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

South Africa
38.6%
in 2023
Upper middle income
19.7%
in 2023
South Africa rank
33rd
Upper middle income rank
36th

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

  • South Africa
  • Upper middle income
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How they compare

South Africa currently reports 38.6% against 19.7% in Upper middle income, a difference of 18.9%.

That makes South Africa's figure about 2.0 times Upper middle income's.

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

South Africa ranks 33rd and Upper middle income ranks 36th of 206 countries.

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

Head to head by decade

Decade South Africa Upper middle income Difference Ahead
1990s 14.5% 6.2% 8.4% South Africa
2000s 23.2% 11.5% 11.7% South Africa
2010s 32.5% 17.9% 14.6% South Africa
2020s 38.4% 18.8% 19.5% 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, South Africa or Upper middle income?
South Africa, at 38.6% against 19.7% in Upper middle income as of 2023.
What is the difference in merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies outside between South Africa and Upper middle income?
18.9%, with South Africa ahead.
How many years of comparable data are there for South Africa and Upper middle income?
26 years are reported by both, from 1998 to 2023.
How do South Africa and Upper middle income rank globally for merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies outside?
South Africa ranks 33rd and Upper middle income ranks 36th of 206 countries.
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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South Africa vs Upper middle income: 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/south-africa/upper-middle-income/

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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.