 2010s | 3.9% | 2.0% | 9.0% | 10 |
| 2020s | 5.9% | 0.0% | 10.8% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Germany
More environment data for Germany
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF 674.36 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF per capita 8.07 t CO2e/capita (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Agriculture 33.97 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Building (Energy) 2.87 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Fugitive Emissions (Energy) 9.52 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Industrial Combustion (Energy) 0.2198 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions (total) excluding LULUCF 55.51 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Power Industry (Energy) 0.3905 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Transport (Energy) 0.1987 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Waste 8.1 Mt CO2e (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of global plastic waste imports in Germany?
- Share of global plastic waste imports in Germany was 10.8% 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 global plastic waste imports recorded in Germany?
- The highest recorded value was 14.2% in 1991.
- What is the lowest share of global plastic waste imports recorded in Germany?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.0% in 2020.
- How does Germany rank for share of global plastic waste imports?
- Germany ranks 3rd out of 183 countries with data for 2024.
- Is share of global plastic waste imports rising or falling in Germany?
- Over the last ten years it is up 227.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Germany 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.