Merchandise exports to low- and middle-income economies within region in Benin
Benin: Merchandise exports to low- and middle-income economies within region was 16.4% in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Merchandise exports to low- and middle-income economies within region in Benin, 1961–2023
Source: Staff estimates, World Bank (WB). Measured in % of total merchandise exports.
Analysis
Benin recorded 16.4% for merchandise exports to low- and middle-income economies within region in 2023.
The figure is up 6.7% on the previous year and down 52.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, merchandise exports to low- and middle-income economies within region in Benin peaked at 63.7% in 2010 and was at its lowest, 3.1%, in 1985.
That places Benin 91st out of 203 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 within region in Benin, year by year
| Year | % of total merchandise exports | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 20.4% | — |
| 1962 | 5.6% | -72.5% |
| 1963 | 9.7% | +72.3% |
| 1964 | 5.4% | -44.4% |
| 1965 | 9.0% | +66.3% |
| 1966 | 17.7% | +97.1% |
| 1967 | 14.7% | -16.9% |
| 1968 | 15.9% | +8.1% |
| 1969 | 21.0% | +32.2% |
| 1970 | 18.2% | -13.4% |
| 1971 | 11.0% | -39.4% |
| 1972 | 12.8% | +16.6% |
| 1973 | 14.3% | +11.7% |
| 1974 | 22.5% | +56.9% |
| 1975 | 36.3% | +61.4% |
| 1976 | 16.8% | -53.8% |
| 1977 | 16.2% | -3.2% |
| 1978 | 19.8% | +22.1% |
| 1979 | 17.6% | -11.1% |
| 1980 | 13.2% | -25.2% |
| 1981 | 23.9% | +81.1% |
| 1982 | 27.4% | +14.7% |
| 1983 | 8.2% | -70.2% |
| 1984 | 5.1% | -37.5% |
| 1985 | 3.1% | -38.9% |
| 1986 | 7.4% | +137.1% |
| 1987 | 10.4% | +40.4% |
| 1988 | 24.8% | +139.5% |
| 1989 | 20.0% | -19.5% |
| 1990 | 31.1% | +55.3% |
| 1991 | 25.0% | -19.5% |
| 1992 | 26.6% | +6.5% |
| 1993 | 6.4% | -75.9% |
| 1994 | 14.6% | +127.5% |
| 1995 | 8.1% | -44.7% |
| 1996 | 8.5% | +4.8% |
| 1997 | 7.8% | -8.1% |
| 1998 | 14.5% | +86.1% |
| 1999 | 6.0% | -58.9% |
| 2000 | 10.7% | +79.0% |
| 2001 | 21.2% | +98.6% |
| 2002 | 28.5% | +34.5% |
| 2003 | 20.0% | -29.7% |
| 2004 | 28.0% | +39.9% |
| 2005 | 25.2% | -9.8% |
| 2006 | 40.8% | +61.6% |
| 2007 | 36.2% | -11.3% |
| 2008 | 42.0% | +16.0% |
| 2009 | 57.2% | +36.4% |
| 2010 | 63.7% | +11.2% |
| 2011 | 45.6% | -28.3% |
| 2012 | 43.4% | -4.9% |
| 2013 | 34.8% | -19.7% |
| 2014 | 38.7% | +11.0% |
| 2015 | 25.3% | -34.6% |
| 2016 | 24.6% | -2.8% |
| 2017 | 22.1% | -9.9% |
| 2018 | 15.6% | -29.4% |
| 2019 | 16.9% | +8.0% |
| 2020 | 12.7% | -25.0% |
| 2021 | 13.3% | +4.8% |
| 2022 | 15.4% | +15.9% |
| 2023 | 16.4% | +6.7% |
Benin compared with similar countries
- Benin's 16.4% is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 26.9%, 61% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Benin's 16.4% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 16.5%, 100% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 13.2% | 5.4% | 21.0% | 9 |
| 1970s | 18.6% | 11.0% | 36.3% | 10 |
| 1980s | 14.3% | 3.1% | 27.4% | 10 |
| 1990s | 14.8% | 6.0% | 31.1% | 10 |
| 2000s | 31.0% | 10.7% | 57.2% | 10 |
| 2010s | 33.1% | 15.6% | 63.7% | 10 |
| 2020s | 14.4% | 12.7% | 16.4% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Benin
More private sector data for Benin
- Merchandise trade 36.4% (2025)
- Food imports 33.3% (2024)
- Manufactures imports 50.1% (2024)
- Merchandise imports 4.95 billion current US$ (2025)
- Food exports 39.7% (2024)
- Manufactures exports 7.4% (2024)
- Merchandise exports 3.99 billion current US$ (2025)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), per capita 269.2 current US$ per person (2025)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), per unit of GDP 0.1623 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), annual growth rate -0.8946 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is merchandise exports to low- and middle-income economies within region in Benin?
- Merchandise exports to low- and middle-income economies within region in Benin was 16.4% in 2023, according to Staff estimates, World Bank (WB).
- What is the highest merchandise exports to low- and middle-income economies within region recorded in Benin?
- The highest recorded value was 63.7% in 2010.
- What is the lowest merchandise exports to low- and middle-income economies within region recorded in Benin?
- The lowest recorded value was 3.1% in 1985.
- How does Benin rank for merchandise exports to low- and middle-income economies within region?
- Benin ranks 91st out of 203 countries with data for 2023.
- Is merchandise exports to low- and middle-income economies within region rising or falling in Benin?
- Over the last ten years it is down 52.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Benin data come from?
- The figures come from Staff estimates, World Bank (WB), published as part of Merchandise exports to low- and middle-income economies within 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 within region are the sum of merchandise exports from the reporting economy to other low- and middle-income economies in the same World Bank region 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. No figures are shown for high-income economies, because they are a separate category in the World Bank classification of economies.