Merchandise exports to low- and middle-income economies in South Asia in Bangladesh
Bangladesh: Merchandise exports to low- and middle-income economies in South Asia was 4.5% in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Merchandise exports to low- and middle-income economies in South Asia in Bangladesh, 1972–2023
Source: Staff estimates, World Bank (WB). Measured in % of total merchandise exports.
Analysis
In 2023, merchandise exports to low- and middle-income economies in south asia in Bangladesh stood at 4.5%.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 10.2% on the previous year and up 71.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, merchandise exports to low- and middle-income economies in south asia in Bangladesh peaked at 13.2% in 1984 and was at its lowest, 0.5%, in 1972.
That places Bangladesh 52nd out of 205 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the top quarter.
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 South Asia in Bangladesh, year by year
| Year | % of total merchandise exports | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1972 | 0.5% | — |
| 1973 | 8.3% | +1444.5% |
| 1974 | 2.3% | -72.5% |
| 1975 | 3.0% | +32.1% |
| 1976 | 5.3% | +74.0% |
| 1977 | 9.5% | +81.7% |
| 1978 | 12.7% | +32.9% |
| 1979 | 9.3% | -27.1% |
| 1980 | 9.7% | +5.1% |
| 1981 | 9.2% | -5.8% |
| 1982 | 9.2% | +0.7% |
| 1983 | 10.4% | +12.3% |
| 1984 | 13.2% | +27.3% |
| 1985 | 8.6% | -34.8% |
| 1986 | 6.9% | -20.3% |
| 1987 | 4.6% | -32.6% |
| 1988 | 5.6% | +20.2% |
| 1989 | 4.3% | -23.2% |
| 1990 | 4.0% | -6.1% |
| 1991 | 5.1% | +27.9% |
| 1992 | 2.4% | -53.3% |
| 1993 | 2.5% | +4.7% |
| 1994 | 2.6% | +3.4% |
| 1995 | 2.8% | +9.4% |
| 1996 | 2.1% | -25.2% |
| 1997 | 2.5% | +19.9% |
| 1998 | 2.9% | +16.4% |
| 1999 | 2.3% | -22.8% |
| 2000 | 2.0% | -14.0% |
| 2001 | 2.0% | +3.4% |
| 2002 | 1.7% | -14.9% |
| 2003 | 2.1% | +24.1% |
| 2004 | 1.9% | -10.3% |
| 2005 | 2.6% | +35.2% |
| 2006 | 2.3% | -10.1% |
| 2007 | 2.8% | +19.4% |
| 2008 | 3.6% | +28.6% |
| 2009 | 3.0% | -16.1% |
| 2010 | 3.0% | -0.2% |
| 2011 | 3.3% | +9.5% |
| 2012 | 3.4% | +3.2% |
| 2013 | 2.6% | -22.0% |
| 2014 | 2.3% | -14.6% |
| 2015 | 2.7% | +19.6% |
| 2016 | 3.1% | +13.4% |
| 2017 | 2.7% | -12.3% |
| 2018 | 3.7% | +38.0% |
| 2019 | 3.7% | -0.3% |
| 2020 | 3.7% | -0.2% |
| 2021 | 4.5% | +22.6% |
| 2022 | 4.1% | -8.9% |
| 2023 | 4.5% | +10.2% |
Bangladesh compared with similar countries
- Bangladesh's 4.5% is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 2.6%, 1.7× the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Bangladesh's 4.5% is below the median for South Asia, which is 8.2%, 55% of the median. (6 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Merchandise exports to low- and middle-income economies in South Asia in Bangladesh 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1973 | +1444.5% | 0.5% | 8.3% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 6.4% | 0.5% | 12.7% | 8 |
| 1980s | 8.2% | 4.3% | 13.2% | 10 |
| 1990s | 2.9% | 2.1% | 5.1% | 10 |
| 2000s | 2.4% | 1.7% | 3.6% | 10 |
| 2010s | 3.0% | 2.3% | 3.7% | 10 |
| 2020s | 4.2% | 3.7% | 4.5% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Bangladesh
More private sector data for Bangladesh
- Merchandise trade 25.8% (2025)
- Food imports 13.0% (2018)
- Manufactures imports 67.0% (2018)
- Merchandise imports 69.37 billion current US$ (2025)
- Food exports 3.4% (2018)
- Manufactures exports 94.5% (2018)
- Merchandise exports 48.17 billion current US$ (2025)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), per capita 274.16 current US$ per person (2025)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), per unit of GDP 0.1056 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), annual growth rate 1.95 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is merchandise exports to low- and middle-income economies in south asia in Bangladesh?
- Merchandise exports to low- and middle-income economies in south asia in Bangladesh was 4.5% in 2023, according to Staff estimates, World Bank (WB).
- What is the highest merchandise exports to low- and middle-income economies in south asia recorded in Bangladesh?
- The highest recorded value was 13.2% in 1984.
- What is the lowest merchandise exports to low- and middle-income economies in south asia recorded in Bangladesh?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.5% in 1972.
- How does Bangladesh rank for merchandise exports to low- and middle-income economies in south asia?
- Bangladesh ranks 52nd out of 205 countries with data for 2023.
- Is merchandise exports to low- and middle-income economies in south asia rising or falling in Bangladesh?
- Over the last ten years it is up 71.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Bangladesh 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 South Asia (% of total merchandise exports). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Merchandise exports to low- and middle-income economies in South Asia are the sum of merchandise exports from the reporting economy to low- and middle-income economies in the South Asia 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.