Commercial service imports in Nigeria
Nigeria: Commercial service imports was 18.94 billion current US$ in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Commercial service imports in Nigeria, 1977–2025
Source: Balance of Payments Statistics Yearbook and data files, International Monetary Fund (IMF). Measured in current US$.
Analysis
The most recent figure for commercial service imports in Nigeria is 18.94 billion current US$, measured in 2025.
That represents a change of up 9.5% on the previous year and up 3.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, commercial service imports in Nigeria peaked at 38.45 billion current US$ in 2019 and was at its lowest, 804.06 million current US$, in 1988.
That places Nigeria 53rd out of 200 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Commercial service imports in Nigeria, year by year
| Year | current US$ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1977 | 3.18 billion current US$ | — |
| 1978 | 2.97 billion current US$ | -6.6% |
| 1979 | 3.43 billion current US$ | +15.7% |
| 1980 | 5.29 billion current US$ | +53.9% |
| 1981 | 4.68 billion current US$ | -11.4% |
| 1982 | 3.20 billion current US$ | -31.6% |
| 1983 | 2.21 billion current US$ | -31.0% |
| 1984 | 1.52 billion current US$ | -31.3% |
| 1985 | 1.61 billion current US$ | +5.8% |
| 1986 | 1.07 billion current US$ | -33.7% |
| 1987 | 871.75 million current US$ | -18.3% |
| 1988 | 804.06 million current US$ | -7.8% |
| 1989 | 1.32 billion current US$ | +64.8% |
| 1990 | 1.90 billion current US$ | +43.5% |
| 1991 | 2.39 billion current US$ | +25.5% |
| 1992 | 1.74 billion current US$ | -27.2% |
| 1993 | 2.68 billion current US$ | +54.2% |
| 1994 | 2.98 billion current US$ | +11.2% |
| 1995 | 1.37 billion current US$ | -54.1% |
| 1996 | 1.42 billion current US$ | +4.0% |
| 1997 | 1.43 billion current US$ | +0.6% |
| 1998 | 1.16 billion current US$ | -19.3% |
| 1999 | 3.31 billion current US$ | +186.7% |
| 2000 | 3.14 billion current US$ | -5.1% |
| 2001 | 4.42 billion current US$ | +40.6% |
| 2002 | 4.69 billion current US$ | +6.1% |
| 2003 | 5.71 billion current US$ | +21.9% |
| 2004 | 5.97 billion current US$ | +4.5% |
| 2005 | 6.38 billion current US$ | +6.9% |
| 2006 | 12.11 billion current US$ | +89.8% |
| 2007 | 15.56 billion current US$ | +28.4% |
| 2008 | 22.57 billion current US$ | +45.1% |
| 2009 | 16.49 billion current US$ | -26.9% |
| 2010 | 19.87 billion current US$ | +20.5% |
| 2011 | 22.47 billion current US$ | +13.1% |
| 2012 | 22.41 billion current US$ | -0.3% |
| 2013 | 20.08 billion current US$ | -10.4% |
| 2014 | 23.25 billion current US$ | +15.8% |
| 2015 | 18.29 billion current US$ | -21.3% |
| 2016 | 11.34 billion current US$ | -38.0% |
| 2017 | 18.00 billion current US$ | +58.7% |
| 2018 | 30.63 billion current US$ | +70.1% |
| 2019 | 38.45 billion current US$ | +25.6% |
| 2020 | 19.60 billion current US$ | -49.0% |
| 2021 | 15.79 billion current US$ | -19.4% |
| 2022 | 18.50 billion current US$ | +17.1% |
| 2023 | 17.25 billion current US$ | -6.7% |
| 2024 | 17.29 billion current US$ | +0.2% |
| 2025 | 18.94 billion current US$ | +9.5% |
Nigeria compared with similar countries
- Nigeria's 18.94 billion current US$ is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 2.37 billion current US$, 8.0× the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Nigeria's 18.94 billion current US$ is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 1.39 billion current US$, 13.7× the median. (47 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 3.19 billion current US$ | 2.97 billion current US$ | 3.43 billion current US$ | 3 |
| 1980s | 2.26 billion current US$ | 804.06 million current US$ | 5.29 billion current US$ | 10 |
| 1990s | 2.04 billion current US$ | 1.16 billion current US$ | 3.31 billion current US$ | 10 |
| 2000s | 9.71 billion current US$ | 3.14 billion current US$ | 22.57 billion current US$ | 10 |
| 2010s | 22.48 billion current US$ | 11.34 billion current US$ | 38.45 billion current US$ | 10 |
| 2020s | 17.90 billion current US$ | 15.79 billion current US$ | 19.60 billion current US$ | 6 |
Countries ranked near Nigeria
More private sector data for Nigeria
- Merchandise trade 33.3% (2025)
- Food imports 11.0% (2024)
- Manufactures imports 46.0% (2024)
- Merchandise imports 41.45 billion current US$ (2025)
- Food exports 6.0% (2024)
- Manufactures exports 3.5% (2024)
- Merchandise exports 55.47 billion current US$ (2025)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), per capita 233.52 current US$ per person (2025)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), per unit of GDP 0.1907 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), annual growth rate 4.03 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is commercial service imports in Nigeria?
- Commercial service imports in Nigeria was 18.94 billion current US$ in 2025, according to Balance of Payments Statistics Yearbook and data files, International Monetary Fund (IMF).
- What is the highest commercial service imports recorded in Nigeria?
- The highest recorded value was 38.45 billion current US$ in 2019.
- What is the lowest commercial service imports recorded in Nigeria?
- The lowest recorded value was 804.06 million current US$ in 1988.
- How does Nigeria rank for commercial service imports?
- Nigeria ranks 53rd out of 200 countries with data for 2025.
- Is commercial service imports rising or falling in Nigeria?
- Over the last ten years it is up 3.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Nigeria data come from?
- The figures come from Balance of Payments Statistics Yearbook and data files, International Monetary Fund (IMF), published as part of Commercial service imports (current US$). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Commercial service imports are total service imports minus imports of government services not included elsewhere. Imports of services are services provided by non-residents to residents. 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.