Merchandise exports by the reporting economy in Least developed countries
Least developed countries: Merchandise exports by the reporting economy was 249.50 billion current US$ in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2023)
249.50 billion current US$
Change on year
down 5.4%
Rank
37th
of 45 groups
All-time high
263.68 billion current US$
in 2022
All-time low
1.29 billion current US$
in 1960
Years of data
64
1960–2023
Merchandise exports by the reporting economy in Least developed countries, 1960–2023
Source: Staff estimates, World Bank (WB). Measured in current US$.
Analysis
Least developed countries recorded 249.50 billion current US$ for merchandise exports by the reporting economy in 2023.
The figure is down 5.4% on the previous year and up 37.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, merchandise exports by the reporting economy in Least developed countries peaked at 263.68 billion current US$ in 2022 and was at its lowest, 1.29 billion current US$, in 1960.
Least developed countries ranks 37th of 45 groups on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Merchandise exports by the reporting economy in Least developed countries, year by year
| Year | current US$ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 1.29 billion current US$ | — |
| 1961 | 1.35 billion current US$ | +4.8% |
| 1962 | 1.37 billion current US$ | +1.6% |
| 1963 | 1.84 billion current US$ | +33.6% |
| 1964 | 2.39 billion current US$ | +30.2% |
| 1965 | 2.32 billion current US$ | -2.9% |
| 1966 | 2.90 billion current US$ | +24.7% |
| 1967 | 2.84 billion current US$ | -2.1% |
| 1968 | 3.05 billion current US$ | +7.4% |
| 1969 | 3.73 billion current US$ | +22.5% |
| 1970 | 4.01 billion current US$ | +7.4% |
| 1971 | 3.28 billion current US$ | -18.1% |
| 1972 | 4.65 billion current US$ | +41.5% |
| 1973 | 6.03 billion current US$ | +29.8% |
| 1974 | 7.69 billion current US$ | +27.5% |
| 1975 | 4.94 billion current US$ | -35.8% |
| 1976 | 5.99 billion current US$ | +21.2% |
| 1977 | 6.97 billion current US$ | +16.4% |
| 1978 | 6.07 billion current US$ | -12.9% |
| 1979 | 7.34 billion current US$ | +21.0% |
| 1980 | 7.73 billion current US$ | +5.3% |
| 1981 | 9.06 billion current US$ | +17.1% |
| 1982 | 8.87 billion current US$ | -2.1% |
| 1983 | 9.13 billion current US$ | +3.0% |
| 1984 | 9.66 billion current US$ | +5.7% |
| 1985 | 9.07 billion current US$ | -6.1% |
| 1986 | 9.01 billion current US$ | -0.7% |
| 1987 | 9.98 billion current US$ | +10.7% |
| 1988 | 10.76 billion current US$ | +7.9% |
| 1989 | 11.09 billion current US$ | +3.1% |
| 1990 | 15.98 billion current US$ | +44.1% |
| 1991 | 13.28 billion current US$ | -16.9% |
| 1992 | 14.02 billion current US$ | +5.6% |
| 1993 | 14.36 billion current US$ | +2.4% |
| 1994 | 15.08 billion current US$ | +5.1% |
| 1995 | 18.91 billion current US$ | +25.3% |
| 1996 | 21.29 billion current US$ | +12.6% |
| 1997 | 22.78 billion current US$ | +7.0% |
| 1998 | 21.87 billion current US$ | -4.0% |
| 1999 | 22.87 billion current US$ | +4.5% |
| 2000 | 49.19 billion current US$ | +115.1% |
| 2001 | 48.51 billion current US$ | -1.4% |
| 2002 | 48.54 billion current US$ | +0.1% |
| 2003 | 51.64 billion current US$ | +6.4% |
| 2004 | 54.26 billion current US$ | +5.1% |
| 2005 | 73.07 billion current US$ | +34.7% |
| 2006 | 88.63 billion current US$ | +21.3% |
| 2007 | 108.41 billion current US$ | +22.3% |
| 2008 | 142.46 billion current US$ | +31.4% |
| 2009 | 113.02 billion current US$ | -20.7% |
| 2010 | 145.39 billion current US$ | +28.6% |
| 2011 | 178.21 billion current US$ | +22.6% |
| 2012 | 175.70 billion current US$ | -1.4% |
| 2013 | 181.86 billion current US$ | +3.5% |
| 2014 | 174.38 billion current US$ | -4.1% |
| 2015 | 141.99 billion current US$ | -18.6% |
| 2016 | 138.69 billion current US$ | -2.3% |
| 2017 | 154.39 billion current US$ | +11.3% |
| 2018 | 180.51 billion current US$ | +16.9% |
| 2019 | 186.33 billion current US$ | +3.2% |
| 2020 | 178.18 billion current US$ | -4.4% |
| 2021 | 221.69 billion current US$ | +24.4% |
| 2022 | 263.68 billion current US$ | +18.9% |
| 2023 | 249.50 billion current US$ | -5.4% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 2.31 billion current US$ | 1.29 billion current US$ | 3.73 billion current US$ | 10 |
| 1970s | 5.70 billion current US$ | 3.28 billion current US$ | 7.69 billion current US$ | 10 |
| 1980s | 9.44 billion current US$ | 7.73 billion current US$ | 11.09 billion current US$ | 10 |
| 1990s | 18.04 billion current US$ | 13.28 billion current US$ | 22.87 billion current US$ | 10 |
| 2000s | 77.77 billion current US$ | 48.51 billion current US$ | 142.46 billion current US$ | 10 |
| 2010s | 165.75 billion current US$ | 138.69 billion current US$ | 186.33 billion current US$ | 10 |
| 2020s | 228.26 billion current US$ | 178.18 billion current US$ | 263.68 billion current US$ | 4 |
Countries ranked near Least developed countries
- 34 Hungary 158.04 billion current US$ compare
- 35 Denmark 129.43 billion current US$ compare
- 36 Slovakia 117.45 billion current US$ compare
- 37 Iraq 107.39 billion current US$ compare
- 38 South Africa 103.34 billion current US$ compare
- 39 Romania 100.27 billion current US$ compare
- 40 Qatar 97.06 billion current US$ compare
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)
- Food exports 15.1% (2023)
- Manufactures exports 20.1% (2023)
- Merchandise exports 311.48 billion current US$ (2025)
- 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)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), annual growth rate 10.88 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is merchandise exports by the reporting economy in Least developed countries?
- Merchandise exports by the reporting economy in Least developed countries was 249.50 billion current US$ in 2023, according to Staff estimates, World Bank (WB).
- What is the highest merchandise exports by the reporting economy recorded in Least developed countries?
- The highest recorded value was 263.68 billion current US$ in 2022.
- What is the lowest merchandise exports by the reporting economy recorded in Least developed countries?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.29 billion current US$ in 1960.
- How does Least developed countries rank for merchandise exports by the reporting economy?
- Least developed countries ranks 37th out of 45 groups with data for 2023.
- Is merchandise exports by the reporting economy rising or falling in Least developed countries?
- Over the last ten years it is up 37.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Least developed countries data come from?
- The figures come from Staff estimates, World Bank (WB), published as part of Merchandise exports by the reporting economy (current US$). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Merchandise exports by the reporting economy are the total merchandise exports by the reporting economy to the rest of the world, as reported in the IMF's Direction of trade database. Data are in current US$.