Share of global plastic waste imports in Portugal
Portugal: Share of global plastic waste imports was 1.5% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Share of global plastic waste imports in Portugal, 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 Portugal is 1.5%, measured in 2024.
The figure is up 22.0% on the previous year and up 181.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of global plastic waste imports in Portugal peaked at 3.9% in 1988 and was at its lowest, 0.0%, in 2021.
That places Portugal 18th 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 Portugal, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1988 | 3.9% | — |
| 1989 | 1.6% | -58.9% |
| 1990 | 2.0% | +23.1% |
| 1991 | 1.4% | -29.5% |
| 1992 | 0.9% | -33.5% |
| 1993 | 0.3% | -71.2% |
| 1994 | 0.2% | -32.4% |
| 1995 | 0.2% | -15.1% |
| 1996 | 0.3% | +73.0% |
| 1997 | 0.2% | -29.9% |
| 1998 | 0.2% | -11.7% |
| 1999 | 0.1% | -24.0% |
| 2000 | 0.1% | -6.8% |
| 2001 | 0.1% | -10.4% |
| 2002 | 0.1% | +27.0% |
| 2003 | 0.1% | -47.3% |
| 2004 | 0.1% | -19.2% |
| 2005 | 0.1% | +78.6% |
| 2006 | 0.1% | +2.2% |
| 2007 | 0.1% | -17.3% |
| 2008 | 0.1% | +21.5% |
| 2009 | 0.1% | -14.7% |
| 2010 | 0.1% | +50.2% |
| 2011 | 0.3% | +154.7% |
| 2012 | 0.3% | -16.2% |
| 2013 | 0.3% | +21.0% |
| 2014 | 0.5% | +57.1% |
| 2015 | 0.9% | +66.6% |
| 2016 | 0.6% | -29.5% |
| 2017 | 0.9% | +35.0% |
| 2018 | 1.5% | +77.9% |
| 2019 | 1.8% | +19.7% |
| 2020 | 1.2% | -33.4% |
| 2021 | 0.0% | -100.0% |
| 2022 | 1.5% | — |
| 2023 | 1.2% | -17.3% |
| 2024 | 1.5% | +22.0% |
Portugal compared with similar countries
- Portugal's 1.5% is above the median for high income countries, which is 0.0%, 81.4× the median. (68 countries reporting)
- Portugal's 1.5% is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 0.1%, 12.4× the median. (50 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 2.8% | 1.6% | 3.9% | 2 |
| 1990s | 0.6% | 0.1% | 2.0% | 10 |
| 2000s | 0.1% | 0.1% | 0.1% | 10 |
| 2010s | 0.7% | 0.1% | 1.8% | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.1% | 0.0% | 1.5% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Portugal
More environment data for Portugal
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly -0.6043 Percentage change (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly -0.5127 Percentage change (2025)
- Standard Deviation, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Standard Deviation 0.44 °C (2025)
- Temperature change 2.15 °C (2025)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual -3.29 % 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 0.1607 % 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 Portugal?
- Share of global plastic waste imports in Portugal was 1.5% 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 Portugal?
- The highest recorded value was 3.9% in 1988.
- What is the lowest share of global plastic waste imports recorded in Portugal?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.0% in 2021.
- How does Portugal rank for share of global plastic waste imports?
- Portugal ranks 18th out of 183 countries with data for 2024.
- Is share of global plastic waste imports rising or falling in Portugal?
- Over the last ten years it is up 181.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Portugal 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.