Countries ranked by total plastic waste generated annually in 2024, measured in millions of metric tons according to OECD Global Plastics Outlook data. The United States generates the most plastic waste of any country in absolute terms — ap...
About: Countries by Plastic Waste Generation 2024
Overview of the data behind this chart
Countries ranked by total plastic waste generated annually in 2024, measured in millions of metric tons according to OECD Global Plastics Outlook data. The United States generates the most plastic waste of any country in absolute terms — approximately 42 million metric tons per year — while simultaneously having some of the lowest recycling rates among wealthy nations, with the majority of American plastic waste ending up in landfill or incineration rather than being recycled.
Key Findings
Auto-computed highlights from this dataset
🏆
United States leads with 42 in 2024.
📊
Average value in 2024: 13 · median: 7.
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Gap in 2024: United States is 11.1× larger than United Kingdom.
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Countries by Plastic Waste Generation 2024
Data Insights
Numbers, trends & sources behind this chart⬡
Data Points
8
8 categories
·
1 year
↑
Top Value
42
United States
Plastic Waste Generated (Million Metric Tons) · 2024
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Metrics
1
Plastic Waste Generated (Million Metric Tons)
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Period
2024
Single year snapshot
Category Rankings
Ranked by 2024 value · vs. 2024| # | Category | 2024 | 2024 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 🥇 | United States | 42 | 42 | +0% |
| 🥈 | China | 22 | 22 | +0% |
| 🥉 | India | 9 | 9 | +0% |
| 4 | Brazil | 8 | 8 | +0% |
| 5 | Germany | 7 | 7 | +0% |
| 6 | Japan | 5 | 5 | +0% |
| 7 | France | 5 | 5 | +0% |
| 8 | United Kingdom | 4 | 4 | +0% |
Statistical Summary — 2024
42
Maximum
4
Minimum
13
Average
7
Median
What This Data Shows
Auto-generated trend summaries per category
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Full Data Table
8 records across 1 yearData Sources & References
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