Merchandise imports from economies in the Arab World in Iraq
Iraq: Merchandise imports from economies in the Arab World was 8.7% in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Merchandise imports from economies in the Arab World in Iraq, 1960–2023
Source: Staff estimates, World Bank (WB). Measured in % of total merchandise imports.
Analysis
The most recent figure for merchandise imports from economies in the arab world in Iraq is 8.7%, measured in 2023.
That represents a change of down 4.1% on the previous year and down 24.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, merchandise imports from economies in the arab world in Iraq peaked at 50.8% in 2008 and was at its lowest, 1.7%, in 1977.
Iraq ranks 53rd of 206 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
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 Iraq, year by year
| Year | % of total merchandise imports | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 4.6% | — |
| 1961 | 4.1% | -10.0% |
| 1962 | 4.3% | +3.9% |
| 1963 | 6.7% | +55.7% |
| 1964 | 7.1% | +6.7% |
| 1965 | 6.8% | -4.5% |
| 1966 | 5.6% | -17.9% |
| 1967 | 6.5% | +17.6% |
| 1968 | 8.9% | +36.1% |
| 1969 | 9.4% | +5.6% |
| 1970 | 9.2% | -2.1% |
| 1971 | 7.7% | -16.2% |
| 1972 | 7.8% | +1.0% |
| 1973 | 5.3% | -32.2% |
| 1974 | 4.2% | -21.0% |
| 1975 | 2.7% | -34.6% |
| 1976 | 1.9% | -28.7% |
| 1977 | 1.7% | -14.4% |
| 1978 | 1.9% | +12.6% |
| 1981 | 7.7% | +307.7% |
| 1982 | 6.8% | -11.5% |
| 1983 | 6.9% | +1.2% |
| 1984 | 7.4% | +8.5% |
| 1985 | 6.9% | -7.7% |
| 1986 | 7.3% | +6.1% |
| 1987 | 9.3% | +27.9% |
| 1988 | 9.1% | -2.4% |
| 1989 | 13.3% | +46.7% |
| 1990 | 14.9% | +11.5% |
| 1991 | 35.9% | +141.2% |
| 1992 | 13.4% | -62.6% |
| 1993 | 25.4% | +89.2% |
| 1994 | 34.6% | +36.3% |
| 1995 | 45.8% | +32.2% |
| 1996 | 27.5% | -39.8% |
| 1997 | 25.8% | -6.4% |
| 1998 | 14.1% | -45.3% |
| 1999 | 14.3% | +1.2% |
| 2000 | 14.2% | -0.2% |
| 2001 | 21.1% | +48.2% |
| 2002 | 21.0% | -0.2% |
| 2003 | 30.8% | +46.4% |
| 2004 | 36.3% | +17.9% |
| 2005 | 19.1% | -47.4% |
| 2006 | 22.0% | +15.3% |
| 2007 | 33.6% | +52.7% |
| 2008 | 50.8% | +51.1% |
| 2009 | 44.7% | -12.0% |
| 2010 | 38.0% | -14.9% |
| 2011 | 17.0% | -55.2% |
| 2012 | 14.6% | -14.3% |
| 2013 | 11.5% | -21.2% |
| 2014 | 12.8% | +10.9% |
| 2015 | 8.9% | -30.6% |
| 2016 | 7.7% | -13.5% |
| 2017 | 10.0% | +30.2% |
| 2018 | 10.1% | +1.5% |
| 2019 | 9.0% | -11.3% |
| 2020 | 9.3% | +3.5% |
| 2021 | 9.0% | -3.2% |
| 2022 | 9.1% | +0.9% |
| 2023 | 8.7% | -4.1% |
Iraq compared with similar countries
- Iraq's 8.7% is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 1.1%, 8.0× the median. (59 countries reporting)
- Iraq's 8.7% is below the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 12.9%, 68% of the median. (23 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Merchandise imports from economies in the Arab World in Iraq 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1981 | +307.7% | 1.9% | 7.7% |
| 1991 | +141.2% | 14.9% | 35.9% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 6.4% | 4.1% | 9.4% | 10 |
| 1970s | 4.7% | 1.7% | 9.2% | 9 |
| 1980s | 8.3% | 6.8% | 13.3% | 9 |
| 1990s | 25.2% | 13.4% | 45.8% | 10 |
| 2000s | 29.4% | 14.2% | 50.8% | 10 |
| 2010s | 14.0% | 7.7% | 38.0% | 10 |
| 2020s | 9.0% | 8.7% | 9.3% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Iraq
More private sector data for Iraq
- Merchandise trade 70.0% (2025)
- Food imports 7.2% (2014)
- Manufactures imports 66.3% (2014)
- Merchandise imports 85.19 billion current US$ (2025)
- Food exports 0.0% (2016)
- Manufactures exports 0.0% (2016)
- Merchandise exports 92.91 billion current US$ (2025)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), per capita 1,976 current US$ per person (2025)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), per unit of GDP 0.3653 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), annual growth rate -8 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is merchandise imports from economies in the arab world in Iraq?
- Merchandise imports from economies in the arab world in Iraq was 8.7% in 2023, according to Staff estimates, World Bank (WB).
- What is the highest merchandise imports from economies in the arab world recorded in Iraq?
- The highest recorded value was 50.8% in 2008.
- What is the lowest merchandise imports from economies in the arab world recorded in Iraq?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.7% in 1977.
- How does Iraq rank for merchandise imports from economies in the arab world?
- Iraq ranks 53rd out of 206 countries with data for 2023.
- Is merchandise imports from economies in the arab world rising or falling in Iraq?
- Over the last ten years it is down 24.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Iraq 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.