Merchandise exports to low- and middle-income economies in East Asia in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka: Merchandise exports to low- and middle-income economies in East Asia was 4.1% in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Merchandise exports to low- and middle-income economies in East Asia in Sri Lanka, 1960–2023
Source: Staff estimates, World Bank (WB). Measured in % of total merchandise exports.
Analysis
Sri Lanka recorded 4.1% for merchandise exports to low- and middle-income economies in east asia in 2023.
That represents a change of up 5.9% on the previous year and up 23.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, merchandise exports to low- and middle-income economies in east asia in Sri Lanka peaked at 17.5% in 1973 and was at its lowest, 1.3%, in 1992.
That places Sri Lanka 117th out of 206 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Merchandise exports to low- and middle-income economies in East Asia in Sri Lanka, year by year
| Year | % of total merchandise exports | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 8.7% | — |
| 1961 | 6.9% | -20.9% |
| 1962 | 9.8% | +42.8% |
| 1963 | 7.4% | -24.5% |
| 1964 | 9.1% | +23.8% |
| 1965 | 12.0% | +30.8% |
| 1966 | 14.0% | +17.0% |
| 1967 | 11.4% | -18.6% |
| 1968 | 12.6% | +10.3% |
| 1969 | 16.2% | +28.9% |
| 1970 | 15.6% | -3.6% |
| 1971 | 12.8% | -18.2% |
| 1972 | 15.0% | +17.2% |
| 1973 | 17.5% | +16.7% |
| 1974 | 9.8% | -43.9% |
| 1975 | 14.9% | +51.4% |
| 1976 | 12.9% | -13.2% |
| 1977 | 8.4% | -34.6% |
| 1978 | 8.8% | +4.2% |
| 1979 | 6.8% | -22.4% |
| 1980 | 7.0% | +2.4% |
| 1981 | 8.2% | +17.4% |
| 1982 | 3.8% | -53.7% |
| 1983 | 3.3% | -12.3% |
| 1984 | 2.9% | -11.7% |
| 1985 | 3.0% | +1.8% |
| 1986 | 2.5% | -17.3% |
| 1987 | 2.4% | -1.4% |
| 1988 | 3.8% | +54.5% |
| 1989 | 2.2% | -41.9% |
| 1990 | 2.2% | +0.5% |
| 1991 | 2.8% | +25.4% |
| 1992 | 1.3% | -54.4% |
| 1993 | 1.5% | +20.3% |
| 1994 | 1.8% | +21.6% |
| 1995 | 2.1% | +13.2% |
| 1996 | 2.0% | -3.2% |
| 1997 | 2.0% | +0.9% |
| 1998 | 1.9% | -8.2% |
| 1999 | 1.9% | -1.0% |
| 2000 | 2.2% | +16.8% |
| 2001 | 1.5% | -30.0% |
| 2002 | 1.4% | -7.7% |
| 2003 | 1.4% | +2.1% |
| 2004 | 1.3% | -8.5% |
| 2005 | 2.0% | +50.7% |
| 2006 | 2.4% | +22.4% |
| 2007 | 2.6% | +6.4% |
| 2008 | 3.0% | +16.4% |
| 2009 | 3.6% | +21.1% |
| 2010 | 4.1% | +14.6% |
| 2011 | 4.7% | +14.0% |
| 2012 | 4.0% | -15.4% |
| 2013 | 3.3% | -16.2% |
| 2014 | 4.1% | +23.1% |
| 2015 | 2.1% | -48.3% |
| 2016 | 4.3% | +101.6% |
| 2017 | 4.8% | +11.5% |
| 2018 | 4.3% | -10.3% |
| 2019 | 4.5% | +5.1% |
| 2020 | 4.3% | -5.3% |
| 2021 | 4.3% | +1.5% |
| 2022 | 3.9% | -9.9% |
| 2023 | 4.1% | +5.9% |
Sri Lanka compared with similar countries
- Sri Lanka's 4.1% is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 6.1%, 68% of the median. (59 countries reporting)
- Sri Lanka's 4.1% is above the median for South Asia, which is 3.6%, 1.1× the median. (6 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 10.8% | 6.9% | 16.2% | 10 |
| 1970s | 12.2% | 6.8% | 17.5% | 10 |
| 1980s | 3.9% | 2.2% | 8.2% | 10 |
| 1990s | 1.9% | 1.3% | 2.8% | 10 |
| 2000s | 2.1% | 1.3% | 3.6% | 10 |
| 2010s | 4.0% | 2.1% | 4.8% | 10 |
| 2020s | 4.2% | 3.9% | 4.3% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Sri Lanka
More private sector data for Sri Lanka
- Merchandise trade 32.2% (2025)
- Food imports 15.3% (2024)
- Manufactures imports 59.7% (2024)
- Merchandise imports 21.48 billion current US$ (2025)
- Food exports 27.3% (2024)
- Manufactures exports 66.0% (2024)
- Merchandise exports 13.58 billion current US$ (2025)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), per capita 624.24 current US$ per person (2025)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), per unit of GDP 0.1248 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), annual growth rate 6.33 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is merchandise exports to low- and middle-income economies in east asia in Sri Lanka?
- Merchandise exports to low- and middle-income economies in east asia in Sri Lanka was 4.1% in 2023, according to Staff estimates, World Bank (WB).
- What is the highest merchandise exports to low- and middle-income economies in east asia recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The highest recorded value was 17.5% in 1973.
- What is the lowest merchandise exports to low- and middle-income economies in east asia recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.3% in 1992.
- How does Sri Lanka rank for merchandise exports to low- and middle-income economies in east asia?
- Sri Lanka ranks 117th out of 206 countries with data for 2023.
- Is merchandise exports to low- and middle-income economies in east asia rising or falling in Sri Lanka?
- Over the last ten years it is up 23.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Sri Lanka data come from?
- The figures come from Staff estimates, World Bank (WB), published as part of Merchandise exports to low- and middle-income economies in East Asia & Pacific (% of total merchandise exports). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Merchandise exports to low- and middle-income economies in East Asia and Pacific are the sum of merchandise exports from the reporting economy to low- and middle-income economies in the East Asia and Pacific region according to World Bank classification of economies. Data are as a percentage of total merchandise exports by the economy. Data are computed only if at least half of the economies in the partner country group had non-missing data.