Merchandise imports by the reporting economy (current US$), per in Least developed countries
Least developed countries: Merchandise imports by the reporting economy (current US$), per was 15,925 current US$ per square kilometre in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2023)
15,925 current US$ per square kilometre
Change on year
down 4.7%
Rank
42nd
of 44 groups
All-time high
16,707 current US$ per square kilometre
in 2022
All-time low
81.25 current US$ per square kilometre
in 1961
Years of data
63
1961–2023
Merchandise imports by the reporting economy (current US$), per in Least developed countries, 1961–2023
Source: Statizoid (derived). Measured in current US$ per square kilometre.
Analysis
Least developed countries recorded 15,925 current US$ per square kilometre for merchandise imports by the reporting economy (current us$), per in 2023.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 4.7% on the previous year and up 40.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, merchandise imports by the reporting economy (current us$), per in Least developed countries peaked at 16,707 current US$ per square kilometre in 2022 and was at its lowest, 81.25 current US$ per square kilometre, in 1961.
That places Least developed countries 42nd out of 44 groups with data for 2023, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Merchandise imports by the reporting economy (current US$), per in Least developed countries, year by year
| Year | current US$ per square kilometre | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 81.25 current US$ per square kilometre | — |
| 1962 | 94.23 current US$ per square kilometre | +16.0% |
| 1963 | 114.7 current US$ per square kilometre | +21.7% |
| 1964 | 141.91 current US$ per square kilometre | +23.7% |
| 1965 | 152.23 current US$ per square kilometre | +7.3% |
| 1966 | 163.47 current US$ per square kilometre | +7.4% |
| 1967 | 171.75 current US$ per square kilometre | +5.1% |
| 1968 | 196.25 current US$ per square kilometre | +14.3% |
| 1969 | 210.05 current US$ per square kilometre | +7.0% |
| 1970 | 237.63 current US$ per square kilometre | +13.1% |
| 1971 | 242.13 current US$ per square kilometre | +1.9% |
| 1972 | 273.05 current US$ per square kilometre | +12.8% |
| 1973 | 381.52 current US$ per square kilometre | +39.7% |
| 1974 | 491.42 current US$ per square kilometre | +28.8% |
| 1975 | 520.29 current US$ per square kilometre | +5.9% |
| 1976 | 440.07 current US$ per square kilometre | -15.4% |
| 1977 | 538.75 current US$ per square kilometre | +22.4% |
| 1978 | 564.44 current US$ per square kilometre | +4.8% |
| 1979 | 649.04 current US$ per square kilometre | +15.0% |
| 1980 | 832.55 current US$ per square kilometre | +28.3% |
| 1981 | 1,041 current US$ per square kilometre | +25.0% |
| 1982 | 936.49 current US$ per square kilometre | -10.0% |
| 1983 | 834.28 current US$ per square kilometre | -10.9% |
| 1984 | 849.92 current US$ per square kilometre | +1.9% |
| 1985 | 872.7 current US$ per square kilometre | +2.7% |
| 1986 | 856.6 current US$ per square kilometre | -1.8% |
| 1987 | 979.38 current US$ per square kilometre | +14.3% |
| 1988 | 1,038 current US$ per square kilometre | +6.0% |
| 1989 | 1,115 current US$ per square kilometre | +7.4% |
| 1990 | 1,639 current US$ per square kilometre | +47.0% |
| 1991 | 1,583 current US$ per square kilometre | -3.4% |
| 1992 | 1,879 current US$ per square kilometre | +18.7% |
| 1993 | 1,695 current US$ per square kilometre | -9.8% |
| 1994 | 1,755 current US$ per square kilometre | +3.6% |
| 1995 | 2,077 current US$ per square kilometre | +18.4% |
| 1996 | 2,073 current US$ per square kilometre | -0.2% |
| 1997 | 2,095 current US$ per square kilometre | +1.1% |
| 1998 | 2,284 current US$ per square kilometre | +9.0% |
| 1999 | 2,173 current US$ per square kilometre | -4.9% |
| 2000 | 2,273 current US$ per square kilometre | +4.6% |
| 2001 | 2,285 current US$ per square kilometre | +0.6% |
| 2002 | 2,451 current US$ per square kilometre | +7.3% |
| 2003 | 2,947 current US$ per square kilometre | +20.3% |
| 2004 | 3,483 current US$ per square kilometre | +18.2% |
| 2005 | 4,374 current US$ per square kilometre | +25.6% |
| 2006 | 5,134 current US$ per square kilometre | +17.4% |
| 2007 | 6,155 current US$ per square kilometre | +19.9% |
| 2008 | 8,452 current US$ per square kilometre | +37.3% |
| 2009 | 8,001 current US$ per square kilometre | -5.3% |
| 2010 | 8,938 current US$ per square kilometre | +11.7% |
| 2011 | 11,099 current US$ per square kilometre | +24.2% |
| 2012 | 10,420 current US$ per square kilometre | -6.1% |
