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

Middle income
22.6%
in 2023
South Africa
38.6%
in 2023
Middle income rank
32nd
South Africa rank
33rd

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

  • Middle income
  • South Africa
10203040196019912023

How they compare

South Africa currently reports 38.6% against 22.6% in Middle income, a difference of 16.0%.

That makes South Africa's figure about 1.7 times Middle income's.

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

Middle income ranks 32nd 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 Middle income South Africa Difference Ahead
1990s 7.9% 14.5% 6.6% South Africa
2000s 13.4% 23.2% 9.8% South Africa
2010s 21.0% 32.5% 11.5% South Africa
2020s 22.1% 38.4% 16.3% 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, Middle income or South Africa?
South Africa, at 38.6% against 22.6% in Middle income as of 2023.
What is the difference in merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies outside between Middle income and South Africa?
16.0%, with South Africa ahead.
How many years of comparable data are there for Middle income and South Africa?
26 years are reported by both, from 1998 to 2023.
How do Middle income and South Africa rank globally for merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies outside?
Middle income ranks 32nd 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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Middle income vs South Africa: Merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies outside. Statizoid, drawing on Staff estimates, World Bank (WB). Retrieved 18 September 2026, from https://private-sector.statizoid.com/compare/merchandise-imports-from-low-and-middle-income-economies-outside-region-percent-of-total/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.