Merchandise exports to low- and middle-income economies outside region in Iran
Iran: Merchandise exports to low- and middle-income economies outside region was 78.6% in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Merchandise exports to low- and middle-income economies outside region in Iran, 1964–2023
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 Iran is 78.6%, measured in 2023.
The figure is down 1.3% on the previous year and up 7.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, merchandise exports to low- and middle-income economies outside region in Iran peaked at 79.7% in 2022 and was at its lowest, 11.2%, in 1986.
Iran ranks 4th of 206 countries on this measure, 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 outside region in Iran, year by year
| Year | % of total merchandise exports | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1964 | 25.1% | — |
| 1965 | 19.2% | -23.5% |
| 1966 | 16.7% | -13.3% |
| 1967 | 16.0% | -4.1% |
| 1968 | 19.4% | +21.7% |
| 1981 | 25.4% | +30.8% |
| 1982 | 12.3% | -51.5% |
| 1983 | 14.6% | +18.6% |
| 1984 | 15.8% | +7.8% |
| 1985 | 18.2% | +15.4% |
| 1986 | 11.2% | -38.7% |
| 1987 | 15.2% | +36.0% |
| 1988 | 16.4% | +8.0% |
| 1989 | 11.7% | -28.7% |
| 1990 | 14.7% | +25.6% |
| 1991 | 14.4% | -1.6% |
| 1992 | 16.7% | +15.3% |
| 1993 | 16.2% | -2.7% |
| 1994 | 15.8% | -2.7% |
| 1995 | 21.2% | +34.3% |
| 1996 | 12.4% | -41.6% |
| 1997 | 18.0% | +45.7% |
| 1998 | 14.6% | -18.9% |
| 1999 | 15.2% | +4.0% |
| 2000 | 25.9% | +70.5% |
| 2001 | 29.3% | +13.0% |
| 2002 | 30.1% | +2.6% |
| 2003 | 29.6% | -1.5% |
| 2004 | 30.8% | +4.1% |
| 2005 | 32.6% | +5.6% |
| 2006 | 40.7% | +25.0% |
| 2007 | 43.6% | +7.2% |
| 2008 | 45.2% | +3.6% |
| 2009 | 49.6% | +9.9% |
| 2010 | 49.2% | -1.0% |
| 2011 | 54.4% | +10.7% |
| 2012 | 63.3% | +16.4% |
| 2013 | 72.9% | +15.0% |
| 2014 | 76.4% | +4.8% |
| 2015 | 75.8% | -0.8% |
| 2016 | 62.6% | -17.3% |
| 2017 | 59.5% | -5.0% |
| 2018 | 63.8% | +7.3% |
| 2019 | 78.1% | +22.4% |
| 2020 | 78.7% | +0.8% |
| 2021 | 77.8% | -1.1% |
| 2022 | 79.7% | +2.4% |
| 2023 | 78.6% | -1.3% |
Iran compared with similar countries
- Iran's 78.6% is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 9.6%, 8.2× the median. (59 countries reporting)
- Iran's 78.6% is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 25.5%, 3.1× the median. (23 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 19.3% | 16.0% | 25.1% | 5 |
| 1980s | 15.6% | 11.2% | 25.4% | 9 |
| 1990s | 15.9% | 12.4% | 21.2% | 10 |
| 2000s | 35.7% | 25.9% | 49.6% | 10 |
| 2010s | 65.6% | 49.2% | 78.1% | 10 |
| 2020s | 78.7% | 77.8% | 79.7% | 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 outside region in Iran?
- Merchandise exports to low- and middle-income economies outside region in Iran was 78.6% 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 Iran?
- The highest recorded value was 79.7% in 2022.
- What is the lowest merchandise exports to low- and middle-income economies outside region recorded in Iran?
- The lowest recorded value was 11.2% in 1986.
- How does Iran rank for merchandise exports to low- and middle-income economies outside region?
- Iran ranks 4th out of 206 countries with data for 2023.
- Is merchandise exports to low- and middle-income economies outside region rising or falling in Iran?
- Over the last ten years it is up 7.9%. 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 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.