Merchandise exports to low- and middle-income economies outside region in Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia: Merchandise exports to low- and middle-income economies outside region was 40.5% in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Merchandise exports to low- and middle-income economies outside region in Saudi Arabia, 1964–2023
Source: Staff estimates, World Bank (WB). Measured in % of total merchandise exports.
Analysis
Saudi Arabia recorded 40.5% for merchandise exports to low- and middle-income economies outside region in 2023.
The figure is up 0.3% on the previous year and up 10.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, merchandise exports to low- and middle-income economies outside region in Saudi Arabia peaked at 42.8% in 2021 and was at its lowest, 6.6%, in 1965.
Saudi Arabia ranks 29th of 206 countries on this measure, 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 Saudi Arabia, year by year
| Year | % of total merchandise exports | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1964 | 7.5% | — |
| 1965 | 6.6% | -11.1% |
| 1966 | 9.0% | +36.1% |
| 1967 | 7.3% | -19.4% |
| 1968 | 12.1% | +66.3% |
| 1969 | 8.2% | -32.1% |
| 1970 | 12.5% | +51.8% |
| 1971 | 11.7% | -6.4% |
| 1972 | 11.7% | -0.5% |
| 1973 | 12.6% | +7.8% |
| 1974 | 11.1% | -11.8% |
| 1975 | 10.1% | -8.6% |
| 1976 | 8.7% | -14.2% |
| 1977 | 8.7% | +0.5% |
| 1978 | 9.1% | +3.8% |
| 1979 | 8.4% | -7.0% |
| 1980 | 8.8% | +4.8% |
| 1981 | 10.0% | +12.8% |
| 1982 | 14.8% | +48.5% |
| 1983 | 20.2% | +36.6% |
| 1984 | 19.9% | -1.9% |
| 1985 | 20.4% | +2.5% |
| 1986 | 11.3% | -44.5% |
| 1987 | 11.9% | +5.2% |
| 1988 | 13.1% | +10.2% |
| 1989 | 10.8% | -17.6% |
| 1990 | 13.0% | +20.5% |
| 1991 | 13.6% | +4.7% |
| 1992 | 14.9% | +9.4% |
| 1993 | 15.7% | +5.2% |
| 1994 | 15.6% | -0.7% |
| 1995 | 15.8% | +1.3% |
| 1996 | 16.8% | +6.3% |
| 1997 | 15.4% | -8.4% |
| 1998 | 16.9% | +10.1% |
| 1999 | 19.5% | +15.1% |
| 2000 | 36.4% | +87.0% |
| 2001 | 36.4% | +0.0% |
| 2002 | 36.5% | +0.1% |
| 2003 | 36.4% | -0.3% |
| 2004 | 36.5% | +0.2% |
| 2005 | 36.5% | -0.0% |
| 2006 | 36.5% | +0.0% |
| 2007 | 36.5% | +0.0% |
| 2008 | 36.5% | -0.0% |
| 2009 | 36.5% | +0.0% |
| 2010 | 36.5% | -0.0% |
| 2011 | 36.5% | +0.0% |
| 2012 | 36.6% | +0.4% |
| 2013 | 36.6% | -0.0% |
| 2014 | 36.6% | +0.0% |
| 2015 | 36.6% | +0.0% |
| 2016 | 36.6% | -0.0% |
| 2017 | 33.9% | -7.3% |
| 2018 | 35.6% | +4.7% |
| 2019 | 41.4% | +16.5% |
| 2020 | 41.8% | +0.9% |
| 2021 | 42.8% | +2.5% |
| 2022 | 40.4% | -5.7% |
| 2023 | 40.5% | +0.3% |
Saudi Arabia compared with similar countries
- Saudi Arabia's 40.5% is above the median for high income countries, which is 9.2%, 4.4× the median. (74 countries reporting)
- Saudi Arabia's 40.5% is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 25.5%, 1.6× the median. (23 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Merchandise exports to low- and middle-income economies outside region in Saudi Arabia 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 | +87.0% | 19.5% | 36.4% |
| 1968 | +66.3% | 7.3% | 12.1% |
| 1970 | +51.8% | 8.2% | 12.5% |
| 1982 | +48.5% | 10.0% | 14.8% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 8.5% | 6.6% | 12.1% | 6 |
| 1970s | 10.5% | 8.4% | 12.6% | 10 |
| 1980s | 14.1% | 8.8% | 20.4% | 10 |
| 1990s | 15.7% | 13.0% | 19.5% | 10 |
| 2000s | 36.5% | 36.4% | 36.5% | 10 |
| 2010s | 36.7% | 33.9% | 41.4% | 10 |
| 2020s | 41.4% | 40.4% | 42.8% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Saudi Arabia
More private sector data for Saudi Arabia
- Merchandise trade 44.2% (2025)
- Food imports 13.0% (2024)
- Manufactures imports 70.5% (2024)
- Merchandise imports 254.06 billion current US$ (2025)
- Food exports 1.9% (2024)
- Manufactures exports 15.9% (2024)
- Merchandise exports 310.67 billion current US$ (2025)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), per capita 8,403 current US$ per person (2025)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), per unit of GDP 0.2433 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), annual growth rate 1.69 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is merchandise exports to low- and middle-income economies outside region in Saudi Arabia?
- Merchandise exports to low- and middle-income economies outside region in Saudi Arabia was 40.5% 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 Saudi Arabia?
- The highest recorded value was 42.8% in 2021.
- What is the lowest merchandise exports to low- and middle-income economies outside region recorded in Saudi Arabia?
- The lowest recorded value was 6.6% in 1965.
- How does Saudi Arabia rank for merchandise exports to low- and middle-income economies outside region?
- Saudi Arabia ranks 29th out of 206 countries with data for 2023.
- Is merchandise exports to low- and middle-income economies outside region rising or falling in Saudi Arabia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 10.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Saudi Arabia 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.
Download this data
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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.