Least developed countries vs Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries): Merchandise exports

Least developed countries
311.48 billion current US$
in 2025
Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries)
486.80 billion current US$
in 2025
Least developed countries rank
36th
Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries) rank
29th

Merchandise exports over time

  • Least developed countries
  • Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries)
0100.0B200.0B300.0B400.0B500.0B196019922025

How they compare

Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries) currently reports 486.80 billion current US$ against 311.48 billion current US$ in Least developed countries, a difference of 175.32 billion current US$.

That makes Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries)'s figure about 1.6 times Least developed countries's.

Across all 66 years both countries report, Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries) has been ahead every year.

Least developed countries ranks 36th and Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries) ranks 29th of 45 groups.

Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries) has averaged higher in every one of the 7 decades both report.

Head to head by decade

Decade Least developed countries Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries) Difference Ahead
1960s 3.46 billion current US$ 7.72 billion current US$ 4.25 billion current US$ Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries)
1970s 7.98 billion current US$ 29.01 billion current US$ 21.03 billion current US$ Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries)
1980s 13.62 billion current US$ 56.21 billion current US$ 42.58 billion current US$ Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries)
1990s 22.05 billion current US$ 73.41 billion current US$ 51.36 billion current US$ Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries)
2000s 77.30 billion current US$ 190.36 billion current US$ 113.06 billion current US$ Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries)
2010s 180.39 billion current US$ 368.93 billion current US$ 188.54 billion current US$ Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries)
2020s 257.65 billion current US$ 413.55 billion current US$ 155.90 billion current US$ Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries)

Averages of every year both report within each decade.

Frequently asked questions

Which has higher merchandise exports, Least developed countries or Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries)?
Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries), at 486.80 billion current US$ against 311.48 billion current US$ in Least developed countries as of 2025.
What is the difference in merchandise exports between Least developed countries and Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries)?
175.32 billion current US$, with Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries) ahead.
How many years of comparable data are there for Least developed countries and Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries)?
66 years are reported by both, from 1960 to 2025.
How do Least developed countries and Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries) rank globally for merchandise exports?
Least developed countries ranks 36th and Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries) ranks 29th of 45 groups.
Where does this data come from?
World Trade Organization (WTO), published as Merchandise exports (current US$). Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.

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Least developed countries vs Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries): Merchandise exports. Statizoid, drawing on World Trade Organization (WTO). Retrieved 29 August 2026, from https://private-sector.statizoid.com/compare/merchandise-exports-current-us/least-developed-countries-un-classification/sub-saharan-africa-ida-and-ibrd-countries/

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About this data

Indicator
Merchandise exports (current US$)
Unit
current US$
Source
World Trade Organization (WTO)
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
253 places, 14,893 data points, 1960–2025
Last refreshed

Merchandise exports includes goods whose economic ownership is changed from a resident to a non-resident and that are not included in the following specific categories: goods under merchanting, non-monetary gold, and parts of travel, construction, and government goods and services n.i.e. This indicator is expressed in current prices, meaning no adjustment has been made to account for price changes over time. This indicator is expressed in United States dollars.