Merchandise imports in Least developed countries
Least developed countries: Merchandise imports was 376.94 billion current US$ in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
376.94 billion current US$
Change on year
up 10.5%
Rank
37th
of 47 groups
All-time high
376.94 billion current US$
in 2025
All-time low
3.01 billion current US$
in 1960
Years of data
66
1960–2025
Merchandise imports in Least developed countries, 1960–2025
Source: World Trade Organization (WTO). Measured in current US$.
Analysis
The most recent figure for merchandise imports in Least developed countries is 376.94 billion current US$, measured in 2025. That is the highest value across all 66 years on record.
The figure is up 10.5% on the previous year and up 55.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, merchandise imports in Least developed countries peaked at 376.94 billion current US$ in 2025 and was at its lowest, 3.01 billion current US$, in 1960.
That places Least developed countries 37th out of 47 groups with data for 2025, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Merchandise imports in Least developed countries, year by year
| Year | current US$ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 3.01 billion current US$ | — |
| 1961 | 3.08 billion current US$ | +2.3% |
| 1962 | 3.10 billion current US$ | +0.7% |
| 1963 | 3.31 billion current US$ | +6.6% |
| 1964 | 3.58 billion current US$ | +8.2% |
| 1965 | 3.83 billion current US$ | +7.1% |
| 1966 | 3.98 billion current US$ | +3.9% |
| 1967 | 4.08 billion current US$ | +2.5% |
| 1968 | 4.35 billion current US$ | +6.6% |
| 1969 | 4.67 billion current US$ | +7.3% |
| 1970 | 5.14 billion current US$ | +10.0% |
| 1971 | 5.81 billion current US$ | +13.2% |
| 1972 | 6.01 billion current US$ | +3.4% |
| 1973 | 7.58 billion current US$ | +26.1% |
| 1974 | 9.77 billion current US$ | +28.9% |
| 1975 | 11.00 billion current US$ | +12.6% |
| 1976 | 10.14 billion current US$ | -7.8% |
| 1977 | 12.56 billion current US$ | +23.9% |
| 1978 | 15.45 billion current US$ | +23.0% |
| 1979 | 17.82 billion current US$ | +15.4% |
| 1980 | 24.01 billion current US$ | +34.7% |
| 1981 | 24.08 billion current US$ | +0.3% |
| 1982 | 21.95 billion current US$ | -8.9% |
| 1983 | 20.35 billion current US$ | -7.3% |
| 1984 | 20.71 billion current US$ | +1.8% |
| 1985 | 20.36 billion current US$ | -1.7% |
| 1986 | 20.58 billion current US$ | +1.1% |
| 1987 | 22.02 billion current US$ | +7.0% |
| 1988 | 24.04 billion current US$ | +9.2% |
| 1989 | 24.71 billion current US$ | +2.8% |
| 1990 | 26.15 billion current US$ | +5.9% |
| 1991 | 25.03 billion current US$ | -4.3% |
| 1992 | 27.26 billion current US$ | +8.9% |
| 1993 | 27.44 billion current US$ | +0.7% |
| 1994 | 28.23 billion current US$ | +2.9% |
| 1995 | 33.91 billion current US$ | +20.1% |
| 1996 | 36.92 billion current US$ | +8.9% |
| 1997 | 37.99 billion current US$ | +2.9% |
| 1998 | 39.19 billion current US$ | +3.2% |
| 1999 | 41.09 billion current US$ | +4.8% |
| 2000 | 42.92 billion current US$ | +4.5% |
| 2001 | 46.11 billion current US$ | +7.4% |
| 2002 | 49.02 billion current US$ | +6.3% |
| 2003 | 58.73 billion current US$ | +19.8% |
| 2004 | 69.32 billion current US$ | +18.0% |
| 2005 | 85.77 billion current US$ | +23.7% |
| 2006 | 98.61 billion current US$ | +15.0% |
| 2007 | 122.02 billion current US$ | +23.7% |
| 2008 | 158.44 billion current US$ | +29.9% |
| 2009 | 149.20 billion current US$ | -5.8% |
| 2010 | 164.75 billion current US$ | +10.4% |
| 2011 | 203.07 billion current US$ | +23.3% |
| 2012 | 223.85 billion current US$ | +10.2% |
| 2013 | 241.59 billion current US$ | +7.9% |
| 2014 | 258.17 billion current US$ | +6.9% |
| 2015 | 241.74 billion current US$ | -6.4% |
| 2016 | 221.83 billion current US$ | -8.2% |
| 2017 | 247.09 billion current US$ | +11.4% |
| 2018 | 274.52 billion current US$ | +11.1% |
| 2019 | 275.38 billion current US$ | +0.3% |
| 2020 | 248.93 billion current US$ | -9.6% |
| 2021 | 312.63 billion current US$ | +25.6% |
| 2022 | 360.86 billion current US$ | +15.4% |
| 2023 | 338.78 billion current US$ | -6.1% |
| 2024 | 341.11 billion current US$ | +0.7% |
| 2025 | 376.94 billion current US$ | +10.5% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 3.70 billion current US$ | 3.01 billion current US$ | 4.67 billion current US$ | 10 |
| 1970s | 10.13 billion current US$ | 5.14 billion current US$ | 17.82 billion current US$ | 10 |
| 1980s | 22.28 billion current US$ | 20.35 billion current US$ | 24.71 billion current US$ | 10 |
| 1990s | 32.32 billion current US$ | 25.03 billion current US$ | 41.09 billion current US$ | 10 |
| 2000s | 88.01 billion current US$ | 42.92 billion current US$ | 158.44 billion current US$ | 10 |
| 2010s | 235.20 billion current US$ | 164.75 billion current US$ | 275.38 billion current US$ | 10 |
| 2020s | 329.87 billion current US$ | 248.93 billion current US$ | 376.94 billion current US$ | 6 |
Countries ranked near Least developed countries
- 34 Romania 146.04 billion current US$ compare
- 35 Philippines 141.20 billion current US$ compare
- 36 Denmark 136.23 billion current US$ compare
- 37 South Africa 128.08 billion current US$ compare
- 38 Portugal 125.85 billion current US$ compare
- 39 Slovakia 122.60 billion current US$ compare
- 40 Norway 107.32 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)
- 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$), annual growth rate 10.88 % change on previous year (2025)
- Merchandise imports (current US$), per capita 310.45 current US$ per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is merchandise imports in Least developed countries?
- Merchandise imports in Least developed countries was 376.94 billion current US$ in 2025, according to World Trade Organization (WTO).
- What is the highest merchandise imports recorded in Least developed countries?
- The highest recorded value was 376.94 billion current US$ in 2025.
- What is the lowest merchandise imports recorded in Least developed countries?
- The lowest recorded value was 3.01 billion current US$ in 1960.
- How does Least developed countries rank for merchandise imports?
- Least developed countries ranks 37th out of 47 groups with data for 2025.
- Is merchandise imports rising or falling in Least developed countries?
- Over the last ten years it is up 55.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Least developed countries 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.