Merchandise exports to low- and middle-income economies outside region in Uganda
Uganda: Merchandise exports to low- and middle-income economies outside region was 17.6% in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Merchandise exports to low- and middle-income economies outside region in Uganda, 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 Uganda is 17.6%, measured in 2023.
That represents a change of up 81.6% on the previous year and up 264.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, merchandise exports to low- and middle-income economies outside region in Uganda peaked at 28.4% in 1960 and was at its lowest, 0.4%, in 1987.
That places Uganda 76th out of 206 countries 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 Uganda, year by year
| Year | % of total merchandise exports | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 28.4% | — |
| 1961 | 28.2% | -0.8% |
| 1962 | 13.4% | -52.6% |
| 1963 | 14.5% | +8.2% |
| 1964 | 15.9% | +9.7% |
| 1965 | 20.9% | +32.0% |
| 1966 | 9.6% | -54.2% |
| 1967 | 9.0% | -6.3% |
| 1968 | 8.3% | -7.2% |
| 1969 | 6.0% | -27.7% |
| 1970 | 5.8% | -4.3% |
| 1971 | 8.5% | +46.8% |
| 1972 | 7.0% | -17.6% |
| 1973 | 4.9% | -30.1% |
| 1974 | 3.7% | -24.6% |
| 1975 | 7.0% | +91.0% |
| 1976 | 2.4% | -66.4% |
| 1977 | 8.4% | +257.3% |
| 1978 | 11.8% | +39.3% |
| 1979 | 3.8% | -67.7% |
| 1980 | 5.1% | +34.5% |
| 1981 | 3.4% | -34.0% |
| 1982 | 4.6% | +36.4% |
| 1983 | 2.3% | -49.1% |
| 1984 | 1.7% | -25.5% |
| 1985 | 2.3% | +29.2% |
| 1986 | 0.7% | -70.5% |
| 1987 | 0.4% | -39.0% |
| 1988 | 8.2% | +1920.3% |
| 1989 | 0.9% | -88.6% |
| 1990 | 6.5% | +598.0% |
| 1991 | 5.1% | -22.0% |
| 1992 | 7.4% | +45.0% |
| 1993 | 8.7% | +18.1% |
| 1994 | 2.9% | -66.4% |
| 1995 | 3.1% | +5.5% |
| 1996 | 4.2% | +36.1% |
| 1997 | 2.7% | -35.0% |
| 1998 | 2.6% | -3.5% |
| 1999 | 4.2% | +59.8% |
| 2000 | 2.1% | -50.4% |
| 2001 | 2.7% | +31.6% |
| 2002 | 1.3% | -53.8% |
| 2003 | 1.4% | +12.1% |
| 2004 | 2.6% | +81.0% |
| 2005 | 2.0% | -20.5% |
| 2006 | 2.8% | +38.8% |
| 2007 | 3.2% | +13.6% |
| 2008 | 3.2% | -1.4% |
| 2009 | 4.3% | +35.8% |
| 2010 | 4.0% | -7.3% |
| 2011 | 4.0% | +1.2% |
| 2012 | 3.3% | -18.5% |
| 2013 | 4.8% | +47.1% |
| 2014 | 7.7% | +59.1% |
| 2015 | 6.0% | -22.1% |
| 2016 | 6.3% | +5.3% |
| 2017 | 6.1% | -2.8% |
| 2018 | 6.4% | +4.3% |
| 2019 | 9.8% | +52.5% |
| 2020 | 5.8% | -40.8% |
| 2021 | 6.4% | +10.3% |
| 2022 | 9.7% | +52.3% |
| 2023 | 17.6% | +81.6% |
Uganda compared with similar countries
- Uganda's 17.6% is below the median for low income countries, which is 19.8%, 89% of the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Uganda's 17.6% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 22.0%, 80% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Merchandise exports to low- and middle-income economies outside region in Uganda 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1988 | +1920.3% | 0.4% | 8.2% |
| 1990 | +598.0% | 0.9% | 6.5% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 15.4% | 6.0% | 28.4% | 10 |
| 1970s | 6.3% | 2.4% | 11.8% | 10 |
| 1980s | 3.0% | 0.4% | 8.2% | 10 |
| 1990s | 4.7% | 2.6% | 8.7% | 10 |
| 2000s | 2.6% | 1.3% | 4.3% | 10 |
| 2010s | 5.9% | 3.3% | 9.8% | 10 |
| 2020s | 9.9% | 5.8% | 17.6% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Uganda
More private sector data for Uganda
- Merchandise trade 49.9% (2025)
- Food imports 10.7% (2024)
- Manufactures imports 47.3% (2024)
- Merchandise imports 18.40 billion current US$ (2025)
- Food exports 39.3% (2024)
- Manufactures exports 14.3% (2024)
- Merchandise exports 12.50 billion current US$ (2025)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), per capita 243.26 current US$ per person (2025)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), per unit of GDP 0.2017 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), annual growth rate 55.49 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is merchandise exports to low- and middle-income economies outside region in Uganda?
- Merchandise exports to low- and middle-income economies outside region in Uganda was 17.6% 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 Uganda?
- The highest recorded value was 28.4% in 1960.
- What is the lowest merchandise exports to low- and middle-income economies outside region recorded in Uganda?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.4% in 1987.
- How does Uganda rank for merchandise exports to low- and middle-income economies outside region?
- Uganda ranks 76th out of 206 countries with data for 2023.
- Is merchandise exports to low- and middle-income economies outside region rising or falling in Uganda?
- Over the last ten years it is up 264.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Uganda 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.