Merchandise imports (current US$) in Africa Western and Central
Africa Western and Central: Merchandise imports (current US$) was 163.34 billion current US$ in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
163.34 billion current US$
Change on year
up 10.0%
Rank
42nd
of 47 groups
All-time high
165.79 billion current US$
in 2022
All-time low
1.88 billion current US$
in 1960
Years of data
66
1960–2025
Merchandise imports in Africa Western and Central, 1960–2025
Source: World Trade Organization (WTO). Measured in current US$.
Analysis
Africa Western and Central recorded 163.34 billion current US$ for merchandise imports in 2025.
The figure is up 10.0% on the previous year and up 26.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, merchandise imports in Africa Western and Central peaked at 165.79 billion current US$ in 2022 and was at its lowest, 1.88 billion current US$, in 1960.
Africa Western and Central ranks 42nd of 47 groups on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Merchandise imports (current US$) in Africa Western and Central, year by year
| Year | current US$ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 1.88 billion current US$ | — |
| 1961 | 2.08 billion current US$ | +10.7% |
| 1962 | 2.03 billion current US$ | -2.5% |
| 1963 | 2.05 billion current US$ | +1.1% |
| 1964 | 2.28 billion current US$ | +11.3% |
| 1965 | 2.49 billion current US$ | +9.0% |
| 1966 | 2.39 billion current US$ | -3.8% |
| 1967 | 2.38 billion current US$ | -0.5% |
| 1968 | 2.35 billion current US$ | -1.3% |
| 1969 | 2.70 billion current US$ | +14.7% |
| 1970 | 3.30 billion current US$ | +22.3% |
| 1971 | 3.91 billion current US$ | +18.6% |
| 1972 | 4.14 billion current US$ | +5.8% |
| 1973 | 5.47 billion current US$ | +32.4% |
| 1974 | 7.71 billion current US$ | +40.7% |
| 1975 | 11.82 billion current US$ | +53.4% |
| 1976 | 14.45 billion current US$ | +22.3% |
| 1977 | 18.94 billion current US$ | +31.1% |
| 1978 | 22.12 billion current US$ | +16.8% |
| 1979 | 20.32 billion current US$ | -8.1% |
| 1980 | 29.02 billion current US$ | +42.8% |
| 1981 | 32.21 billion current US$ | +11.0% |
| 1982 | 26.57 billion current US$ | -17.5% |
| 1983 | 22.07 billion current US$ | -17.0% |
| 1984 | 17.96 billion current US$ | -18.6% |
| 1985 | 18.19 billion current US$ | +1.3% |
| 1986 | 14.94 billion current US$ | -17.9% |
| 1987 | 15.27 billion current US$ | +2.2% |
| 1988 | 15.88 billion current US$ | +4.0% |
| 1989 | 15.89 billion current US$ | +0.0% |
| 1990 | 18.20 billion current US$ | +14.5% |
| 1991 | 20.74 billion current US$ | +14.0% |
| 1992 | 21.27 billion current US$ | +2.6% |
| 1993 | 20.67 billion current US$ | -2.8% |
| 1994 | 18.61 billion current US$ | -10.0% |
| 1995 | 23.28 billion current US$ | +25.1% |
| 1996 | 23.01 billion current US$ | -1.2% |
| 1997 | 25.55 billion current US$ | +11.0% |
| 1998 | 25.62 billion current US$ | +0.3% |
| 1999 | 25.67 billion current US$ | +0.2% |
| 2000 | 24.83 billion current US$ | -3.3% |
| 2001 | 29.29 billion current US$ | +18.0% |
| 2002 | 26.26 billion current US$ | -10.4% |
| 2003 | 32.46 billion current US$ | +23.6% |
| 2004 | 40.90 billion current US$ | +26.0% |
| 2005 | 53.15 billion current US$ | +30.0% |
| 2006 | 63.74 billion current US$ | +19.9% |
| 2007 | 83.43 billion current US$ | +30.9% |
| 2008 | 109.68 billion current US$ | +31.5% |
| 2009 | 87.89 billion current US$ | -19.9% |
| 2010 | 107.89 billion current US$ | +22.8% |
| 2011 | 133.18 billion current US$ | +23.4% |
| 2012 | 137.94 billion current US$ | +3.6% |
| 2013 | 149.96 billion current US$ | +8.7% |
