Share of global plastic waste imports in United States
United States: Share of global plastic waste imports was 0.0% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Share of global plastic waste imports in United States, 1991–2024
Source: United Nations Comtrade Database (2025); United Nations Comtrade Database (2023) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
United States recorded 0.0% for share of global plastic waste imports in 2024. That is the lowest value across all 34 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 100.0% on the previous year and down 100.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of global plastic waste imports in United States peaked at 33.6% in 1991 and was at its lowest, 0.0%, in 2019.
That places United States 168th out of 183 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the bottom 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 | 11.5% | 7.0% | 33.6% | 9 |
| 2000s | 5.0% | 2.3% | 7.6% | 10 |
| 2010s | 2.7% | 0.0% | 6.1% | 10 |
| 2020s | 5.1% | 0.0% | 9.7% | 5 |
Countries ranked near United States
- 165 Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 0.0% compare
- 166 Greenland 0.0% compare
- 167 Sao Tome and Principe 0.0% compare
- 168 Brazil 0.0% compare
- 168 Bulgaria 0.0% compare
- 168 Ghana 0.0% compare
- 168 Greece 0.0% compare
- 168 Hungary 0.0% compare
- 168 Malawi 0.0% compare
- 168 Poland 0.0% compare
- 168 Senegal 0.0% compare
- 168 Slovakia 0.0% compare
- 168 South Korea 0.0% compare
- 168 Spain 0.0% compare
- 168 Switzerland 0.0% compare
- 168 United Kingdom 0.0% compare
- 168 Uzbekistan 0.0% compare
More environment data for United States
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF 5,913 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF per capita 17.39 t CO2e/capita (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Agriculture 257.35 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Building (Energy) 9.47 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Fugitive Emissions (Energy) 418.87 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Industrial Combustion (Energy) 1.54 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions (total) excluding LULUCF 843.36 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Power Industry (Energy) 2 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Transport (Energy) 3.59 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Waste 149.52 Mt CO2e (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of global plastic waste imports in United States?
- Share of global plastic waste imports in United States was 0.0% 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 United States?
- The highest recorded value was 33.6% in 1991.
- What is the lowest share of global plastic waste imports recorded in United States?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.0% in 2019.
- How does United States rank for share of global plastic waste imports?
- United States ranks 168th out of 183 countries with data for 2024.
- Is share of global plastic waste imports rising or falling in United States?
- Over the last ten years it is down 100.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this United States 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.