Merchandise exports to low- and middle-income economies outside region in Least developed countries
Least developed countries: Merchandise exports to low- and middle-income economies outside region was 29.7% in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Merchandise exports to low- and middle-income economies outside region in Least developed countries, 1960–2023
Source: Staff estimates, World Bank (WB). Measured in % of total merchandise exports.
Analysis
In 2023, merchandise exports to low- and middle-income economies outside region in Least developed countries stood at 29.7%.
The figure is up 9.0% on the previous year and down 12.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, merchandise exports to low- and middle-income economies outside region in Least developed countries peaked at 46.5% in 2000 and was at its lowest, 5.7%, in 1968.
Least developed countries ranks 14th of 47 groups on this measure, 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 Least developed countries, year by year
| Year | % of total merchandise exports | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 14.6% | — |
| 1961 | 12.3% | -15.9% |
| 1962 | 13.6% | +10.9% |
| 1963 | 10.7% | -21.8% |
| 1964 | 8.4% | -20.9% |
| 1965 | 8.8% | +4.0% |
| 1966 | 7.6% | -13.0% |
| 1967 | 7.3% | -3.9% |
| 1968 | 5.7% | -22.8% |
| 1969 | 6.1% | +6.8% |
| 1970 | 7.1% | +17.5% |
| 1971 | 10.2% | +44.1% |
| 1972 | 10.6% | +3.9% |
| 1973 | 8.9% | -16.6% |
| 1974 | 7.7% | -13.4% |
| 1975 | 10.7% | +39.5% |
| 1976 | 8.9% | -17.1% |
| 1977 | 9.6% | +7.8% |
| 1978 | 9.6% | +0.4% |
| 1979 | 10.5% | +9.0% |
| 1980 | 10.7% | +2.2% |
| 1981 | 12.8% | +19.6% |
| 1982 | 10.2% | -20.6% |
| 1983 | 10.6% | +4.3% |
| 1984 | 9.9% | -6.7% |
| 1985 | 10.2% | +3.5% |
| 1986 | 9.3% | -8.8% |
| 1987 | 8.8% | -6.2% |
| 1988 | 10.2% | +16.6% |
| 1989 | 9.6% | -5.7% |
| 1990 | 10.1% | +5.1% |
| 1991 | 11.2% | +10.2% |
| 1992 | 10.0% | -10.5% |
| 1993 | 12.8% | +28.5% |
| 1994 | 12.5% | -3.0% |
| 1995 | 16.9% | +35.8% |
| 1996 | 18.6% | +9.9% |
| 1997 | 17.9% | -4.0% |
| 1998 | 12.8% | -28.4% |
| 1999 | 16.2% | +27.1% |
| 2000 | 46.5% | +186.3% |
| 2001 | 44.0% | -5.5% |
| 2002 | 42.5% | -3.3% |
| 2003 | 36.3% | -14.6% |
| 2004 | 26.2% | -27.9% |
| 2005 | 26.2% | +0.0% |
| 2006 | 24.3% | -7.1% |
| 2007 | 24.3% | -0.2% |
| 2008 | 25.9% | +6.6% |
| 2009 | 28.3% | +9.3% |
| 2010 | 29.8% | +5.4% |
| 2011 | 28.4% | -4.7% |
| 2012 | 37.1% | +30.6% |
| 2013 | 33.9% | -8.8% |
| 2014 | 31.9% | -5.8% |
| 2015 | 26.7% | -16.6% |
| 2016 | 27.4% | +3.0% |
| 2017 | 30.7% | +11.8% |
| 2018 | 32.0% | +4.1% |
| 2019 | 28.8% | -9.9% |
| 2020 | 25.7% | -10.6% |
| 2021 | 28.3% | +9.7% |
| 2022 | 27.2% | -3.6% |
| 2023 | 29.7% | +9.0% |
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Merchandise exports to low- and middle-income economies outside region in Least developed countries 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 | +186.3% | 16.2% | 46.5% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 9.5% | 5.7% | 14.6% | 10 |
| 1970s | 9.4% | 7.1% | 10.7% | 10 |
| 1980s | 10.2% | 8.8% | 12.8% | 10 |
| 1990s | 13.9% | 10.0% | 18.6% | 10 |
| 2000s | 32.5% | 24.3% | 46.5% | 10 |
| 2010s | 30.7% | 26.7% | 37.1% | 10 |
| 2020s | 27.7% | 25.7% | 29.7% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Least developed countries
- 11 Iraq 60.0% compare
- 12 Congo, Democratic Republic of the 59.6% compare
- 13 Maldives 58.8% compare
- 14 Congo 56.9% compare
- 15 Guinea 52.8% compare
- 16 South Sudan 51.4% compare
- 17 Russian Federation 49.9% compare
More private sector data for Least developed countries
- Merchandise trade 41.4% (2025)
- Food imports 15.6% (2019)
- Manufactures imports 62.6% (2019)
- Merchandise imports 376.94 billion current US$ (2025)
- Food exports 15.1% (2023)
- Manufactures exports 20.1% (2023)
- Merchandise exports 311.48 billion current US$ (2025)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), per capita 256.54 current US$ per person (2025)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), per unit of GDP 0.1884 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), annual growth rate 10.88 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is merchandise exports to low- and middle-income economies outside region in Least developed countries?
- Merchandise exports to low- and middle-income economies outside region in Least developed countries was 29.7% 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 Least developed countries?
- The highest recorded value was 46.5% in 2000.
- What is the lowest merchandise exports to low- and middle-income economies outside region recorded in Least developed countries?
- The lowest recorded value was 5.7% in 1968.
- How does Least developed countries rank for merchandise exports to low- and middle-income economies outside region?
- Least developed countries ranks 14th out of 47 groups with data for 2023.
- Is merchandise exports to low- and middle-income economies outside region rising or falling in Least developed countries?
- Over the last ten years it is down 12.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Least developed countries 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.