Merchandise imports by the reporting economy in South Asia
South Asia: Merchandise imports by the reporting economy was 763.30 billion current US$ in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2023)
763.30 billion current US$
Change on year
down 10.2%
Rank
25th
of 45 groups
All-time high
850.33 billion current US$
in 2022
All-time low
2.08 billion current US$
in 1969
Years of data
64
1960–2023
Merchandise imports by the reporting economy in South Asia, 1960–2023
Source: Staff estimates, World Bank (WB). Measured in current US$.
Analysis
In 2023, merchandise imports by the reporting economy in South Asia stood at 763.30 billion current US$.
The figure is down 10.2% on the previous year and up 44.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, merchandise imports by the reporting economy in South Asia peaked at 850.33 billion current US$ in 2022 and was at its lowest, 2.08 billion current US$, in 1969.
That places South Asia 25th out of 45 groups with data for 2023, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Merchandise imports by the reporting economy in South Asia, year by year
| Year | current US$ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 2.50 billion current US$ | — |
| 1961 | 2.38 billion current US$ | -5.0% |
| 1962 | 2.38 billion current US$ | +0.3% |
| 1963 | 2.49 billion current US$ | +4.3% |
| 1964 | 2.73 billion current US$ | +9.7% |
| 1965 | 2.73 billion current US$ | +0.0% |
| 1966 | 2.79 billion current US$ | +2.2% |
| 1967 | 2.72 billion current US$ | -2.6% |
| 1968 | 2.51 billion current US$ | -7.6% |
| 1969 | 2.08 billion current US$ | -17.0% |
| 1970 | 2.17 billion current US$ | +4.2% |
| 1971 | 2.45 billion current US$ | +12.8% |
| 1972 | 2.16 billion current US$ | -11.7% |
| 1973 | 4.00 billion current US$ | +85.3% |
| 1974 | 5.76 billion current US$ | +43.8% |
| 1975 | 7.27 billion current US$ | +26.3% |
| 1976 | 5.92 billion current US$ | -18.6% |
| 1977 | 7.45 billion current US$ | +25.8% |
| 1978 | 8.92 billion current US$ | +19.8% |
| 1979 | 11.43 billion current US$ | +28.2% |
| 1980 | 17.11 billion current US$ | +49.6% |
| 1981 | 16.75 billion current US$ | -2.1% |
| 1982 | 17.55 billion current US$ | +4.8% |
| 1983 | 15.58 billion current US$ | -11.3% |
| 1984 | 16.98 billion current US$ | +9.0% |
| 1985 | 18.07 billion current US$ | +6.4% |
| 1986 | 17.52 billion current US$ | -3.1% |
| 1987 | 19.09 billion current US$ | +9.0% |
| 1988 | 21.50 billion current US$ | +12.6% |
| 1989 | 21.73 billion current US$ | +1.1% |
| 1990 | 26.72 billion current US$ | +23.0% |
| 1991 | 21.68 billion current US$ | -18.9% |
| 1992 | 28.13 billion current US$ | +29.8% |
| 1993 | 26.96 billion current US$ | -4.1% |
| 1994 | 33.03 billion current US$ | +22.5% |
| 1995 | 42.23 billion current US$ | +27.8% |
| 1996 | 46.43 billion current US$ | +9.9% |
| 1997 | 53.77 billion current US$ | +15.8% |
| 1998 | 55.77 billion current US$ | +3.7% |
| 1999 | 61.66 billion current US$ | +10.6% |
| 2000 | 54.14 billion current US$ | -12.2% |
| 2001 | 51.21 billion current US$ | -5.4% |
| 2002 | 56.71 billion current US$ | +10.7% |
| 2003 | 71.19 billion current US$ | +25.5% |
| 2004 | 93.90 billion current US$ | +31.9% |
| 2005 | 123.06 billion current US$ | +31.1% |
| 2006 | 193.11 billion current US$ | +56.9% |
| 2007 | 264.82 billion current US$ | +37.1% |
| 2008 | 359.03 billion current US$ | +35.6% |
| 2009 | 290.22 billion current US$ | -19.2% |
| 2010 | 392.32 billion current US$ | +35.2% |
| 2011 | 520.88 billion current US$ | +32.8% |
| 2012 | 545.25 billion current US$ | +4.7% |
| 2013 | 527.79 billion current US$ | -3.2% |
| 2014 | 521.81 billion current US$ | -1.1% |
| 2015 | 444.95 billion current US$ | -14.7% |
| 2016 | 418.11 billion current US$ | -6.0% |
| 2017 | 514.02 billion current US$ | +22.9% |
| 2018 | 597.88 billion current US$ | +16.3% |
| 2019 | 568.30 billion current US$ | -4.9% |
| 2020 | 440.58 billion current US$ | -22.5% |
| 2021 | 676.36 billion current US$ | +53.5% |
| 2022 | 850.33 billion current US$ | +25.7% |
| 2023 | 763.30 billion current US$ | -10.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 2.53 billion current US$ | 2.08 billion current US$ | 2.79 billion current US$ | 10 |
| 1970s | 5.75 billion current US$ | 2.16 billion current US$ | 11.43 billion current US$ | 10 |
| 1980s | 18.19 billion current US$ | 15.58 billion current US$ | 21.73 billion current US$ | 10 |
| 1990s | 39.64 billion current US$ | 21.68 billion current US$ | 61.66 billion current US$ | 10 |
| 2000s | 155.74 billion current US$ | 51.21 billion current US$ | 359.03 billion current US$ | 10 |
| 2010s | 505.13 billion current US$ | 392.32 billion current US$ | 597.88 billion current US$ | 10 |
| 2020s | 682.64 billion current US$ | 440.58 billion current US$ | 850.33 billion current US$ | 4 |
Countries ranked near South Asia
- 22 Australia 287.89 billion current US$ compare
- 23 Thailand 284.28 billion current US$ compare
- 24 Malaysia 266.54 billion current US$ compare
- 25 Russian Federation 262.13 billion current US$ compare
- 26 Brazil 254.86 billion current US$ compare
- 27 Czechia 229.43 billion current US$ compare
- 28 Austria 226.25 billion current US$ compare
More private sector data for South Asia
- Merchandise trade 30.0% (2025)
- Food imports 5.6% (2024)
- Manufactures imports 47.1% (2024)
- Merchandise imports 864.53 billion current US$ (2025)
- Food exports 11.8% (2024)
- Manufactures exports 67.0% (2024)
- Merchandise exports 510.58 billion current US$ (2025)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), per capita 301.72 current US$ per person (2025)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), per unit of GDP 0.1115 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), annual growth rate 1.04 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is merchandise imports by the reporting economy in South Asia?
- Merchandise imports by the reporting economy in South Asia was 763.30 billion current US$ in 2023, according to Staff estimates, World Bank (WB).
- What is the highest merchandise imports by the reporting economy recorded in South Asia?
- The highest recorded value was 850.33 billion current US$ in 2022.
- What is the lowest merchandise imports by the reporting economy recorded in South Asia?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.08 billion current US$ in 1969.
- How does South Asia rank for merchandise imports by the reporting economy?
- South Asia ranks 25th out of 45 groups with data for 2023.
- Is merchandise imports by the reporting economy rising or falling in South Asia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 44.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South Asia 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.