Merchandise exports to low- and middle-income economies outside region in Africa Eastern and Southern
Africa Eastern and Southern: Merchandise exports to low- and middle-income economies outside region was 31.8% in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Merchandise exports to low- and middle-income economies outside region in Africa Eastern and Southern, 1960–2023
Source: Staff estimates, World Bank (WB). Measured in % of total merchandise exports.
Analysis
The most recent figure for merchandise exports to low- and middle-income economies outside region in Africa Eastern and Southern is 31.8%, measured in 2023.
That represents a change of up 8.8% on the previous year and up 0.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, merchandise exports to low- and middle-income economies outside region in Africa Eastern and Southern peaked at 34.8% in 2000 and was at its lowest, 6.0%, in 1968.
That places Africa Eastern and Southern 8th out of 47 groups 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 outside region in Africa Eastern and Southern, year by year
| Year | % of total merchandise exports | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 12.6% | — |
| 1961 | 11.7% | -7.5% |
| 1962 | 11.4% | -2.3% |
| 1963 | 8.8% | -22.8% |
| 1964 | 6.6% | -25.8% |
| 1965 | 6.5% | -0.6% |
| 1966 | 6.0% | -8.2% |
| 1967 | 7.2% | +20.6% |
| 1968 | 6.0% | -17.4% |
| 1969 | 6.0% | +1.3% |
| 1970 | 7.6% | +25.7% |
| 1971 | 11.4% | +49.7% |
| 1972 | 10.8% | -4.6% |
| 1973 | 9.3% | -14.1% |
| 1974 | 6.9% | -26.0% |
| 1975 | 10.8% | +56.2% |
| 1976 | 7.9% | -26.5% |
| 1977 | 8.2% | +3.1% |
| 1978 | 9.3% | +14.5% |
| 1979 | 10.7% | +14.8% |
| 1980 | 9.3% | -13.1% |
| 1981 | 12.5% | +33.6% |
| 1982 | 10.2% | -17.7% |
| 1983 | 10.7% | +4.3% |
| 1984 | 10.0% | -6.2% |
| 1985 | 9.2% | -8.5% |
| 1986 | 9.0% | -2.4% |
| 1987 | 9.0% | +0.6% |
| 1988 | 8.9% | -0.6% |
| 1989 | 7.6% | -15.0% |
| 1990 | 8.8% | +15.4% |
| 1991 | 9.8% | +11.4% |
| 1992 | 7.9% | -19.6% |
| 1993 | 11.2% | +42.5% |
| 1994 | 9.9% | -11.2% |
| 1995 | 10.5% | +5.3% |
| 1996 | 12.6% | +20.6% |
| 1997 | 11.8% | -6.9% |
| 1998 | 8.9% | -23.9% |
| 1999 | 9.9% | +11.0% |
| 2000 | 34.8% | +250.9% |
| 2001 | 34.3% | -1.6% |
| 2002 | 31.6% | -7.7% |
| 2003 | 25.4% | -19.8% |
| 2004 | 16.5% | -34.9% |
| 2005 | 18.3% | +10.8% |
| 2006 | 17.7% | -3.4% |
| 2007 | 19.6% | +11.0% |
| 2008 | 21.9% | +11.6% |
| 2009 | 25.9% | +18.5% |
| 2010 | 25.6% | -1.4% |
| 2011 | 26.2% | +2.6% |
| 2012 | 31.1% | +18.8% |
| 2013 | 31.5% | +1.2% |
| 2014 | 30.0% | -4.9% |
| 2015 | 25.8% | -13.9% |
| 2016 | 27.5% | +6.5% |
| 2017 | 31.4% | +14.2% |
| 2018 | 33.3% | +6.1% |
| 2019 | 32.1% | -3.9% |
| 2020 | 30.3% | -5.6% |
| 2021 | 30.1% | -0.6% |
| 2022 | 29.2% | -2.9% |
| 2023 | 31.8% | +8.8% |
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Merchandise exports to low- and middle-income economies outside region in Africa Eastern and Southern 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | +250.9% | 9.9% | 34.8% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 8.3% | 6.0% | 12.6% | 10 |
| 1970s | 9.3% | 6.9% | 11.4% | 10 |
| 1980s | 9.6% | 7.6% | 12.5% | 10 |
| 1990s | 10.1% | 7.9% | 12.6% | 10 |
| 2000s | 24.6% | 16.5% | 34.8% | 10 |
| 2010s | 29.5% | 25.6% | 33.3% | 10 |
| 2020s | 30.3% | 29.2% | 31.8% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Africa Eastern and Southern
More private sector data for Africa Eastern and Southern
- Merchandise trade 45.4% (2025)
- Food imports 10.9% (2024)
- Manufactures imports 60.3% (2024)
- Merchandise imports 337.80 billion current US$ (2025)
- Food exports 14.5% (2024)
- Manufactures exports 26.0% (2024)
- Merchandise exports 282.56 billion current US$ (2025)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), per capita 358.19 current US$ per person (2025)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), per unit of GDP 0.208 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), annual growth rate 5.18 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is merchandise exports to low- and middle-income economies outside region in Africa Eastern and Southern?
- Merchandise exports to low- and middle-income economies outside region in Africa Eastern and Southern was 31.8% in 2023, according to Staff estimates, World Bank (WB).
- What is the highest merchandise exports to low- and middle-income economies outside region recorded in Africa Eastern and Southern?
- The highest recorded value was 34.8% in 2000.
- What is the lowest merchandise exports to low- and middle-income economies outside region recorded in Africa Eastern and Southern?
- The lowest recorded value was 6.0% in 1968.
- How does Africa Eastern and Southern rank for merchandise exports to low- and middle-income economies outside region?
- Africa Eastern and Southern ranks 8th out of 47 groups with data for 2023.
- Is merchandise exports to low- and middle-income economies outside region rising or falling in Africa Eastern and Southern?
- Over the last ten years it is up 0.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Africa Eastern and Southern data come from?
- The figures come from Staff estimates, World Bank (WB), published as part of Merchandise exports to low- and middle-income economies outside region (% 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 outside region are the sum of merchandise exports from the reporting economy to other low- and middle-income economies in other World Bank regions according to the World Bank classification of economies. Data are expressed 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.