Share of global plastic waste imports in Italy
Italy: Share of global plastic waste imports was 4.2% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Share of global plastic waste imports in Italy, 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 Italy is 4.2%, measured in 2024.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 304.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of global plastic waste imports in Italy peaked at 5.8% in 1996 and was at its lowest, 0.0%, in 2008.
That places Italy 9th 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 | 4.4% | 2.5% | 5.8% | 6 |
| 2000s | 1.5% | 0.0% | 2.2% | 10 |
| 2010s | 0.9% | 0.0% | 2.5% | 10 |
| 2020s | 2.6% | 0.0% | 4.2% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Italy
More environment data for Italy
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF 371.17 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF per capita 6.3 t CO2e/capita (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Agriculture 21.92 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Building (Energy) 2.28 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Fugitive Emissions (Energy) 4.49 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Industrial Combustion (Energy) 0.0558 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions (total) excluding LULUCF 44.9 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Power Industry (Energy) 0.1973 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Transport (Energy) 0.3495 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Waste 15.57 Mt CO2e (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of global plastic waste imports in Italy?
- Share of global plastic waste imports in Italy was 4.2% 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 Italy?
- The highest recorded value was 5.8% in 1996.
- What is the lowest share of global plastic waste imports recorded in Italy?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.0% in 2008.
- How does Italy rank for share of global plastic waste imports?
- Italy ranks 9th out of 183 countries with data for 2024.
- Is share of global plastic waste imports rising or falling in Italy?
- Over the last ten years it is up 304.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Italy 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.