Merchandise imports by the reporting economy in Least developed countries
Least developed countries: Merchandise imports by the reporting economy was 324.22 billion current US$ in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2023)
324.22 billion current US$
Change on year
down 4.7%
Rank
36th
of 45 groups
All-time high
340.14 billion current US$
in 2022
All-time low
1.35 billion current US$
in 1961
Years of data
64
1960–2023
Merchandise imports by the reporting economy in Least developed countries, 1960–2023
Source: Staff estimates, World Bank (WB). Measured in current US$.
Analysis
In 2023, merchandise imports by the reporting economy in Least developed countries stood at 324.22 billion current US$.
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 in Least developed countries peaked at 340.14 billion current US$ in 2022 and was at its lowest, 1.35 billion current US$, in 1961.
Least developed countries ranks 36th of 45 groups on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Merchandise imports by the reporting economy in Least developed countries, year by year
| Year | current US$ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 1.37 billion current US$ | — |
| 1961 | 1.35 billion current US$ | -1.3% |
| 1962 | 1.57 billion current US$ | +16.0% |
| 1963 | 1.91 billion current US$ | +21.7% |
| 1964 | 2.36 billion current US$ | +23.7% |
| 1965 | 2.53 billion current US$ | +7.3% |
| 1966 | 2.72 billion current US$ | +7.4% |
| 1967 | 2.85 billion current US$ | +5.1% |
| 1968 | 3.26 billion current US$ | +14.3% |
| 1969 | 3.49 billion current US$ | +7.0% |
| 1970 | 3.95 billion current US$ | +13.1% |
| 1971 | 4.02 billion current US$ | +1.9% |
| 1972 | 4.54 billion current US$ | +12.8% |
| 1973 | 6.34 billion current US$ | +39.7% |
| 1974 | 8.16 billion current US$ | +28.8% |
| 1975 | 8.64 billion current US$ | +5.9% |
| 1976 | 7.31 billion current US$ | -15.4% |
| 1977 | 8.95 billion current US$ | +22.4% |
| 1978 | 9.37 billion current US$ | +4.8% |
| 1979 | 10.78 billion current US$ | +15.0% |
| 1980 | 13.83 billion current US$ | +28.3% |
| 1981 | 17.28 billion current US$ | +25.0% |
| 1982 | 15.55 billion current US$ | -10.0% |
| 1983 | 13.86 billion current US$ | -10.9% |
| 1984 | 14.12 billion current US$ | +1.9% |
| 1985 | 14.49 billion current US$ | +2.7% |
| 1986 | 14.23 billion current US$ | -1.8% |
| 1987 | 16.27 billion current US$ | +14.3% |
| 1988 | 17.24 billion current US$ | +6.0% |
| 1989 | 18.51 billion current US$ | +7.4% |
| 1990 | 27.22 billion current US$ | +47.0% |
| 1991 | 26.30 billion current US$ | -3.4% |
| 1992 | 31.20 billion current US$ | +18.7% |
| 1993 | 30.02 billion current US$ | -3.8% |
| 1994 | 31.09 billion current US$ | +3.6% |
| 1995 | 36.79 billion current US$ | +18.4% |
| 1996 | 36.71 billion current US$ | -0.2% |
| 1997 | 37.11 billion current US$ | +1.1% |
| 1998 | 40.45 billion current US$ | +9.0% |
| 1999 | 38.48 billion current US$ | -4.9% |
| 2000 | 40.25 billion current US$ | +4.6% |
| 2001 | 40.47 billion current US$ | +0.6% |
| 2002 | 43.41 billion current US$ | +7.3% |
| 2003 | 52.20 billion current US$ | +20.3% |
| 2004 | 62.21 billion current US$ | +19.2% |
| 2005 | 78.12 billion current US$ | +25.6% |
| 2006 | 91.69 billion current US$ | +17.4% |
| 2007 | 109.92 billion current US$ | +19.9% |
| 2008 | 150.94 billion current US$ | +37.3% |
| 2009 | 142.89 billion current US$ | -5.3% |
| 2010 | 159.63 billion current US$ | +11.7% |
| 2011 | 198.23 billion current US$ | +24.2% |
| 2012 | 212.14 billion current US$ | +7.0% |
| 2013 | 230.53 billion current US$ | +8.7% |
| 2014 | 247.51 billion current US$ | +7.4% |
| 2015 | 227.04 billion current US$ | -8.3% |
| 2016 | 207.91 billion current US$ | -8.4% |
| 2017 | 233.43 billion current US$ | +12.3% |
| 2018 | 255.29 billion current US$ | +9.4% |
| 2019 | 259.44 billion current US$ | +1.6% |
| 2020 | 238.21 billion current US$ | -8.2% |
| 2021 | 288.49 billion current US$ | +21.1% |
| 2022 | 340.14 billion current US$ | +17.9% |
| 2023 | 324.22 billion current US$ | -4.7% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 2.34 billion current US$ | 1.35 billion current US$ | 3.49 billion current US$ | 10 |
| 1970s | 7.21 billion current US$ | 3.95 billion current US$ | 10.78 billion current US$ | 10 |
| 1980s | 15.54 billion current US$ | 13.83 billion current US$ | 18.51 billion current US$ | 10 |
| 1990s | 33.54 billion current US$ | 26.30 billion current US$ | 40.45 billion current US$ | 10 |
| 2000s | 81.21 billion current US$ | 40.25 billion current US$ | 150.94 billion current US$ | 10 |
| 2010s | 223.11 billion current US$ | 159.63 billion current US$ | 259.44 billion current US$ | 10 |
| 2020s | 297.77 billion current US$ | 238.21 billion current US$ | 340.14 billion current US$ | 4 |
Countries ranked near Least developed countries
- 33 Ireland 150.13 billion current US$ compare
- 34 Romania 131.91 billion current US$ compare
- 35 Philippines 126.11 billion current US$ compare
- 36 Denmark 120.45 billion current US$ compare
- 37 Portugal 113.59 billion current US$ compare
- 38 Slovakia 113.39 billion current US$ compare
- 39 South Africa 112.46 billion current US$ 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$), annual growth rate 10.88 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is merchandise imports by the reporting economy in Least developed countries?
- Merchandise imports by the reporting economy in Least developed countries was 324.22 billion current US$ in 2023, according to Staff estimates, World Bank (WB).
- What is the highest merchandise imports by the reporting economy recorded in Least developed countries?
- The highest recorded value was 340.14 billion current US$ in 2022.
- What is the lowest merchandise imports by the reporting economy recorded in Least developed countries?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.35 billion current US$ in 1961.
- How does Least developed countries rank for merchandise imports by the reporting economy?
- Least developed countries ranks 36th out of 45 groups with data for 2023.
- Is merchandise imports by the reporting economy 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 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.