Merchandise exports to low- and middle-income economies outside region in Africa Western and Central
Africa Western and Central: Merchandise exports to low- and middle-income economies outside region was 30.2% in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Merchandise exports to low- and middle-income economies outside region in Africa Western and Central, 1960–2023
Source: Staff estimates, World Bank (WB). Measured in % of total merchandise exports.
Analysis
Africa Western and Central recorded 30.2% for merchandise exports to low- and middle-income economies outside region in 2023.
That represents a change of up 6.4% on the previous year and up 17.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, merchandise exports to low- and middle-income economies outside region in Africa Western and Central peaked at 34.8% in 2018 and was at its lowest, 0.9%, in 1974.
That places Africa Western and Central 13th out of 47 groups 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 outside region in Africa Western and Central, year by year
| Year | % of total merchandise exports | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 2.6% | — |
| 1961 | 2.3% | -11.5% |
| 1962 | 2.3% | +2.9% |
| 1963 | 2.0% | -13.5% |
| 1964 | 3.2% | +57.7% |
| 1965 | 2.7% | -14.0% |
| 1966 | 2.5% | -10.0% |
| 1967 | 1.9% | -23.7% |
| 1968 | 1.9% | -0.3% |
| 1969 | 2.0% | +4.5% |
| 1970 | 1.7% | -11.9% |
| 1971 | 1.6% | -6.4% |
| 1972 | 1.6% | -2.8% |
| 1973 | 1.5% | -3.3% |
| 1974 | 0.9% | -39.2% |
| 1975 | 1.5% | +66.2% |
| 1976 | 1.5% | -1.4% |
| 1977 | 2.4% | +59.3% |
| 1978 | 2.7% | +12.1% |
| 1979 | 2.6% | -4.0% |
| 1980 | 6.9% | +165.8% |
| 1981 | 4.7% | -31.3% |
| 1982 | 3.1% | -34.5% |
| 1983 | 1.9% | -39.1% |
| 1984 | 1.6% | -15.9% |
| 1985 | 4.2% | +164.8% |
| 1986 | 3.2% | -23.9% |
| 1987 | 2.0% | -37.1% |
| 1988 | 3.5% | +72.8% |
| 1989 | 3.5% | +0.9% |
| 1990 | 3.5% | -1.1% |
| 1991 | 4.7% | +34.8% |
| 1992 | 5.1% | +9.7% |
| 1993 | 7.7% | +50.8% |
| 1994 | 8.2% | +6.1% |
| 1995 | 10.1% | +22.8% |
| 1996 | 10.7% | +6.0% |
| 1997 | 11.8% | +10.6% |
| 1998 | 12.2% | +3.2% |
| 1999 | 19.3% | +58.0% |
| 2000 | 17.8% | -7.5% |
| 2001 | 17.6% | -1.1% |
| 2002 | 19.6% | +11.0% |
| 2003 | 22.3% | +14.0% |
| 2004 | 24.5% | +9.8% |
| 2005 | 24.7% | +1.1% |
| 2006 | 26.0% | +5.0% |
| 2007 | 25.7% | -1.0% |
| 2008 | 25.4% | -1.0% |
| 2009 | 22.9% | -9.9% |
| 2010 | 23.5% | +2.5% |
| 2011 | 23.7% | +1.0% |
| 2012 | 24.7% | +4.0% |
| 2013 | 25.8% | +4.6% |
| 2014 | 26.2% | +1.3% |
| 2015 | 26.3% | +0.5% |
| 2016 | 25.3% | -3.7% |
| 2017 | 31.7% | +25.3% |
| 2018 | 34.8% | +9.6% |
| 2019 | 33.5% | -3.8% |
| 2020 | 30.7% | -8.1% |
| 2021 | 32.6% | +6.2% |
| 2022 | 28.4% | -13.1% |
| 2023 | 30.2% | +6.4% |
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Merchandise exports to low- and middle-income economies outside region in Africa Western and Central 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | +165.8% | 2.6% | 6.9% |
| 1985 | +164.8% | 1.6% | 4.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 2.3% | 1.9% | 3.2% | 10 |
| 1970s | 1.8% | 0.9% | 2.7% | 10 |
| 1980s | 3.5% | 1.6% | 6.9% | 10 |
| 1990s | 9.3% | 3.5% | 19.3% | 10 |
| 2000s | 22.6% | 17.6% | 26.0% | 10 |
| 2010s | 27.5% | 23.5% | 34.8% | 10 |
| 2020s | 30.5% | 28.4% | 32.6% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Africa Western and Central
More private sector data for Africa Western and Central
- Merchandise trade 43.1% (2025)
- Food imports 15.3% (2023)
- Manufactures imports 54.3% (2023)
- Merchandise imports 163.34 billion current US$ (2025)
- Food exports 12.1% (2023)
- Manufactures exports 7.0% (2023)
- Merchandise exports 204.10 billion current US$ (2025)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), per capita 383.07 current US$ per person (2025)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), per unit of GDP 0.2394 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), annual growth rate 20.81 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is merchandise exports to low- and middle-income economies outside region in Africa Western and Central?
- Merchandise exports to low- and middle-income economies outside region in Africa Western and Central was 30.2% 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 Western and Central?
- The highest recorded value was 34.8% in 2018.
- What is the lowest merchandise exports to low- and middle-income economies outside region recorded in Africa Western and Central?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.9% in 1974.
- How does Africa Western and Central rank for merchandise exports to low- and middle-income economies outside region?
- Africa Western and Central ranks 13th out of 47 groups with data for 2023.
- Is merchandise exports to low- and middle-income economies outside region rising or falling in Africa Western and Central?
- Over the last ten years it is up 17.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Africa Western and Central 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.