Share of global plastic waste imports in Iceland
Iceland: Share of global plastic waste imports was 0.0% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Share of global plastic waste imports in Iceland, 1988–2024
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 Iceland stood at 0.0%.
The figure is up 1,492.2% on the previous year and down 94.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of global plastic waste imports in Iceland peaked at 0.0% in 2013 and was at its lowest, 0.0%, in 2003.
That places Iceland 135th out of 183 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Share of global plastic waste imports in Iceland, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1988 | 0.0% | — |
| 1989 | 0.0% | -98.9% |
| 1990 | 0.0% | +1218.9% |
| 1991 | 0.0% | -41.7% |
| 1992 | 0.0% | +440.0% |
| 1993 | 0.0% | -95.5% |
| 1994 | 0.0% | -77.0% |
| 1995 | 0.0% | -46.9% |
| 1996 | 0.0% | -10.2% |
| 1997 | 0.0% | +260.3% |
| 1998 | 0.0% | +603.1% |
| 1999 | 0.0% | +2320.2% |
| 2000 | 0.0% | +84.3% |
| 2001 | 0.0% | -90.1% |
| 2002 | 0.0% | +23.9% |
| 2003 | 0.0% | -99.6% |
| 2004 | 0.0% | +11936.2% |
| 2005 | 0.0% | +417.0% |
| 2006 | 0.0% | +54.0% |
| 2007 | 0.0% | +169.6% |
| 2008 | 0.0% | -88.9% |
| 2009 | 0.0% | -70.7% |
| 2010 | 0.0% | -98.7% |
| 2011 | 0.0% | +1902.5% |
| 2012 | 0.0% | -57.5% |
| 2013 | 0.0% | +33949.6% |
| 2014 | 0.0% | -54.9% |
| 2015 | 0.0% | -21.3% |
| 2016 | 0.0% | -36.5% |
| 2017 | 0.0% | -97.6% |
| 2018 | 0.0% | -84.3% |
| 2019 | 0.0% | +38.7% |
| 2020 | 0.0% | +34103.6% |
| 2021 | 0.0% | +64.1% |
| 2022 | 0.0% | -98.9% |
| 2023 | 0.0% | -78.4% |
| 2024 | 0.0% | +1492.2% |
Iceland compared with similar countries
- Iceland's 0.0% is below the median for high income countries, which is 0.0%, 0% of the median. (68 countries reporting)
- Iceland's 0.0% is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 0.1%, 0% of the median. (50 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Share of global plastic waste imports in Iceland 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | +34103.6% | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| 2013 | +33949.6% | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| 2004 | +11936.2% | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| 1999 | +2320.2% | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| 2011 | +1902.5% | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| 2024 | +1492.2% | 0.0% | 0.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 2 |
| 1990s | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 10 |
| 2000s | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 10 |
| 2010s | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 10 |
| 2020s | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Iceland
More environment data for Iceland
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly 3.89 Percentage change (2025)
- Standard Deviation, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Standard Deviation 0.587 °C (2025)
- Temperature change 1.47 °C (2025)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual 0.8549 % 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 -1.93 % change on previous year (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Agriculture (Mt CO2e), per unit of GDP 0 Mt CO2e per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Agriculture (Mt CO2e), per capita 0 Mt CO2e per person (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of global plastic waste imports in Iceland?
- Share of global plastic waste imports in Iceland 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 global plastic waste imports recorded in Iceland?
- The highest recorded value was 0.0% in 2013.
- What is the lowest share of global plastic waste imports recorded in Iceland?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.0% in 2003.
- How does Iceland rank for share of global plastic waste imports?
- Iceland ranks 135th out of 183 countries with data for 2024.
- Is share of global plastic waste imports rising or falling in Iceland?
- Over the last ten years it is down 94.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Iceland 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.