Global plastics use amounted to 460 million metric tons in 2019. China accounted for the largest share of global plastics use in 2019, at just over 20 percent. The United States followed closely that year with a share of 18 percent of global plastics use.
Distribution of plastics use worldwide in 2019, by region
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Other statistics that may interest you Plastic waste in the U.S.
Overview
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- Premium Statistic Global plastic production 1950-2021
- Premium Statistic Global plastic use shares 2019, by region
- Premium Statistic Mismanaged plastic waste shares worldwide 2019, by region
- Premium Statistic Plastics consumption in the United States 1980-2019
- Basic Statistic Breakdown of municipal waste materials generated in the U.S. 2018, by type
Trade
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- Premium Statistic Scrap plastic exports from the U.S. 2015-2022
- Premium Statistic Share of scrap plastic waste exported by the U.S. 2022, by destination
- Premium Statistic Plastic waste exports from the U.S. 2022, by destination
- Premium Statistic Quarterly plastic waste exports from the United States 2018-2023
- Premium Statistic Quarterly plastic waste imports in the United States 2019-2023
- Premium Statistic Plastic scrap exports in the United States 2023, by destination
Generation
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- Basic Statistic Plastic municipal solid waste generated in the United States 1960-2018
- Basic Statistic Volume of plastic MSW generated in the U.S. 2018, by type
- Premium Statistic U.S. municipal solid waste: plastics generation by category 2018
- Premium Statistic Plastic containers and packaging waste generated in the U.S. 1960-2018
- Premium Statistic Plastic packaging MSW generation in the U.S. 1960-2018, by product
Waste management
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- Premium Statistic Share of plastic waste management in the U.S. 2018-2021, by method and scenario
- Premium Statistic Plastic waste managed in the U.S. 2018-2021, by method and scenario
- Premium Statistic Plastic containers and packaging waste landfilled in the U.S. 1960-2018
- Premium Statistic Plastic bottle recycling rates in the U.S. 2019-2020, by material type
- Premium Statistic Share of recycled-non bottle rigid plastic in the U.S. 2020, by source
- Premium Statistic Household plastic waste recycling habits in the United States 2020-2022
Pollution
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- Premium Statistic Coastal mismanaged plastic waste generation worldwide 2016, by select country
- Premium Statistic Number of waste items found along beaches in the U.S. 2022, by type
- Premium Statistic Waste items found along beaches in the U.S. 2022, by type and state
- Premium Statistic Concerns about negative impacts of plastic waste in the U.S. 2020-2022, by issue
- Premium Statistic Plastics and plastic waste opinions in the U.S. 2020-2022, by statement
Outlook
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- Premium Statistic Global plastic waste generation projections 2019-2060, by disposal method
- Premium Statistic Projected plastics use in the United States 2019-2060
- Premium Statistic Projected plastic waste generation in the United States 2019-2060
- Premium Statistic Plastic waste generation per capita in the U.S. 2019-2060
Further related statistics
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- Global distribution of plastic consumption 2019, by application
- Global plastic consumption volume by application 2017
- Ethiopia's plastic consumption 2007-2020
- Nigeria's plastic consumption 2007-2020
- Global share of plastic consumption by class 2018
- Plastic consumption share worldwide by end use 2015
- Distribution of global consumption of plastic additives by application 2014
- Single-use plastic items consumption in the United Kingdom 2017-2030
- Consumption of plastic carry bags in Australia FY 2017 by type
- Consumption of plastic in Australia FY 2019, by polymer type
- Consumption of plastics in Australia FY 2019, by application area
- Consumption of plastics in Australia FY 2019, by state
- Global automotive plastics market value 2019 & 2027
- Ethiopia's share of plastic consumption by application 2017
- Global life cycle GHG emissions from fossil-fuel based plastics by stage 2015
- Processed plastics apparent consumption in Brazil 2010-2021
- Per capita consumption of plastic materials worldwide by region 2015
- U.S. injection molded plastics demand forecast by material 2019-2025
- Annual producer price index of plastic goods in the United Kingdom (UK) 2000-2019
Further Content: You might find this interesting as well
Statistics
- Global distribution of plastic consumption 2019, by application
- Global plastic consumption volume by application 2017
- Ethiopia's plastic consumption 2007-2020
- Nigeria's plastic consumption 2007-2020
- Global share of plastic consumption by class 2018
- Plastic consumption share worldwide by end use 2015
- Distribution of global consumption of plastic additives by application 2014
- Single-use plastic items consumption in the United Kingdom 2017-2030
- Consumption of plastic carry bags in Australia FY 2017 by type
- Consumption of plastic in Australia FY 2019, by polymer type
- Consumption of plastics in Australia FY 2019, by application area
- Consumption of plastics in Australia FY 2019, by state
- Global automotive plastics market value 2019 & 2027
- Ethiopia's share of plastic consumption by application 2017
- Global life cycle GHG emissions from fossil-fuel based plastics by stage 2015
- Processed plastics apparent consumption in Brazil 2010-2021
- Per capita consumption of plastic materials worldwide by region 2015
- U.S. injection molded plastics demand forecast by material 2019-2025
- Annual producer price index of plastic goods in the United Kingdom (UK) 2000-2019
OECD. (March 6, 2022). Distribution of plastics use worldwide in 2019, by region [Graph]. In Statista. Retrieved December 02, 2023, from https://www.statista.com/statistics/1002005/distribution-plastic-consumption-worldwide-by-region/
OECD. "Distribution of plastics use worldwide in 2019, by region." Chart. March 6, 2022. Statista. Accessed December 02, 2023. https://www.statista.com/statistics/1002005/distribution-plastic-consumption-worldwide-by-region/
OECD. (2022). Distribution of plastics use worldwide in 2019, by region. Statista. Statista Inc.. Accessed: December 02, 2023. https://www.statista.com/statistics/1002005/distribution-plastic-consumption-worldwide-by-region/
OECD. "Distribution of Plastics Use Worldwide in 2019, by Region." Statista, Statista Inc., 6 Mar 2022, https://www.statista.com/statistics/1002005/distribution-plastic-consumption-worldwide-by-region/
OECD, Distribution of plastics use worldwide in 2019, by region Statista, https://www.statista.com/statistics/1002005/distribution-plastic-consumption-worldwide-by-region/ (last visited December 02, 2023)
Distribution of plastics use worldwide in 2019, by region [Graph], OECD, March 6, 2022. [Online]. Available: https://www.statista.com/statistics/1002005/distribution-plastic-consumption-worldwide-by-region/