Merchandise imports by the reporting economy (current US$), annual in Sub-Saharan Africa
Sub-Saharan Africa: Merchandise imports by the reporting economy (current US$), annual was 1.43 % change on previous year in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Merchandise imports by the reporting economy (current US$), annual in Sub-Saharan Africa, 1961–2023
Source: Statizoid (derived). Measured in % change on previous year.
Analysis
Sub-Saharan Africa recorded 1.43 % change on previous year for merchandise imports by the reporting economy (current us$), annual in 2023.
The figure is down 92.6% on the previous year and down 76.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, merchandise imports by the reporting economy (current us$), annual in Sub-Saharan Africa peaked at 103.86 % change on previous year in 1981 and was at its lowest, -20.47 % change on previous year, in 1980.
That places Sub-Saharan Africa 12th out of 44 groups with data for 2023, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Merchandise imports by the reporting economy (current US$), annual in Sub-Saharan Africa, year by year
| Year | % change on previous year | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 6.85 % change on previous year | — |
| 1962 | 5.07 % change on previous year | -26.0% |
| 1963 | 15.64 % change on previous year | +208.4% |
| 1964 | 27.17 % change on previous year | +73.7% |
| 1965 | 10.57 % change on previous year | -61.1% |
| 1966 | 1.21 % change on previous year | -88.6% |
| 1967 | -0.3994 % change on previous year | -133.1% |
| 1968 | 7.58 % change on previous year | -1997.2% |
| 1969 | 10.49 % change on previous year | +38.4% |
| 1970 | 19.57 % change on previous year | +86.5% |
| 1971 | 11.51 % change on previous year | -41.2% |
| 1972 | 9.86 % change on previous year | -14.4% |
| 1973 | 23.47 % change on previous year | +138.1% |
| 1974 | 41.33 % change on previous year | +76.1% |
| 1975 | 27.84 % change on previous year | -32.6% |
| 1976 | 8.17 % change on previous year | -70.6% |
| 1977 | 28.46 % change on previous year | +248.3% |
| 1978 | 11.61 % change on previous year | -59.2% |
| 1979 | -4.64 % change on previous year | -140.0% |
| 1980 | -20.47 % change on previous year | +340.7% |
| 1981 | 103.86 % change on previous year | -607.4% |
| 1982 | -18.95 % change on previous year | -118.2% |
| 1983 | -16.48 % change on previous year | -13.0% |
| 1984 | -17.93 % change on previous year | +8.8% |
| 1985 | 6.65 % change on previous year | -137.1% |
| 1986 | -7 % change on previous year | -205.3% |
| 1987 | 13.28 % change on previous year | -289.7% |
| 1988 | 2.9 % change on previous year | -78.1% |
| 1989 | 6.76 % change on previous year | +132.7% |
| 1990 | 26.07 % change on previous year | +285.7% |
| 1991 | -1.46 % change on previous year | -105.6% |
| 1992 | 25.74 % change on previous year | -1860.9% |
| 1993 | -11.74 % change on previous year | -145.6% |
| 1994 | -1.88 % change on previous year | -84.0% |
| 1995 | 16.74 % change on previous year | -989.4% |
| 1996 | 3.38 % change on previous year | -79.8% |
| 1997 | 2.6 % change on previous year | -23.2% |
| 1998 | 70.49 % change on previous year | +2613.5% |
| 1999 | -7.81 % change on previous year | -111.1% |
| 2000 | 4.25 % change on previous year | -154.4% |
| 2001 | 2.86 % change on previous year | -32.8% |
| 2002 | 4.95 % change on previous year | +73.2% |
| 2003 | 37.98 % change on previous year | +667.6% |
| 2004 | 23.66 % change on previous year | -37.7% |
| 2005 | 24.86 % change on previous year | +5.1% |
| 2006 | 20.11 % change on previous year | -19.1% |
| 2007 | 21.25 % change on previous year | +5.7% |
| 2008 | 27.24 % change on previous year | +28.2% |
| 2009 | -15.21 % change on previous year | -155.8% |
| 2010 | 13.41 % change on previous year | -188.2% |
| 2011 | 24.97 % change on previous year | +86.3% |
| 2012 | 3.71 % change on previous year | -85.1% |
| 2013 | 5.97 % change on previous year | +60.6% |
| 2014 | 2.04 % change on previous year | -65.9% |
| 2015 | -14.67 % change on previous year | -820.8% |
| 2016 | -14.43 % change on previous year | -1.6% |
| 2017 | 8.15 % change on previous year | -156.5% |
| 2018 | 7.85 % change on previous year | -3.7% |
| 2019 | -1.11 % change on previous year | -114.2% |
