Merchandise imports by the reporting economy (current US$) in Sub-Saharan Africa
Sub-Saharan Africa: Merchandise imports by the reporting economy (current US$) was 467.85 billion current US$ in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Merchandise imports by the reporting economy in Sub-Saharan Africa, 1960–2023
Source: Staff estimates, World Bank (WB). Measured in current US$.
Analysis
Sub-Saharan Africa recorded 467.85 billion current US$ for merchandise imports by the reporting economy in 2023. That is the highest value across all 64 years on record.
That represents a change of up 1.4% on the previous year and up 8.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, merchandise imports by the reporting economy in Sub-Saharan Africa peaked at 467.85 billion current US$ in 2023 and was at its lowest, 2.37 billion current US$, in 1960.
Sub-Saharan Africa ranks 31st of 47 groups on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Merchandise imports by the reporting economy (current US$) in Sub-Saharan Africa, year by year
| Year | current US$ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 2.37 billion current US$ | — |
| 1961 | 2.53 billion current US$ | +6.9% |
| 1962 | 2.66 billion current US$ | +5.1% |
| 1963 | 3.07 billion current US$ | +15.6% |
| 1964 | 3.91 billion current US$ | +27.2% |
| 1965 | 4.32 billion current US$ | +10.6% |
| 1966 | 4.37 billion current US$ | +1.2% |
| 1967 | 4.36 billion current US$ | -0.4% |
| 1968 | 4.69 billion current US$ | +7.6% |
| 1969 | 5.18 billion current US$ | +10.5% |
| 1970 | 6.19 billion current US$ | +19.6% |
| 1971 | 6.90 billion current US$ | +11.5% |
| 1972 | 7.58 billion current US$ | +9.9% |
| 1973 | 9.37 billion current US$ | +23.5% |
| 1974 | 13.24 billion current US$ | +41.3% |
| 1975 | 16.92 billion current US$ | +27.8% |
| 1976 | 18.30 billion current US$ | +8.2% |
| 1977 | 23.51 billion current US$ | +28.5% |
| 1978 | 26.24 billion current US$ | +11.6% |
| 1979 | 25.02 billion current US$ | -4.6% |
| 1980 | 19.90 billion current US$ | -20.5% |
| 1981 | 40.57 billion current US$ | +103.9% |
| 1982 | 32.88 billion current US$ | -19.0% |
| 1983 | 27.46 billion current US$ | -16.5% |
| 1984 | 22.54 billion current US$ | -17.9% |
| 1985 | 24.04 billion current US$ | +6.6% |
| 1986 | 22.35 billion current US$ | -7.0% |
| 1987 | 25.32 billion current US$ | +13.3% |
| 1988 | 26.06 billion current US$ | +2.9% |
| 1989 | 27.82 billion current US$ | +6.8% |
| 1990 | 35.07 billion current US$ | +26.1% |
| 1991 | 34.56 billion current US$ | -1.5% |
| 1992 | 43.45 billion current US$ | +25.7% |
| 1993 | 38.35 billion current US$ | -11.7% |
| 1994 | 37.63 billion current US$ | -1.9% |
| 1995 | 43.93 billion current US$ | +16.7% |
| 1996 | 45.42 billion current US$ | +3.4% |
| 1997 | 46.60 billion current US$ | +2.6% |
| 1998 | 79.45 billion current US$ | +70.5% |
| 1999 | 73.24 billion current US$ | -7.8% |
| 2000 | 76.36 billion current US$ | +4.3% |
| 2001 | 78.54 billion current US$ | +2.9% |
| 2002 | 82.42 billion current US$ | +4.9% |
| 2003 | 113.73 billion current US$ | +38.0% |
| 2004 | 140.63 billion current US$ | +23.7% |
| 2005 | 175.59 billion current US$ | +24.9% |
| 2006 | 210.90 billion current US$ | +20.1% |
| 2007 | 255.71 billion current US$ | +21.2% |
| 2008 | 325.38 billion current US$ | +27.2% |
| 2009 | 275.90 billion current US$ | -15.2% |
| 2010 | 312.88 billion current US$ | +13.4% |
| 2011 | 391.01 billion current US$ | +25.0% |
| 2012 | 405.53 billion current US$ | +3.7% |
| 2013 | 429.72 billion current US$ | +6.0% |
| 2014 | 438.47 billion current US$ | +2.0% |
| 2015 | 374.15 billion current US$ | -14.7% |
| 2016 | 320.15 billion current US$ | -14.4% |
| 2017 | 346.24 billion current US$ | +8.2% |
| 2018 | 373.43 billion current US$ | +7.9% |
| 2019 | 369.27 billion current US$ | -1.1% |
| 2020 | 330.87 billion current US$ | -10.4% |
| 2021 | 386.55 billion current US$ | +16.8% |
| 2022 | 461.28 billion current US$ | +19.3% |
| 2023 | 467.85 billion current US$ | +1.4% |
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Merchandise imports by the reporting economy (current US$) in Sub-Saharan Africa changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1981 | +103.9% | 19.90 billion current US$ | 40.57 billion current US$ |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 3.75 billion current US$ | 2.37 billion current US$ | 5.18 billion current US$ | 10 |
| 1970s | 15.33 billion current US$ | 6.19 billion current US$ | 26.24 billion current US$ | 10 |
| 1980s | 26.90 billion current US$ | 19.90 billion current US$ | 40.57 billion current US$ | 10 |
| 1990s | 47.77 billion current US$ | 34.56 billion current US$ | 79.45 billion current US$ | 10 |
| 2000s | 173.51 billion current US$ | 76.36 billion current US$ | 325.38 billion current US$ | 10 |
| 2010s | 376.09 billion current US$ | 312.88 billion current US$ | 438.47 billion current US$ | 10 |
| 2020s | 411.64 billion current US$ | 330.87 billion current US$ | 467.85 billion current US$ | 4 |
Countries ranked near Sub-Saharan Africa
- 28 Austria 226.25 billion current US$ compare
- 29 Indonesia 221.78 billion current US$ compare
- 30 Saudi Arabia 210.68 billion current US$ compare
- 31 Sweden 192.82 billion current US$ compare
- 32 Hungary 153.87 billion current US$ compare
- 33 Ireland 150.13 billion current US$ compare
- 34 Romania 131.91 billion current US$ compare
More private sector data for Sub-Saharan Africa
- Merchandise trade 44.5% (2025)
- Food imports 12.3% (2024)
- Manufactures imports 56.9% (2024)
- Merchandise imports 501.15 billion current US$ (2025)
- Commercial service imports 147.11 billion current US$ (2025)
- Food exports 14.6% (2025)
- Manufactures exports 19.5% (2025)
- Merchandise exports 486.80 billion current US$ (2025)
- Commercial service exports 88.65 billion current US$ (2025)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), per capita 368.33 current US$ per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is merchandise imports by the reporting economy in Sub-Saharan Africa?
- Merchandise imports by the reporting economy in Sub-Saharan Africa was 467.85 billion current US$ in 2023, according to Staff estimates, World Bank (WB).
- What is the highest merchandise imports by the reporting economy recorded in Sub-Saharan Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 467.85 billion current US$ in 2023.
- What is the lowest merchandise imports by the reporting economy recorded in Sub-Saharan Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.37 billion current US$ in 1960.
- How does Sub-Saharan Africa rank for merchandise imports by the reporting economy?
- Sub-Saharan Africa ranks 31st out of 47 groups with data for 2023.
- Is merchandise imports by the reporting economy rising or falling in Sub-Saharan Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 8.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Sub-Saharan Africa 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.