Merchandise exports to low- and middle-income economies in South Asia in Iran
Iran: Merchandise exports to low- and middle-income economies in South Asia was 17.3% in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Merchandise exports to low- and middle-income economies in South Asia in Iran, 1964–2023
Source: Staff estimates, World Bank (WB). Measured in % of total merchandise exports.
Analysis
Iran recorded 17.3% for merchandise exports to low- and middle-income economies in south asia in 2023.
That represents a change of up 31.3% on the previous year and up 4.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, merchandise exports to low- and middle-income economies in south asia in Iran peaked at 21.6% in 2018 and was at its lowest, 2.6%, in 1988.
That places Iran 12th out of 205 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the top 10%.
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 Iran, year by year
| Year | % of total merchandise exports | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1964 | 12.9% | — |
| 1965 | 8.6% | -33.0% |
| 1966 | 6.3% | -26.3% |
| 1967 | 7.0% | +10.3% |
| 1968 | 9.6% | +36.9% |
| 1981 | 18.7% | +95.6% |
| 1982 | 6.2% | -66.7% |
| 1983 | 5.2% | -16.0% |
| 1984 | 3.8% | -28.5% |
| 1985 | 6.6% | +75.0% |
| 1986 | 4.8% | -26.4% |
| 1987 | 2.6% | -45.7% |
| 1988 | 2.6% | -0.1% |
| 1989 | 3.7% | +41.7% |
| 1990 | 4.7% | +25.3% |
| 1991 | 4.8% | +2.7% |
| 1992 | 3.7% | -23.1% |
| 1993 | 4.2% | +14.3% |
| 1994 | 4.1% | -3.5% |
| 1995 | 4.7% | +15.7% |
| 1996 | 3.9% | -16.0% |
| 1997 | 4.4% | +11.5% |
| 1998 | 4.3% | -2.1% |
| 1999 | 5.2% | +21.6% |
| 2000 | 4.3% | -17.4% |
| 2001 | 3.6% | -16.7% |
| 2002 | 4.6% | +26.9% |
| 2003 | 4.0% | -13.5% |
| 2004 | 4.1% | +3.0% |
| 2005 | 4.3% | +6.1% |
| 2006 | 11.0% | +153.6% |
| 2007 | 14.2% | +29.5% |
| 2008 | 14.5% | +2.0% |
| 2009 | 18.4% | +27.0% |
| 2010 | 14.3% | -22.1% |
| 2011 | 11.7% | -18.2% |
| 2012 | 16.7% | +42.5% |
| 2013 | 16.5% | -1.3% |
| 2014 | 19.1% | +15.9% |
| 2015 | 20.0% | +4.5% |
| 2016 | 19.9% | -0.2% |
| 2017 | 18.1% | -9.2% |
| 2018 | 21.6% | +19.1% |
| 2019 | 16.6% | -23.0% |
| 2020 | 12.4% | -25.1% |
| 2021 | 12.4% | -0.4% |
| 2022 | 13.1% | +6.2% |
| 2023 | 17.3% | +31.3% |
Iran compared with similar countries
- Iran's 17.3% is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 1.3%, 13.6× the median. (59 countries reporting)
- Iran's 17.3% is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 4.1%, 4.2× the median. (23 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 8.9% | 6.3% | 12.9% | 5 |
| 1980s | 6.0% | 2.6% | 18.7% | 9 |
| 1990s | 4.4% | 3.7% | 5.2% | 10 |
| 2000s | 8.3% | 3.6% | 18.4% | 10 |
| 2010s | 17.4% | 11.7% | 21.6% | 10 |
| 2020s | 13.8% | 12.4% | 17.3% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Iran
More private sector data for Iran
- Merchandise trade 49.3% (2025)
- Food imports 29.5% (2022)
- Manufactures imports 58.1% (2022)
- Merchandise imports 65.63 billion current US$ (2025)
- Food exports 5.9% (2022)
- Manufactures exports 31.3% (2022)
- Merchandise exports 113.22 billion current US$ (2025)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), per capita 1,225 current US$ per person (2025)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), per unit of GDP 0.3122 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), annual growth rate 0.5069 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is merchandise exports to low- and middle-income economies in south asia in Iran?
- Merchandise exports to low- and middle-income economies in south asia in Iran was 17.3% 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 Iran?
- The highest recorded value was 21.6% in 2018.
- What is the lowest merchandise exports to low- and middle-income economies in south asia recorded in Iran?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.6% in 1988.
- How does Iran rank for merchandise exports to low- and middle-income economies in south asia?
- Iran ranks 12th out of 205 countries with data for 2023.
- Is merchandise exports to low- and middle-income economies in south asia rising or falling in Iran?
- Over the last ten years it is up 4.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Iran 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.
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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.