| 2020 | -10.4 % change on previous year | +834.4% |
| 2021 | 16.83 % change on previous year | -261.8% |
| 2022 | 19.33 % change on previous year | +14.9% |
| 2023 | 1.43 % change on previous year | -92.6% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 9.35 % change on previous year | -0.3994 % change on previous year | 27.17 % change on previous year | 9 |
| 1970s | 17.72 % change on previous year | -4.64 % change on previous year | 41.33 % change on previous year | 10 |
| 1980s | 5.26 % change on previous year | -20.47 % change on previous year | 103.86 % change on previous year | 10 |
| 1990s | 12.21 % change on previous year | -11.74 % change on previous year | 70.49 % change on previous year | 10 |
| 2000s | 15.19 % change on previous year | -15.21 % change on previous year | 37.98 % change on previous year | 10 |
| 2010s | 3.59 % change on previous year | -14.67 % change on previous year | 24.97 % change on previous year | 10 |
| 2020s | 6.8 % change on previous year | -10.4 % change on previous year | 19.33 % change on previous year | 4 |
Countries ranked near Sub-Saharan Africa
- 9 Guyana 38.42 % change on previous year compare
- 10 Tajikistan 36.69 % change on previous year compare
- 11 Guinea-Bissau 30.54 % change on previous year compare
- 12 Belarus 30.13 % change on previous year compare
- 13 Kyrgyzstan 30.01 % change on previous year compare
- 14 Uruguay 28.79 % change on previous year compare
- 15 Uzbekistan 27.74 % change on previous year compare
More private sector data for Sub-Saharan Africa
- Merchandise trade 44.5% (2025)
- Food imports 12.1% (2024)
- Manufactures imports 56.8% (2024)
- Merchandise imports 501.15 billion current US$ (2025)
- Food exports 14.7% (2024)
- Manufactures exports 19.4% (2024)
- Merchandise exports 486.80 billion current US$ (2025)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), per capita 368.33 current US$ per person (2025)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), per unit of GDP 0.2201 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), annual growth rate 11.24 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is merchandise imports by the reporting economy (current us$), annual in Sub-Saharan Africa?
- Merchandise imports by the reporting economy (current us$), annual in Sub-Saharan Africa was 1.43 % change on previous year in 2023, according to Statizoid (derived).
- What is the highest merchandise imports by the reporting economy (current us$), annual recorded in Sub-Saharan Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 103.86 % change on previous year in 1981.
- What is the lowest merchandise imports by the reporting economy (current us$), annual recorded in Sub-Saharan Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was -20.47 % change on previous year in 1980.
- How does Sub-Saharan Africa rank for merchandise imports by the reporting economy (current us$), annual?
- Sub-Saharan Africa ranks 12th out of 44 groups with data for 2023.
- Is merchandise imports by the reporting economy (current us$), annual rising or falling in Sub-Saharan Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 76.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Sub-Saharan Africa data come from?
- The figures come from Statizoid (derived), published as part of Merchandise imports by the reporting economy (current US$), annual growth rate. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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How this figure is calculated
The year-on-year percentage change in Merchandise imports by the reporting economy (current US$). Computed from consecutive annual observations; years either side of a gap are skipped rather than bridged.
Computed from
- Merchandise imports by the reporting economy Staff estimates, World Bank (WB)
Statizoid computes this series; the underlying measurements belong to the publishers named above. The arithmetic is applied to every country and year where both inputs report, and nothing is estimated unless the page says so.
About this data
The year-on-year percentage change in Merchandise imports by the reporting economy (current US$). Computed from consecutive annual observations; years either side of a gap are skipped rather than bridged.