Share of global plastic waste imports in Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia: Share of global plastic waste imports was 0.5% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Share of global plastic waste imports in Saudi Arabia, 1991–2024
Source: United Nations Comtrade Database (2025); United Nations Comtrade Database (2023) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2024, share of global plastic waste imports in Saudi Arabia stood at 0.5%.
The figure is down 9.1% on the previous year and up 911.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of global plastic waste imports in Saudi Arabia peaked at 1.2% in 1991 and was at its lowest, 0.0%, in 2006.
Saudi Arabia ranks 26th 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.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 0.4% | 0.1% | 1.2% | 8 |
| 2000s | 0.1% | 0.0% | 0.1% | 10 |
| 2010s | 0.2% | 0.1% | 0.5% | 10 |
| 2020s | 0.5% | 0.3% | 0.6% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Saudi Arabia
More environment data for Saudi Arabia
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF 838.88 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF per capita 23.76 t CO2e/capita (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Agriculture 8.68 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Building (Energy) 0.0153 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Fugitive Emissions (Energy) 69.55 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Industrial Combustion (Energy) 0.0811 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions (total) excluding LULUCF 113.12 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Power Industry (Energy) 0.3635 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Transport (Energy) 0.3983 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Waste 33.24 Mt CO2e (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of global plastic waste imports in Saudi Arabia?
- Share of global plastic waste imports in Saudi Arabia was 0.5% 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 Saudi Arabia?
- The highest recorded value was 1.2% in 1991.
- What is the lowest share of global plastic waste imports recorded in Saudi Arabia?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.0% in 2006.
- How does Saudi Arabia rank for share of global plastic waste imports?
- Saudi Arabia ranks 26th out of 183 countries with data for 2024.
- Is share of global plastic waste imports rising or falling in Saudi Arabia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 911.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Saudi Arabia 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.