Share of global plastic waste imports in Japan
Japan: Share of global plastic waste imports was 0.2% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Share of global plastic waste imports in Japan, 1988–2024
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 Japan is 0.2%, measured in 2024.
That represents a change of up 1,032.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of global plastic waste imports in Japan peaked at 2.6% in 1988 and was at its lowest, 0.0%, in 2022.
Japan ranks 42nd of 183 countries 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 2.1% | 1.7% | 2.6% | 2 |
| 1990s | 0.4% | 0.1% | 1.4% | 10 |
| 2000s | 0.1% | 0.0% | 0.3% | 10 |
| 2010s | 0.1% | 0.0% | 0.3% | 10 |
| 2020s | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.2% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Japan
More environment data for Japan
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF 1,063 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF per capita 8.58 t CO2e/capita (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Agriculture 38.9 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Building (Energy) 1.04 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Fugitive Emissions (Energy) 3.5 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Industrial Combustion (Energy) 0.3162 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions (total) excluding LULUCF 50.87 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Power Industry (Energy) 0.6478 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Transport (Energy) 0.4564 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Waste 5.74 Mt CO2e (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of global plastic waste imports in Japan?
- Share of global plastic waste imports in Japan was 0.2% 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 Japan?
- The highest recorded value was 2.6% in 1988.
- What is the lowest share of global plastic waste imports recorded in Japan?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.0% in 2022.
- How does Japan rank for share of global plastic waste imports?
- Japan ranks 42nd out of 183 countries with data for 2024.
- Is share of global plastic waste imports rising or falling in Japan?
- Over the last ten years it is up 1,032.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Japan 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.