Merchandise imports by the reporting economy in Africa Western and Central
Africa Western and Central: Merchandise imports by the reporting economy was 177.41 billion current US$ in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2023)
177.41 billion current US$
Change on year
up 4.2%
Rank
42nd
of 47 groups
All-time high
177.41 billion current US$
in 2023
All-time low
1.38 billion current US$
in 1960
Years of data
64
1960–2023
Merchandise imports by the reporting economy in Africa Western and Central, 1960–2023
Source: Staff estimates, World Bank (WB). Measured in current US$.
Analysis
The most recent figure for merchandise imports by the reporting economy in Africa Western and Central is 177.41 billion current US$, measured in 2023. That is the highest value across all 64 years on record.
The figure is up 4.2% on the previous year and up 7.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, merchandise imports by the reporting economy in Africa Western and Central peaked at 177.41 billion current US$ in 2023 and was at its lowest, 1.38 billion current US$, in 1960.
Africa Western and Central ranks 42nd of 47 groups on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Merchandise imports by the reporting economy in Africa Western and Central, year by year
| Year | current US$ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 1.38 billion current US$ | — |
| 1961 | 1.51 billion current US$ | +10.1% |
| 1962 | 1.53 billion current US$ | +1.2% |
| 1963 | 1.70 billion current US$ | +10.9% |
| 1964 | 1.89 billion current US$ | +11.5% |
| 1965 | 2.04 billion current US$ | +7.4% |
| 1966 | 2.10 billion current US$ | +3.4% |
| 1967 | 2.12 billion current US$ | +0.7% |
| 1968 | 2.05 billion current US$ | -3.3% |
| 1969 | 2.36 billion current US$ | +15.4% |
| 1970 | 2.97 billion current US$ | +25.5% |
| 1971 | 3.52 billion current US$ | +18.5% |
| 1972 | 3.74 billion current US$ | +6.5% |
| 1973 | 4.88 billion current US$ | +30.4% |
| 1974 | 6.99 billion current US$ | +43.1% |
| 1975 | 10.66 billion current US$ | +52.6% |
| 1976 | 12.93 billion current US$ | +21.3% |
| 1977 | 17.13 billion current US$ | +32.5% |
| 1978 | 19.58 billion current US$ | +14.3% |
| 1979 | 17.99 billion current US$ | -8.1% |
| 1980 | 10.19 billion current US$ | -43.4% |
| 1981 | 28.07 billion current US$ | +175.6% |
| 1982 | 21.96 billion current US$ | -21.8% |
| 1983 | 17.94 billion current US$ | -18.3% |
| 1984 | 13.10 billion current US$ | -27.0% |
| 1985 | 14.36 billion current US$ | +9.6% |
| 1986 | 12.59 billion current US$ | -12.3% |
| 1987 | 13.88 billion current US$ | +10.2% |
| 1988 | 13.76 billion current US$ | -0.9% |
| 1989 | 13.82 billion current US$ | +0.5% |
| 1990 | 19.71 billion current US$ | +42.6% |
| 1991 | 20.31 billion current US$ | +3.0% |
| 1992 | 27.71 billion current US$ | +36.5% |
| 1993 | 24.31 billion current US$ | -12.3% |
| 1994 | 21.83 billion current US$ | -10.2% |
| 1995 | 25.04 billion current US$ | +14.7% |
| 1996 | 26.17 billion current US$ | +4.5% |
| 1997 | 25.82 billion current US$ | -1.4% |
| 1998 | 30.36 billion current US$ | +17.6% |
| 1999 | 27.72 billion current US$ | -8.7% |
| 2000 | 20.97 billion current US$ | -24.3% |
| 2001 | 24.24 billion current US$ | +15.6% |
| 2002 | 25.47 billion current US$ | +5.1% |
| 2003 | 40.90 billion current US$ | +60.6% |
| 2004 | 51.01 billion current US$ | +24.7% |
| 2005 | 61.93 billion current US$ | +21.4% |
| 2006 | 71.97 billion current US$ | +16.2% |
| 2007 | 86.64 billion current US$ | +20.4% |
| 2008 | 119.22 billion current US$ | +37.6% |
| 2009 | 101.57 billion current US$ | -14.8% |
| 2010 | 118.57 billion current US$ | +16.7% |
| 2011 | 149.29 billion current US$ | +25.9% |
