Share of global plastic waste imports in Russia
Russia: Share of global plastic waste imports was 0.7% in 2021. ◆ Volatile
Share of global plastic waste imports in Russia, 1996–2021
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 Russia is 0.7%, measured in 2021.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 819.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of global plastic waste imports in Russia peaked at 0.8% in 2019 and was at its lowest, 0.0%, in 1998.
Russia ranks 23rd 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.
Share of global plastic waste imports in Russia, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1996 | 0.0% | — |
| 1997 | 0.0% | -58.1% |
| 1998 | 0.0% | -64.9% |
| 1999 | 0.0% | +167.4% |
| 2000 | 0.0% | +151.0% |
| 2001 | 0.0% | +20.5% |
| 2002 | 0.0% | +14.3% |
| 2003 | 0.0% | +88.0% |
| 2004 | 0.0% | +31.4% |
| 2005 | 0.0% | +51.9% |
| 2006 | 0.0% | +3.9% |
| 2007 | 0.0% | -8.4% |
| 2008 | 0.1% | +36.1% |
| 2009 | 0.0% | -40.4% |
| 2010 | 0.1% | +106.5% |
| 2011 | 0.1% | -1.6% |
| 2012 | 0.1% | -5.8% |
| 2013 | 0.1% | +42.2% |
| 2014 | 0.1% | -7.6% |
| 2015 | 0.1% | +47.7% |
| 2016 | 0.1% | -7.0% |
| 2017 | 0.1% | +4.7% |
| 2018 | 0.3% | +154.4% |
| 2019 | 0.8% | +154.4% |
| 2020 | 0.7% | -20.2% |
| 2021 | 0.7% | +0.0% |
Russia compared with similar countries
- Russia's 0.7% is above the median for high income countries, which is 0.0%, 36.2× the median. (68 countries reporting)
- Russia's 0.7% is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 0.1%, 5.5× the median. (50 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 4 |
| 2000s | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.1% | 10 |
| 2010s | 0.2% | 0.1% | 0.8% | 10 |
| 2020s | 0.7% | 0.7% | 0.7% | 2 |
Countries ranked near Russia
More environment data for Russia
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly -1.76 Percentage change (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly -3.18 Percentage change (2025)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual 2.5 % 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 -1.96 % 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 0.5219 % change on previous year (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Building (Energy) (Mt CO2e), per unit of 0 Mt CO2e per US$ of GDP (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of global plastic waste imports in Russia?
- Share of global plastic waste imports in Russia was 0.7% in 2021, 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 Russia?
- The highest recorded value was 0.8% in 2019.
- What is the lowest share of global plastic waste imports recorded in Russia?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.0% in 1998.
- How does Russia rank for share of global plastic waste imports?
- Russia ranks 23rd out of 183 countries with data for 2021.
- Is share of global plastic waste imports rising or falling in Russia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 819.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Russia 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.