Share of global plastic waste imports in Ireland
Ireland: Share of global plastic waste imports was 0.6% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Share of global plastic waste imports in Ireland, 1992–2024
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 Ireland stood at 0.6%.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 6.5% on the previous year and up 21.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of global plastic waste imports in Ireland peaked at 3.0% in 1992 and was at its lowest, 0.0%, in 2015.
Ireland ranks 25th of 183 regions on this measure, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 2.0% | 1.4% | 3.0% | 8 |
| 2000s | 0.6% | 0.4% | 1.3% | 10 |
| 2010s | 0.4% | 0.0% | 1.2% | 10 |
| 2020s | 0.6% | 0.0% | 0.8% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Ireland
More environment data for Ireland
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF 59.68 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF per capita 11.06 t CO2e/capita (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Agriculture 15.58 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Building (Energy) 0.0879 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Fugitive Emissions (Energy) 1.23 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Industrial Combustion (Energy) 0.0115 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions (total) excluding LULUCF 18.11 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Power Industry (Energy) 0.0209 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Transport (Energy) 0.0087 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Waste 1.16 Mt CO2e (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of global plastic waste imports in Ireland?
- Share of global plastic waste imports in Ireland was 0.6% 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 Ireland?
- The highest recorded value was 3.0% in 1992.
- What is the lowest share of global plastic waste imports recorded in Ireland?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.0% in 2015.
- How does Ireland rank for share of global plastic waste imports?
- Ireland ranks 25th out of 183 regions with data for 2024.
- Is share of global plastic waste imports rising or falling in Ireland?
- Over the last ten years it is up 21.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Ireland 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.
Download this data
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About this data
The percentage of global plastic waste imports that a country accounts for.