China generated the most single-use plastic waste in 2019, at 25.4 million metric tons. This was followed by the United States, where an estimated 17.2 million metric tons of single-use plastic waste was generated. While Australia's net single-use plastic waste generation in 2019 was considerably lower at 1.5 million metric tons of single-use plastic waste, it had one of the highest rates of single-use plastic waste generation per capita, at 59 kilograms per person.
Largest single-use plastic waste generating countries worldwide in 2019
(in million metric tons)
Profit from the additional features of your individual account
Currently, you are using a shared account. To use individual functions (e.g., mark statistics as favourites, set
statistic alerts) please log in with your personal account.
If you are an admin, please authenticate by logging in again.
Learn more about how Statista can support your business.
Minderoo Foundation. (May 18, 2021). Largest single-use plastic waste generating countries worldwide in 2019 (in million metric tons) [Graph]. In Statista. Retrieved October 12, 2024, from https://www.statista.com/statistics/1236969/single-use-plastic-waste-generation-worldwide-by-country/
Minderoo Foundation. "Largest single-use plastic waste generating countries worldwide in 2019 (in million metric tons)." Chart. May 18, 2021. Statista. Accessed October 12, 2024. https://www.statista.com/statistics/1236969/single-use-plastic-waste-generation-worldwide-by-country/
Minderoo Foundation. (2021). Largest single-use plastic waste generating countries worldwide in 2019 (in million metric tons). Statista. Statista Inc.. Accessed: October 12, 2024. https://www.statista.com/statistics/1236969/single-use-plastic-waste-generation-worldwide-by-country/
Minderoo Foundation. "Largest Single-use Plastic Waste Generating Countries Worldwide in 2019 (in Million Metric Tons)." Statista, Statista Inc., 18 May 2021, https://www.statista.com/statistics/1236969/single-use-plastic-waste-generation-worldwide-by-country/
Minderoo Foundation, Largest single-use plastic waste generating countries worldwide in 2019 (in million metric tons) Statista, https://www.statista.com/statistics/1236969/single-use-plastic-waste-generation-worldwide-by-country/ (last visited October 12, 2024)
Largest single-use plastic waste generating countries worldwide in 2019 (in million metric tons) [Graph], Minderoo Foundation, May 18, 2021. [Online]. Available: https://www.statista.com/statistics/1236969/single-use-plastic-waste-generation-worldwide-by-country/