Merchandise imports from economies in the Arab World in Iran
Iran: Merchandise imports from economies in the Arab World was 30.3% in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Merchandise imports from economies in the Arab World in Iran, 1960–2023
Source: Staff estimates, World Bank (WB). Measured in % of total merchandise imports.
Analysis
In 2023, merchandise imports from economies in the arab world in Iran stood at 30.3%.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 8.6% on the previous year and up 26.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, merchandise imports from economies in the arab world in Iran peaked at 36.0% in 2010 and was at its lowest, 0.9%, in 1978.
That places Iran 6th out of 206 countries with data for 2023, putting it 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 Iran, year by year
| Year | % of total merchandise imports | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 5.0% | — |
| 1961 | 5.7% | +13.4% |
| 1962 | 2.0% | -65.0% |
| 1963 | 2.3% | +14.7% |
| 1964 | 2.7% | +19.9% |
| 1965 | 3.5% | +27.6% |
| 1966 | 2.1% | -39.1% |
| 1967 | 2.3% | +8.8% |
| 1968 | 1.7% | -26.6% |
| 1969 | 1.1% | -37.3% |
| 1973 | 1.6% | +53.9% |
| 1974 | 1.5% | -9.6% |
| 1975 | 2.0% | +35.2% |
| 1976 | 1.5% | -25.2% |
| 1977 | 1.4% | -10.1% |
| 1978 | 0.9% | -31.1% |
| 1979 | 3.1% | +233.1% |
| 1980 | 6.8% | +119.1% |
| 1981 | 5.5% | -18.8% |
| 1982 | 2.7% | -51.8% |
| 1983 | 4.2% | +59.0% |
| 1984 | 3.6% | -14.3% |
| 1985 | 4.5% | +23.2% |
| 1986 | 8.0% | +79.7% |
| 1987 | 5.5% | -31.1% |
| 1988 | 6.0% | +7.7% |
| 1989 | 10.8% | +80.8% |
| 1990 | 7.0% | -34.7% |
| 1991 | 6.1% | -13.6% |
| 1992 | 6.6% | +8.1% |
| 1993 | 7.2% | +8.8% |
| 1994 | 8.6% | +20.1% |
| 1995 | 5.1% | -40.0% |
| 1996 | 5.6% | +8.7% |
| 1997 | 5.7% | +2.3% |
| 1998 | 5.9% | +3.7% |
| 1999 | 6.9% | +16.1% |
| 2000 | 9.8% | +41.6% |
| 2001 | 11.5% | +17.7% |
| 2002 | 11.6% | +0.8% |
| 2003 | 15.7% | +35.2% |
| 2004 | 19.0% | +21.1% |
| 2005 | 20.5% | +8.2% |
| 2006 | 24.8% | +21.0% |
| 2007 | 25.2% | +1.6% |
| 2008 | 29.6% | +17.7% |
| 2009 | 27.4% | -7.4% |
| 2010 | 36.0% | +31.2% |
| 2011 | 19.6% | -45.5% |
| 2012 | 30.2% | +53.6% |
| 2013 | 24.0% | -20.4% |
| 2014 | 22.8% | -5.1% |
| 2015 | 18.1% | -20.4% |
| 2016 | 14.0% | -22.6% |
| 2017 | 16.5% | +17.3% |
| 2018 | 14.8% | -10.1% |
| 2019 | 21.3% | +44.0% |
| 2020 | 26.8% | +26.0% |
| 2021 | 35.0% | +30.3% |
| 2022 | 33.2% | -5.0% |
| 2023 | 30.3% | -8.6% |
Iran compared with similar countries
- Iran's 30.3% is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 1.1%, 27.9× the median. (59 countries reporting)
- Iran's 30.3% is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 12.9%, 2.4× the median. (23 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Merchandise imports from economies in the Arab World in Iran 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 | +233.1% | 0.9% | 3.1% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 2.9% | 1.1% | 5.7% | 10 |
| 1970s | 1.7% | 0.9% | 3.1% | 7 |
| 1980s | 5.8% | 2.7% | 10.8% | 10 |
| 1990s | 6.5% | 5.1% | 8.6% | 10 |
| 2000s | 19.5% | 9.8% | 29.6% | 10 |
| 2010s | 21.7% | 14.0% | 36.0% | 10 |
| 2020s | 31.3% | 26.8% | 35.0% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Iran
More private sector data for Iran
- Merchandise trade 49.3% (2025)
- Food imports 29.5% (2022)
- Manufactures imports 58.1% (2022)
- Merchandise imports 65.63 billion current US$ (2025)
- Food exports 5.9% (2022)
- Manufactures exports 31.3% (2022)
- Merchandise exports 113.22 billion current US$ (2025)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), per capita 1,225 current US$ per person (2025)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), per unit of GDP 0.3122 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), annual growth rate 0.5069 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is merchandise imports from economies in the arab world in Iran?
- Merchandise imports from economies in the arab world in Iran was 30.3% in 2023, according to Staff estimates, World Bank (WB).
- What is the highest merchandise imports from economies in the arab world recorded in Iran?
- The highest recorded value was 36.0% in 2010.
- What is the lowest merchandise imports from economies in the arab world recorded in Iran?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.9% in 1978.
- How does Iran rank for merchandise imports from economies in the arab world?
- Iran ranks 6th out of 206 countries with data for 2023.
- Is merchandise imports from economies in the arab world rising or falling in Iran?
- Over the last ten years it is up 26.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Iran 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.
Download this data
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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.