Share of global plastic waste imports in Netherlands
Netherlands: Share of global plastic waste imports was 13.8% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Share of global plastic waste imports in Netherlands, 1992–2024
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 Netherlands is 13.8%, measured in 2024.
The figure is down 21.1% on the previous year and up 30.2% over five years.
Over the whole period, share of global plastic waste imports in Netherlands peaked at 18.4% in 2022 and was at its lowest, 0.0%, in 2014.
That places Netherlands 2nd 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 Netherlands, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1992 | 17.4% | — |
| 1993 | 6.0% | -65.4% |
| 1994 | 7.8% | +30.2% |
| 1995 | 3.9% | -50.3% |
| 1996 | 5.8% | +48.4% |
| 1997 | 4.7% | -19.3% |
| 1998 | 4.2% | -10.2% |
| 1999 | 3.4% | -19.5% |
| 2000 | 2.4% | -29.1% |
| 2001 | 2.4% | -0.3% |
| 2002 | 2.0% | -17.9% |
| 2003 | 2.6% | +32.1% |
| 2004 | 1.9% | -27.0% |
| 2005 | 1.9% | -0.8% |
| 2006 | 1.7% | -6.7% |
| 2007 | 1.6% | -9.3% |
| 2008 | 1.7% | +5.9% |
| 2009 | 1.0% | -43.2% |
| 2010 | 1.8% | +92.2% |
| 2011 | 2.3% | +25.3% |
| 2012 | 2.9% | +28.0% |
| 2013 | 3.6% | +22.6% |
| 2014 | 0.0% | -100.0% |
| 2015 | 4.0% | — |
| 2016 | 3.5% | -11.5% |
| 2017 | 4.9% | +38.7% |
| 2018 | 7.6% | +57.4% |
| 2019 | 10.6% | +38.3% |
| 2020 | 11.0% | +4.5% |
| 2021 | 13.4% | +21.0% |
| 2022 | 18.4% | +37.9% |
| 2023 | 17.4% | -5.4% |
| 2024 | 13.8% | -21.1% |
Netherlands compared with similar countries
- Netherlands's 13.8% is above the median for high income countries, which is 0.0%, 734.4× the median. (68 countries reporting)
- Netherlands's 13.8% is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 0.1%, 111.6× the median. (50 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 6.6% | 3.4% | 17.4% | 8 |
| 2000s | 1.9% | 1.0% | 2.6% | 10 |
| 2010s | 4.1% | 0.0% | 10.6% | 10 |
| 2020s | 14.8% | 11.0% | 18.4% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Netherlands
More environment data for Netherlands
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual -3 % 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 -0.1867 % change on previous year (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Agriculture (Mt CO2e), per unit of GDP 0 Mt CO2e per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Agriculture (Mt CO2e), per capita 0 Mt CO2e per person (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Building (Energy) (Mt CO2e), annual -0.2541 % change on previous year (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Building (Energy) (Mt CO2e), per unit of 0 Mt CO2e per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Building (Energy) (Mt CO2e), per capita 0 Mt CO2e per person (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Fugitive Emissions (Energy) (Mt CO2e) -6.03 % change on previous year (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of global plastic waste imports in Netherlands?
- Share of global plastic waste imports in Netherlands was 13.8% 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 Netherlands?
- The highest recorded value was 18.4% in 2022.
- What is the lowest share of global plastic waste imports recorded in Netherlands?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.0% in 2014.
- How does Netherlands rank for share of global plastic waste imports?
- Netherlands ranks 2nd out of 183 countries with data for 2024.
- Where does this Netherlands 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.