Merchandise imports from economies in the Arab World in Ethiopia
Ethiopia: Merchandise imports from economies in the Arab World was 26.4% in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Merchandise imports from economies in the Arab World in Ethiopia, 1960–2023
Source: Staff estimates, World Bank (WB). Measured in % of total merchandise imports.
Analysis
Ethiopia recorded 26.4% for merchandise imports from economies in the arab world in 2023.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 34.5% on the previous year and up 30.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, merchandise imports from economies in the arab world in Ethiopia peaked at 29.6% in 1998 and was at its lowest, 0.6%, in 1978.
Ethiopia ranks 12th 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 from economies in the Arab World in Ethiopia, year by year
| Year | % of total merchandise imports | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 6.8% | — |
| 1961 | 10.1% | +48.9% |
| 1962 | 4.6% | -54.5% |
| 1963 | 3.6% | -22.1% |
| 1964 | 2.8% | -20.8% |
| 1965 | 2.4% | -16.2% |
| 1966 | 1.7% | -29.3% |
| 1967 | 2.7% | +61.1% |
| 1968 | 2.1% | -20.4% |
| 1969 | 2.3% | +8.7% |
| 1970 | 1.3% | -46.2% |
| 1971 | 1.5% | +18.6% |
| 1972 | 1.2% | -18.8% |
| 1973 | 3.4% | +181.3% |
| 1974 | 7.0% | +105.0% |
| 1975 | 13.8% | +97.9% |
| 1976 | 15.2% | +9.9% |
| 1977 | 4.7% | -68.9% |
| 1978 | 0.6% | -87.6% |
| 1979 | 17.8% | +2951.1% |
| 1980 | 7.7% | -56.6% |
| 1981 | 5.7% | -26.5% |
| 1982 | 2.3% | -59.5% |
| 1983 | 2.4% | +4.3% |
| 1984 | 1.3% | -46.4% |
| 1985 | 1.8% | +43.1% |
| 1986 | 1.8% | +0.0% |
| 1987 | 3.3% | +79.4% |
| 1988 | 2.7% | -18.2% |
| 1989 | 6.6% | +144.4% |
| 1990 | 6.0% | -8.4% |
| 1991 | 21.8% | +261.2% |
| 1992 | 28.9% | +32.5% |
| 1993 | 27.1% | -6.3% |
| 1994 | 24.2% | -10.6% |
| 1995 | 17.3% | -28.6% |
| 1996 | 18.8% | +8.6% |
| 1997 | 14.0% | -25.4% |
| 1998 | 29.6% | +111.3% |
| 1999 | 25.7% | -13.2% |
| 2000 | 27.7% | +8.1% |
| 2001 | 25.6% | -7.8% |
| 2002 | 15.4% | -39.7% |
| 2003 | 22.4% | +45.2% |
| 2004 | 22.3% | -0.2% |
| 2005 | 21.6% | -3.6% |
| 2006 | 24.9% | +15.7% |
| 2007 | 15.4% | -38.1% |
| 2008 | 19.3% | +25.2% |
| 2009 | 19.9% | +2.8% |
| 2010 | 19.3% | -3.0% |
| 2011 | 18.1% | -5.9% |
| 2012 | 26.5% | +46.0% |
| 2013 | 20.3% | -23.6% |
| 2014 | 24.8% | +22.4% |
| 2015 | 16.4% | -33.8% |
| 2016 | 14.6% | -10.9% |
| 2017 | 14.8% | +1.3% |
| 2018 | 15.9% | +7.0% |
| 2019 | 23.0% | +45.2% |
| 2020 | 16.1% | -30.0% |
| 2021 | 14.8% | -8.0% |
| 2022 | 19.6% | +32.2% |
| 2023 | 26.4% | +34.5% |
Ethiopia compared with similar countries
- Ethiopia's 26.4% is above the median for low income countries, which is 10.9%, 2.4× the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Ethiopia's 26.4% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 10.2%, 2.6× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Merchandise imports from economies in the Arab World in Ethiopia 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1979 | +2951.1% | 0.6% | 17.8% |
| 1991 | +261.2% | 6.0% | 21.8% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 3.9% | 1.7% | 10.1% | 10 |
| 1970s | 6.6% | 0.6% | 17.8% | 10 |
| 1980s | 3.6% | 1.3% | 7.7% | 10 |
| 1990s | 21.3% | 6.0% | 29.6% | 10 |
| 2000s | 21.5% | 15.4% | 27.7% | 10 |
| 2010s | 19.4% | 14.6% | 26.5% | 10 |
| 2020s | 19.2% | 14.8% | 26.4% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Ethiopia
More private sector data for Ethiopia
- Merchandise trade 24.2% (2025)
- Food imports 13.8% (2023)
- Manufactures imports 69.2% (2023)
- Merchandise imports 23.01 billion current US$ (2025)
- Food exports 80.4% (2023)
- Manufactures exports 9.2% (2023)
- Merchandise exports 7.58 billion current US$ (2025)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), per capita 55.99 current US$ per person (2025)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), per unit of GDP 0.06 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), annual growth rate 38.61 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is merchandise imports from economies in the arab world in Ethiopia?
- Merchandise imports from economies in the arab world in Ethiopia was 26.4% in 2023, according to Staff estimates, World Bank (WB).
- What is the highest merchandise imports from economies in the arab world recorded in Ethiopia?
- The highest recorded value was 29.6% in 1998.
- What is the lowest merchandise imports from economies in the arab world recorded in Ethiopia?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.6% in 1978.
- How does Ethiopia rank for merchandise imports from economies in the arab world?
- Ethiopia ranks 12th out of 206 countries with data for 2023.
- Is merchandise imports from economies in the arab world rising or falling in Ethiopia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 30.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Ethiopia data come from?
- The figures come from Staff estimates, World Bank (WB), published as part of Merchandise imports from economies in the Arab World (% of total merchandise imports). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Merchandise imports from economies in the Arab World are the sum of merchandise imports by the reporting economy from economies in the Arab World. Data are expressed as a percentage of total merchandise imports by the economy. Data are computed only if at least half of the economies in the partner country group had non-missing data.