Merchandise imports by the reporting economy in United Kingdom
United Kingdom: Merchandise imports by the reporting economy was 721.75 billion current US$ in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2023)
721.75 billion current US$
Change on year
down 9.0%
World rank
7th
of 206 countries
All-time high
793.25 billion current US$
in 2022
All-time low
11.57 billion current US$
in 1961
Years of data
64
1960–2023
Merchandise imports by the reporting economy in United Kingdom, 1960–2023
Source: Staff estimates, World Bank (WB). Measured in current US$.
Analysis
United Kingdom recorded 721.75 billion current US$ for merchandise imports by the reporting economy in 2023.
The figure is down 9.0% on the previous year and up 13.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, merchandise imports by the reporting economy in United Kingdom peaked at 793.25 billion current US$ in 2022 and was at its lowest, 11.57 billion current US$, in 1961.
United Kingdom ranks 7th of 206 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Merchandise imports by the reporting economy in United Kingdom, year by year
| Year | current US$ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 11.90 billion current US$ | — |
| 1961 | 11.57 billion current US$ | -2.8% |
| 1962 | 11.81 billion current US$ | +2.1% |
| 1963 | 12.71 billion current US$ | +7.6% |
| 1964 | 14.89 billion current US$ | +17.2% |
| 1965 | 15.01 billion current US$ | +0.8% |
| 1966 | 15.62 billion current US$ | +4.1% |
| 1967 | 16.69 billion current US$ | +6.8% |
| 1968 | 17.91 billion current US$ | +7.3% |
| 1969 | 18.77 billion current US$ | +4.8% |
| 1970 | 20.45 billion current US$ | +8.9% |
| 1971 | 22.56 billion current US$ | +10.3% |
| 1972 | 26.25 billion current US$ | +16.3% |
| 1973 | 36.59 billion current US$ | +39.4% |
| 1974 | 51.30 billion current US$ | +40.2% |
| 1975 | 49.84 billion current US$ | -2.8% |
| 1976 | 51.88 billion current US$ | +4.1% |
| 1977 | 58.24 billion current US$ | +12.3% |
| 1978 | 70.26 billion current US$ | +20.6% |
| 1979 | 92.90 billion current US$ | +32.2% |
| 1980 | 108.41 billion current US$ | +16.7% |
| 1981 | 96.21 billion current US$ | -11.2% |
| 1982 | 92.60 billion current US$ | -3.8% |
| 1983 | 93.27 billion current US$ | +0.7% |
| 1984 | 97.60 billion current US$ | +4.6% |
| 1985 | 101.85 billion current US$ | +4.4% |
| 1986 | 117.85 billion current US$ | +15.7% |
| 1987 | 144.19 billion current US$ | +22.4% |
| 1988 | 177.44 billion current US$ | +23.1% |
| 1989 | 186.57 billion current US$ | +5.1% |
| 1990 | 209.04 billion current US$ | +12.0% |
| 1991 | 196.78 billion current US$ | -5.9% |
| 1992 | 208.28 billion current US$ | +5.8% |
| 1993 | 187.80 billion current US$ | -9.8% |
| 1994 | 207.54 billion current US$ | +10.5% |
| 1995 | 240.78 billion current US$ | +16.0% |
| 1996 | 260.04 billion current US$ | +8.0% |
| 1997 | 274.87 billion current US$ | +5.7% |
| 1998 | 281.20 billion current US$ | +2.3% |
| 1999 | 320.09 billion current US$ | +13.8% |
| 2000 | 333.99 billion current US$ | +4.3% |
| 2001 | 313.08 billion current US$ | -6.3% |
| 2002 | 326.81 billion current US$ | +4.4% |
| 2003 | 375.18 billion current US$ | +14.8% |
| 2004 | 439.39 billion current US$ | +17.1% |
| 2005 | 482.13 billion current US$ | +9.7% |
| 2006 | 549.83 billion current US$ | +14.0% |
| 2007 | 611.93 billion current US$ | +11.3% |
| 2008 | 631.75 billion current US$ | +3.2% |
| 2009 | 495.70 billion current US$ | -21.5% |
| 2010 | 561.00 billion current US$ | +13.2% |
| 2011 | 657.23 billion current US$ | +17.2% |
| 2012 | 671.98 billion current US$ | +2.2% |
| 2013 | 634.75 billion current US$ | -5.5% |
| 2014 | 669.54 billion current US$ | +5.5% |
| 2015 | 615.80 billion current US$ | -8.0% |
| 2016 | 625.21 billion current US$ | +1.5% |
| 2017 | 627.61 billion current US$ | +0.4% |
| 2018 | 657.50 billion current US$ | +4.8% |
| 2019 | 678.01 billion current US$ | +3.1% |
| 2020 | 567.99 billion current US$ | -16.2% |
| 2021 | 679.12 billion current US$ | +19.6% |
| 2022 | 793.25 billion current US$ | +16.8% |
| 2023 | 721.75 billion current US$ | -9.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 14.69 billion current US$ | 11.57 billion current US$ | 18.77 billion current US$ | 10 |
| 1970s | 48.03 billion current US$ | 20.45 billion current US$ | 92.90 billion current US$ | 10 |
| 1980s | 121.60 billion current US$ | 92.60 billion current US$ | 186.57 billion current US$ | 10 |
| 1990s | 238.64 billion current US$ | 187.80 billion current US$ | 320.09 billion current US$ | 10 |
| 2000s | 455.98 billion current US$ | 313.08 billion current US$ | 631.75 billion current US$ | 10 |
| 2010s | 639.86 billion current US$ | 561.00 billion current US$ | 678.01 billion current US$ | 10 |
| 2020s | 690.53 billion current US$ | 567.99 billion current US$ | 793.25 billion current US$ | 4 |
Countries ranked near United Kingdom
More private sector data for United Kingdom
- Merchandise trade 37.6% (2025)
- Food imports 9.8% (2025)
- Manufactures imports 56.7% (2025)
- Merchandise imports 948.64 billion current US$ (2025)
- Food exports 6.7% (2025)
- Manufactures exports 59.3% (2025)
- Merchandise exports 555.83 billion current US$ (2025)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), per capita 7,999 current US$ per person (2025)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), per unit of GDP 0.1389 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), annual growth rate 6.02 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is merchandise imports by the reporting economy in United Kingdom?
- Merchandise imports by the reporting economy in United Kingdom was 721.75 billion current US$ in 2023, according to Staff estimates, World Bank (WB).
- What is the highest merchandise imports by the reporting economy recorded in United Kingdom?
- The highest recorded value was 793.25 billion current US$ in 2022.
- What is the lowest merchandise imports by the reporting economy recorded in United Kingdom?
- The lowest recorded value was 11.57 billion current US$ in 1961.
- How does United Kingdom rank for merchandise imports by the reporting economy?
- United Kingdom ranks 7th out of 206 countries with data for 2023.
- Is merchandise imports by the reporting economy rising or falling in United Kingdom?
- Over the last ten years it is up 13.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this United Kingdom 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.