Share of global plastic waste imports in South Korea
South Korea: Share of global plastic waste imports was 0.0% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Share of global plastic waste imports in South Korea, 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 South Korea is 0.0%, measured in 2024. That is the lowest value across all 37 years on record.
That represents a change of down 100.0% on the previous year and down 100.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of global plastic waste imports in South Korea peaked at 26.9% in 1988 and was at its lowest, 0.0%, in 2022.
That places South Korea 168th out of 183 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the bottom 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 | 20.2% | 13.4% | 26.9% | 2 |
| 1990s | 1.3% | 0.2% | 6.3% | 10 |
| 2000s | 0.2% | 0.1% | 0.3% | 10 |
| 2010s | 0.9% | 0.3% | 3.1% | 10 |
| 2020s | 0.6% | 0.0% | 1.6% | 5 |
Countries ranked near South Korea
- 165 Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 0.0% compare
- 166 Greenland 0.0% compare
- 167 Sao Tome and Principe 0.0% compare
- 168 Brazil 0.0% compare
- 168 Bulgaria 0.0% compare
- 168 Ghana 0.0% compare
- 168 Greece 0.0% compare
- 168 Hungary 0.0% compare
- 168 Malawi 0.0% compare
- 168 Mexico 0.0% compare
- 168 Poland 0.0% compare
- 168 Senegal 0.0% compare
- 168 Slovakia 0.0% compare
- 168 Spain 0.0% compare
- 168 Switzerland 0.0% compare
- 168 United Kingdom 0.0% compare
- 168 United States 0.0% compare
- 168 Uzbekistan 0.0% compare
More environment data for South Korea
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF 668.25 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF per capita 12.91 t CO2e/capita (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Agriculture 21.02 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Building (Energy) 0.3304 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Fugitive Emissions (Energy) 3.86 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Industrial Combustion (Energy) 0.1549 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions (total) excluding LULUCF 44.74 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Power Industry (Energy) 0.2523 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Transport (Energy) 0.2291 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Waste 18.6 Mt CO2e (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of global plastic waste imports in South Korea?
- Share of global plastic waste imports in South Korea 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 South Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 26.9% in 1988.
- What is the lowest share of global plastic waste imports recorded in South Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.0% in 2022.
- How does South Korea rank for share of global plastic waste imports?
- South Korea ranks 168th out of 183 countries with data for 2024.
- Is share of global plastic waste imports rising or falling in South Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is down 100.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South Korea 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.