Manufactures exports (% of merchandise exports) in Least developed countries
Least developed countries: Manufactures exports (% of merchandise exports) was 19.9% in 2023. ▼ Falling
Manufactures exports in Least developed countries, 1978–2023
Source: Comtrade database, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Statistics Division. Measured in % of merchandise exports.
Analysis
Least developed countries recorded 19.9% for manufactures exports in 2023.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 3.5% on the previous year and down 45.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, manufactures exports in Least developed countries peaked at 40.5% in 2018 and was at its lowest, 18.9%, in 2014.
That places Least developed countries 38th out of 46 groups with data for 2023, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 18 years of available data.
Manufactures exports (% of merchandise exports) in Least developed countries, year by year
| Year | % of merchandise exports | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1978 | 24.9% | — |
| 2007 | 37.2% | +49.2% |
| 2008 | 38.8% | +4.4% |
| 2009 | 40.1% | +3.3% |
| 2010 | 36.5% | -9.1% |
| 2011 | 36.7% | +0.6% |
| 2012 | 35.9% | -2.2% |
| 2013 | 36.5% | +1.9% |
| 2014 | 18.9% | -48.2% |
| 2015 | 37.4% | +97.3% |
| 2016 | 38.1% | +1.9% |
| 2017 | 38.2% | +0.3% |
| 2018 | 40.5% | +5.9% |
| 2019 | 21.2% | -47.7% |
| 2020 | 19.3% | -9.0% |
| 2021 | 20.5% | +6.5% |
| 2022 | 20.6% | +0.6% |
| 2023 | 19.9% | -3.5% |
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Manufactures exports (% of merchandise exports) in Least developed countries changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | +97.3% | 18.9% | 37.4% |
| 2007 | +49.2% | 24.9% | 37.2% |
| 2014 | -48.2% | 36.5% | 18.9% |
| 2019 | -47.7% | 40.5% | 21.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 24.9% | 24.9% | 24.9% | 1 |
| 2000s | 38.7% | 37.2% | 40.1% | 3 |
| 2010s | 34.0% | 18.9% | 40.5% | 10 |
| 2020s | 20.1% | 19.3% | 20.6% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Least developed countries
More private sector data for Least developed countries
- Merchandise trade 41.4% (2025)
- Food imports 15.6% (2019)
- Manufactures imports 62.6% (2019)
- Merchandise imports 376.94 billion current US$ (2025)
- Commercial service imports 83.48 billion current US$ (2024)
- Food exports 15.7% (2023)
- Merchandise exports 311.48 billion current US$ (2025)
- Commercial service exports 54.31 billion current US$ (2024)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), per capita 256.54 current US$ per person (2025)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), per unit of GDP 0.1884 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is manufactures exports in Least developed countries?
- Manufactures exports in Least developed countries was 19.9% in 2023, according to Comtrade database, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Statistics Division.
- What is the highest manufactures exports recorded in Least developed countries?
- The highest recorded value was 40.5% in 2018.
- What is the lowest manufactures exports recorded in Least developed countries?
- The lowest recorded value was 18.9% in 2014.
- How does Least developed countries rank for manufactures exports?
- Least developed countries ranks 38th out of 46 groups with data for 2023.
- Is manufactures exports rising or falling in Least developed countries?
- Over the last ten years it is down 45.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Least developed countries data come from?
- The figures come from Comtrade database, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Statistics Division, published as part of Manufactures exports (% of merchandise exports). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Manufactures comprise commodities in SITC (Rev. 3) sections 5 (chemicals), 6 (basic manufactures), 7 (machinery and transport equipment), and 8 (miscellaneous manufactured goods), excluding division 68 (non-ferrous metals). This indicator is expressed as a percentage of merchandise exports which is comprised of goods whose economic ownership is changed between a resident and 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.