Share of global plastic waste imports in India
India: Share of global plastic waste imports was 1.2% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Share of global plastic waste imports in India, 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 India stood at 1.2%.
The figure is down 16.3% on the previous year and down 29.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of global plastic waste imports in India peaked at 7.4% in 1988 and was at its lowest, 0.0%, in 2020.
That places India 20th out of 183 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the top quarter.
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 | 6.7% | 6.1% | 7.4% | 2 |
| 1990s | 2.2% | 1.2% | 5.5% | 10 |
| 2000s | 1.4% | 0.7% | 3.2% | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.5% | 0.7% | 2.7% | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.0% | 0.0% | 1.5% | 5 |
Countries ranked near India
More environment data for India
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF 4,371 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF per capita 3.01 t CO2e/capita (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Agriculture 572.27 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Building (Energy) 37.74 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Fugitive Emissions (Energy) 108.11 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Industrial Combustion (Energy) 4.39 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions (total) excluding LULUCF 861.61 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Power Industry (Energy) 1.01 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Transport (Energy) 2.4 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Waste 135.23 Mt CO2e (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of global plastic waste imports in India?
- Share of global plastic waste imports in India was 1.2% 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 India?
- The highest recorded value was 7.4% in 1988.
- What is the lowest share of global plastic waste imports recorded in India?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.0% in 2020.
- How does India rank for share of global plastic waste imports?
- India ranks 20th out of 183 countries with data for 2024.
- Is share of global plastic waste imports rising or falling in India?
- Over the last ten years it is down 29.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this India 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.