Low & middle income vs South Africa: Merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies outside

Low & middle income
22.9%
in 2023
South Africa
38.6%
in 2023
Low & middle income rank
31st
South Africa rank
33rd

Merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies outside over time

  • Low & middle income
  • South Africa
10203040196019912023

How they compare

South Africa currently reports 38.6% against 22.9% in Low & middle income, a difference of 15.7%.

That makes South Africa's figure about 1.7 times Low & middle income's.

Across all 26 years both countries report, South Africa has been ahead every year.

Low & middle income ranks 31st and South Africa ranks 33rd of 47 groups.

South Africa has averaged higher in every one of the 4 decades both report.

Head to head by decade

Decade Low & middle income South Africa Difference Ahead
1990s 8.1% 14.5% 6.4% South Africa
2000s 13.9% 23.2% 9.3% South Africa
2010s 21.3% 32.5% 11.2% South Africa
2020s 22.4% 38.4% 16.0% South Africa

Averages of every year both report within each decade.

Frequently asked questions

Which has higher merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies outside, Low & middle income or South Africa?
South Africa, at 38.6% against 22.9% in Low & middle income as of 2023.
What is the difference in merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies outside between Low & middle income and South Africa?
15.7%, with South Africa ahead.
How many years of comparable data are there for Low & middle income and South Africa?
26 years are reported by both, from 1998 to 2023.
How do Low & middle income and South Africa rank globally for merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies outside?
Low & middle income ranks 31st and South Africa ranks 33rd of 47 groups.
Where does this data come from?
Staff estimates, World Bank (WB), published as Merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies outside region (% of total merchandise imports). Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.

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Low & middle income vs South Africa: Merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies outside. Statizoid, drawing on Staff estimates, World Bank (WB). Retrieved 19 September 2026, from https://private-sector.statizoid.com/compare/merchandise-imports-from-low-and-middle-income-economies-outside-region-percent-of-total/low-and-middle-income/south-africa/

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About this data

Indicator
Merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies outside region (% of total merchandise imports)
Unit
% of total merchandise imports
Source
Staff estimates, World Bank (WB)
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
253 places, 13,303 data points, 1960–2023
Last refreshed

Merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies outside region are the sum of merchandise imports by the reporting economy from other low- and middle-income economies in other World Bank regions according to the World Bank classification of economies. Data are expressed as a percentage of total merchandise imports by the economy. Data are computed only if at least half of the economies in the partner country group had non-missing data.