| 2012 | 146.03 billion current US$ | -2.2% |
| 2013 | 164.90 billion current US$ | +12.9% |
| 2014 | 170.64 billion current US$ | +3.5% |
| 2015 | 136.49 billion current US$ | -20.0% |
| 2016 | 118.56 billion current US$ | -13.1% |
| 2017 | 126.50 billion current US$ | +6.7% |
| 2018 | 134.13 billion current US$ | +6.0% |
| 2019 | 137.71 billion current US$ | +2.7% |
| 2020 | 131.04 billion current US$ | -4.8% |
| 2021 | 142.50 billion current US$ | +8.7% |
| 2022 | 170.22 billion current US$ | +19.5% |
| 2023 | 177.41 billion current US$ | +4.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 1.87 billion current US$ | 1.38 billion current US$ | 2.36 billion current US$ | 10 |
| 1970s | 10.04 billion current US$ | 2.97 billion current US$ | 19.58 billion current US$ | 10 |
| 1980s | 15.97 billion current US$ | 10.19 billion current US$ | 28.07 billion current US$ | 10 |
| 1990s | 24.90 billion current US$ | 19.71 billion current US$ | 30.36 billion current US$ | 10 |
| 2000s | 60.39 billion current US$ | 20.97 billion current US$ | 119.22 billion current US$ | 10 |
| 2010s | 140.28 billion current US$ | 118.56 billion current US$ | 170.64 billion current US$ | 10 |
| 2020s | 155.29 billion current US$ | 131.04 billion current US$ | 177.41 billion current US$ | 4 |
Countries ranked near Africa Western and Central
- 39 South Africa 112.46 billion current US$ compare
- 40 Norway 96.77 billion current US$ compare
- 41 Greece 88.37 billion current US$ compare
- 42 Finland 82.82 billion current US$ compare
- 43 Chile 82.01 billion current US$ compare
- 44 Israel 81.21 billion current US$ compare
- 45 Egypt 73.57 billion current US$ compare
More private sector data for Africa Western and Central
- Merchandise trade 43.1% (2025)
- Food imports 15.3% (2023)
- Manufactures imports 54.3% (2023)
- Merchandise imports 163.34 billion current US$ (2025)
- Food exports 12.1% (2023)
- Manufactures exports 7.0% (2023)
- Merchandise exports 204.10 billion current US$ (2025)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), per capita 383.07 current US$ per person (2025)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), per unit of GDP 0.2394 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), annual growth rate 20.81 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is merchandise imports by the reporting economy in Africa Western and Central?
- Merchandise imports by the reporting economy in Africa Western and Central was 177.41 billion current US$ in 2023, according to Staff estimates, World Bank (WB).
- What is the highest merchandise imports by the reporting economy recorded in Africa Western and Central?
- The highest recorded value was 177.41 billion current US$ in 2023.
- What is the lowest merchandise imports by the reporting economy recorded in Africa Western and Central?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.38 billion current US$ in 1960.
- How does Africa Western and Central rank for merchandise imports by the reporting economy?
- Africa Western and Central ranks 42nd out of 47 groups with data for 2023.
- Is merchandise imports by the reporting economy rising or falling in Africa Western and Central?
- Over the last ten years it is up 7.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Africa Western and Central data come from?
- The figures come from Staff estimates, World Bank (WB), published as part of Merchandise imports by the reporting economy (current US$). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Merchandise imports by the reporting economy are the total merchandise imports by the reporting economy from the rest of the world, as reported in the IMF's Direction of trade database. Data are in current U.S. dollars.