| 2014 | 155.68 billion current US$ | +3.8% |
| 2015 | 129.11 billion current US$ | -17.1% |
| 2016 | 116.51 billion current US$ | -9.8% |
| 2017 | 106.18 billion current US$ | -8.9% |
| 2018 | 123.47 billion current US$ | +16.3% |
| 2019 | 135.00 billion current US$ | +9.3% |
| 2020 | 111.12 billion current US$ | -17.7% |
| 2021 | 141.45 billion current US$ | +27.3% |
| 2022 | 165.79 billion current US$ | +17.2% |
| 2023 | 158.31 billion current US$ | -4.5% |
| 2024 | 148.43 billion current US$ | -6.2% |
| 2025 | 163.34 billion current US$ | +10.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 2.26 billion current US$ | 1.88 billion current US$ | 2.70 billion current US$ | 10 |
| 1970s | 11.22 billion current US$ | 3.30 billion current US$ | 22.12 billion current US$ | 10 |
| 1980s | 20.80 billion current US$ | 14.94 billion current US$ | 32.21 billion current US$ | 10 |
| 1990s | 22.26 billion current US$ | 18.20 billion current US$ | 25.67 billion current US$ | 10 |
| 2000s | 55.16 billion current US$ | 24.83 billion current US$ | 109.68 billion current US$ | 10 |
| 2010s | 129.49 billion current US$ | 106.18 billion current US$ | 155.68 billion current US$ | 10 |
| 2020s | 148.07 billion current US$ | 111.12 billion current US$ | 165.79 billion current US$ | 6 |
Countries ranked near Africa Western and Central
- 39 Slovakia 122.60 billion current US$ compare
- 40 Norway 107.32 billion current US$ compare
- 41 Egypt 97.54 billion current US$ compare
- 42 Israel 95.48 billion current US$ compare
- 43 Chile 92.66 billion current US$ compare
- 44 Greece 92.56 billion current US$ compare
- 45 Slovenia 92.53 billion current US$ compare
More private sector data for Africa Western and Central
- Merchandise trade 43.1% (2025)
- Food imports 15.2% (2024)
- Manufactures imports 48.7% (2024)
- Commercial service imports 64.22 billion current US$ (2024)
- Food exports 15.1% (2024)
- Manufactures exports 5.8% (2024)
- Merchandise exports 204.10 billion current US$ (2025)
- Commercial service exports 23.98 billion current US$ (2024)
- 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)
Frequently asked questions
- What is merchandise imports in Africa Western and Central?
- Merchandise imports in Africa Western and Central was 163.34 billion current US$ in 2025, according to World Trade Organization (WTO).
- What is the highest merchandise imports recorded in Africa Western and Central?
- The highest recorded value was 165.79 billion current US$ in 2022.
- What is the lowest merchandise imports recorded in Africa Western and Central?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.88 billion current US$ in 1960.
- How does Africa Western and Central rank for merchandise imports?
- Africa Western and Central ranks 42nd out of 47 groups with data for 2025.
- Is merchandise imports rising or falling in Africa Western and Central?
- Over the last ten years it is up 26.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Africa Western and Central data come from?
- The figures come from World Trade Organization (WTO), published as part of Merchandise imports (current US$). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Merchandise imports includes goods whose economic ownership is changed from a non-resident to a resident and that are not included in the following specific categories: goods under merchanting, non-monetary gold, and parts of travel, construction, and government goods and services n.i.e. This indicator is expressed in current prices, meaning no adjustment has been made to account for price changes over time. This indicator is expressed in United States dollars.