Share of global plastic waste imports in Malaysia
Malaysia: Share of global plastic waste imports was 9.1% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Share of global plastic waste imports in Malaysia, 1989–2024
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 Malaysia is 9.1%, measured in 2024.
That represents a change of up 514.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of global plastic waste imports in Malaysia peaked at 12.0% in 2018 and was at its lowest, 0.0%, in 2023.
That places Malaysia 4th 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.
Share of global plastic waste imports in Malaysia, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1989 | 6.6% | — |
| 1990 | 7.3% | +10.6% |
| 1991 | 4.5% | -39.0% |
| 1992 | 2.4% | -47.4% |
| 1993 | 1.8% | -21.6% |
| 1994 | 0.3% | -85.4% |
| 1995 | 0.2% | -29.9% |
| 1996 | 0.3% | +77.8% |
| 1997 | 0.3% | -15.9% |
| 1998 | 0.2% | -46.8% |
| 1999 | 0.2% | +10.7% |
| 2000 | 0.2% | +25.6% |
| 2001 | 0.3% | +30.0% |
| 2002 | 0.2% | -11.1% |
| 2003 | 0.4% | +64.2% |
| 2004 | 0.7% | +74.2% |
| 2005 | 0.7% | +2.3% |
| 2006 | 0.6% | -19.7% |
| 2007 | 0.6% | +2.8% |
| 2008 | 0.3% | -54.1% |
| 2009 | 0.6% | +126.9% |
| 2010 | 0.5% | -16.8% |
| 2011 | 0.9% | +72.8% |
| 2012 | 1.1% | +27.3% |
| 2013 | 2.0% | +83.0% |
| 2014 | 1.5% | -27.3% |
| 2015 | 1.7% | +12.9% |
| 2016 | 1.7% | +4.2% |
| 2017 | 4.3% | +145.8% |
| 2018 | 12.0% | +180.2% |
| 2019 | 6.1% | -49.6% |
| 2020 | 8.5% | +40.9% |
| 2021 | 7.1% | -16.5% |
| 2022 | 6.6% | -6.7% |
| 2023 | 0.0% | -100.0% |
| 2024 | 9.1% | — |
Malaysia compared with similar countries
- Malaysia's 9.1% is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 0.0%, 2120.2× the median. (52 countries reporting)
- Malaysia's 9.1% is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 0.0%, 2973.0× the median. (30 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 6.6% | 6.6% | 6.6% | 1 |
| 1990s | 1.7% | 0.2% | 7.3% | 10 |
| 2000s | 0.5% | 0.2% | 0.7% | 10 |
| 2010s | 3.2% | 0.5% | 12.0% | 10 |
| 2020s | 6.3% | 0.0% | 9.1% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Malaysia
More environment data for Malaysia
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly -1.65 Percentage change (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly -1.9 Percentage change (2025)
- Standard Deviation, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Standard Deviation 0.179 °C (2025)
- Temperature change 1.25 °C (2025)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual 4.33 % change on previous year (2024)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), per unit 0 Mt CO2e per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), per capita 0 Mt CO2e per person (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Agriculture (Mt CO2e), annual growth rate 0.9114 % change on previous year (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Agriculture (Mt CO2e), per unit of GDP 0 Mt CO2e per US$ of GDP (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of global plastic waste imports in Malaysia?
- Share of global plastic waste imports in Malaysia was 9.1% 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 Malaysia?
- The highest recorded value was 12.0% in 2018.
- What is the lowest share of global plastic waste imports recorded in Malaysia?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.0% in 2023.
- How does Malaysia rank for share of global plastic waste imports?
- Malaysia ranks 4th out of 183 countries with data for 2024.
- Is share of global plastic waste imports rising or falling in Malaysia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 514.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Malaysia 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
Percentage of global plastic waste imports that a country accounts for.