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.
Share of global plastic waste imports in Saudi Arabia, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 1.2% | — |
| 1992 | 0.5% | -58.4% |
| 1993 | 0.4% | -24.4% |
| 1994 | 0.2% | -36.4% |
| 1995 | 0.3% | +19.5% |
| 1996 | 0.2% | -25.8% |
| 1998 | 0.1% | -61.9% |
| 1999 | 0.1% | -5.3% |
| 2000 | 0.1% | +27.4% |
| 2001 | 0.1% | -18.1% |
| 2002 | 0.1% | -13.2% |
| 2003 | 0.1% | +75.6% |
| 2004 | 0.1% | -55.0% |
| 2005 | 0.1% | +65.2% |
| 2006 | 0.0% | -80.4% |
| 2007 | 0.0% | +123.0% |
| 2008 | 0.0% | -1.4% |
| 2009 | 0.1% | +47.7% |
| 2010 | 0.1% | +24.2% |
| 2011 | 0.1% | +46.5% |
| 2012 | 0.1% | +4.8% |
| 2013 | 0.1% | +4.0% |
| 2014 | 0.1% | -50.7% |
| 2015 | 0.1% | +159.5% |
| 2016 | 0.1% | -11.0% |
| 2017 | 0.2% | +28.9% |
| 2018 | 0.3% | +93.0% |
| 2019 | 0.5% | +63.2% |
| 2020 | 0.5% | -0.8% |
| 2021 | 0.3% | -42.0% |
| 2023 | 0.6% | +106.1% |
| 2024 | 0.5% | -9.1% |
Saudi Arabia compared with similar countries
- Saudi Arabia's 0.5% is above the median for high income countries, which is 0.0%, 29.3× the median. (68 countries reporting)
- Saudi Arabia's 0.5% is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 0.0%, 11.9× the median. (19 countries reporting)
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
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly -52.52 Percentage change (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly -27.86 Percentage change (2025)
- Standard Deviation, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Standard Deviation 0.424 °C (2025)
- Temperature change 1.58 °C (2025)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual 2.53 % 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 9.62 % 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 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
Percentage of global plastic waste imports that a country accounts for.