| 2013 | 11,323 current US$ per square kilometre | +8.7% |
| 2014 | 12,157 current US$ per square kilometre | +7.4% |
| 2015 | 11,151 current US$ per square kilometre | -8.3% |
| 2016 | 10,212 current US$ per square kilometre | -8.4% |
| 2017 | 11,466 current US$ per square kilometre | +12.3% |
| 2018 | 12,540 current US$ per square kilometre | +9.4% |
| 2019 | 12,743 current US$ per square kilometre | +1.6% |
| 2020 | 11,700 current US$ per square kilometre | -8.2% |
| 2021 | 14,170 current US$ per square kilometre | +21.1% |
| 2022 | 16,707 current US$ per square kilometre | +17.9% |
| 2023 | 15,925 current US$ per square kilometre | -4.7% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 147.31 current US$ per square kilometre | 81.25 current US$ per square kilometre | 210.05 current US$ per square kilometre | 9 |
| 1970s | 433.83 current US$ per square kilometre | 237.63 current US$ per square kilometre | 649.04 current US$ per square kilometre | 10 |
| 1980s | 935.52 current US$ per square kilometre | 832.55 current US$ per square kilometre | 1,115 current US$ per square kilometre | 10 |
| 1990s | 1,925 current US$ per square kilometre | 1,583 current US$ per square kilometre | 2,284 current US$ per square kilometre | 10 |
| 2000s | 4,556 current US$ per square kilometre | 2,273 current US$ per square kilometre | 8,452 current US$ per square kilometre | 10 |
| 2010s | 11,205 current US$ per square kilometre | 8,938 current US$ per square kilometre | 12,743 current US$ per square kilometre | 10 |
| 2020s | 14,626 current US$ per square kilometre | 11,700 current US$ per square kilometre | 16,707 current US$ per square kilometre | 4 |
Countries ranked near Least developed countries
- 39 Kuwait 2.10 million current US$ per square kilometre compare
- 40 Lebanon 1.76 million current US$ per square kilometre compare
- 41 Trinidad and Tobago 1.74 million current US$ per square kilometre compare
- 42 Hungary 1.69 million current US$ per square kilometre compare
- 43 Grenada 1.59 million current US$ per square kilometre compare
- 44 Antigua and Barbuda 1.52 million current US$ per square kilometre compare
- 45 France 1.45 million current US$ per square kilometre 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$), annual growth rate 10.88 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is merchandise imports by the reporting economy (current us$), per in Least developed countries?
- Merchandise imports by the reporting economy (current us$), per in Least developed countries was 15,925 current US$ per square kilometre in 2023, according to Statizoid (derived).
- What is the highest merchandise imports by the reporting economy (current us$), per recorded in Least developed countries?
- The highest recorded value was 16,707 current US$ per square kilometre in 2022.
- What is the lowest merchandise imports by the reporting economy (current us$), per recorded in Least developed countries?
- The lowest recorded value was 81.25 current US$ per square kilometre in 1961.
- How does Least developed countries rank for merchandise imports by the reporting economy (current us$), per?
- Least developed countries ranks 42nd out of 44 groups with data for 2023.
- Is merchandise imports by the reporting economy (current us$), per rising or falling in Least developed countries?
- Over the last ten years it is up 40.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Least developed countries data come from?
- The figures come from Statizoid (derived), published as part of Merchandise imports by the reporting economy (current US$), per square kilometre. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 63 observations, free to reuse under Derived by Statizoid from the sources named on the page.
How this figure is calculated
Merchandise imports by the reporting economy (current US$) divided by Land area (sq. km), matched on country and year. Neither publisher issues this ratio as a series; it is computed here from both.
Merchandise imports by the reporting economy (current US$) ÷ Land area (sq. km)
Computed from
- Merchandise imports by the reporting economy Staff estimates, World Bank (WB)
- Land area FAOSTAT, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)
Statizoid computes this series; the underlying measurements belong to the publishers named above. The arithmetic is applied to every country and year where both inputs report, and nothing is estimated unless the page says so.
About this data
Merchandise imports by the reporting economy (current US$) divided by Land area (sq. km), matched on country and year. Neither publisher issues this ratio as a series; it is computed here from both.