Merchandise imports from economies in the Arab World in Nigeria
Nigeria: Merchandise imports from economies in the Arab World was 5.2% in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Merchandise imports from economies in the Arab World in Nigeria, 1962–2023
Source: Staff estimates, World Bank (WB). Measured in % of total merchandise imports.
Analysis
Nigeria recorded 5.2% for merchandise imports from economies in the arab world in 2023.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 8.0% on the previous year and down 27.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, merchandise imports from economies in the arab world in Nigeria peaked at 7.2% in 2006 and was at its lowest, 0.2%, in 1985.
That places Nigeria 71st out of 206 countries with data for 2023, putting it 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 Nigeria, year by year
| Year | % of total merchandise imports | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1962 | 1.0% | — |
| 1963 | 0.9% | -14.1% |
| 1964 | 0.7% | -19.4% |
| 1965 | 0.8% | +15.8% |
| 1966 | 0.4% | -57.7% |
| 1967 | 0.5% | +41.5% |
| 1968 | 1.3% | +154.7% |
| 1969 | 1.7% | +32.1% |
| 1970 | 1.0% | -42.9% |
| 1971 | 1.0% | +5.1% |
| 1972 | 0.8% | -17.6% |
| 1973 | 0.6% | -21.9% |
| 1974 | 0.6% | -6.1% |
| 1975 | 0.4% | -36.4% |
| 1976 | 0.2% | -40.3% |
| 1977 | 0.2% | -8.1% |
| 1978 | 0.3% | +47.2% |
| 1979 | 0.3% | -11.4% |
| 1981 | 0.3% | +18.2% |
| 1982 | 0.4% | +9.5% |
| 1983 | 0.4% | +2.7% |
| 1984 | 0.3% | -15.7% |
| 1985 | 0.2% | -35.5% |
| 1986 | 0.5% | +126.8% |
| 1987 | 0.5% | +0.0% |
| 1988 | 0.4% | -4.6% |
| 1989 | 0.4% | -12.2% |
| 1990 | 0.4% | +16.4% |
| 1991 | 1.0% | +133.5% |
| 1992 | 1.9% | +84.6% |
| 1993 | 1.3% | -32.7% |
| 1994 | 2.1% | +61.7% |
| 1995 | 0.4% | -82.1% |
| 1996 | 3.3% | +790.4% |
| 1997 | 1.0% | -70.8% |
| 1998 | 0.5% | -50.9% |
| 1999 | 0.8% | +75.8% |
| 2000 | 2.4% | +191.1% |
| 2001 | 2.5% | +4.0% |
| 2002 | 2.3% | -9.0% |
| 2003 | 7.1% | +211.8% |
| 2004 | 7.1% | -0.5% |
| 2005 | 7.1% | +0.0% |
| 2006 | 7.2% | +2.0% |
| 2007 | 7.2% | -1.2% |
| 2008 | 7.1% | -0.8% |
| 2009 | 6.9% | -2.2% |
| 2010 | 7.0% | +0.6% |
| 2011 | 7.0% | +0.4% |
| 2012 | 7.1% | +1.2% |
| 2013 | 7.1% | -0.0% |
| 2014 | 7.1% | -0.0% |
| 2015 | 7.1% | +0.0% |
| 2016 | 7.1% | -0.0% |
| 2017 | 6.9% | -3.2% |
| 2018 | 7.1% | +3.3% |
| 2019 | 7.1% | +0.0% |
| 2020 | 4.2% | -40.6% |
| 2021 | 3.9% | -8.7% |
| 2022 | 5.6% | +45.5% |
| 2023 | 5.2% | -8.0% |
Nigeria compared with similar countries
- Nigeria's 5.2% is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 5.2%, 1.0× the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Nigeria's 5.2% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 10.2%, 51% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Merchandise imports from economies in the Arab World in Nigeria 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | +790.4% | 0.4% | 3.3% |
| 2003 | +211.8% | 2.3% | 7.1% |
| 2000 | +191.1% | 0.8% | 2.4% |
| 1968 | +154.7% | 0.5% | 1.3% |
| 1991 | +133.5% | 0.4% | 1.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 0.9% | 0.4% | 1.7% | 8 |
| 1970s | 0.5% | 0.2% | 1.0% | 10 |
| 1980s | 0.4% | 0.2% | 0.5% | 9 |
| 1990s | 1.3% | 0.4% | 3.3% | 10 |
| 2000s | 5.7% | 2.3% | 7.2% | 10 |
| 2010s | 7.1% | 6.9% | 7.1% | 10 |
| 2020s | 4.7% | 3.9% | 5.6% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Nigeria
More private sector data for Nigeria
- Merchandise trade 33.3% (2025)
- Food imports 11.0% (2024)
- Manufactures imports 46.0% (2024)
- Merchandise imports 41.45 billion current US$ (2025)
- Food exports 6.0% (2024)
- Manufactures exports 3.5% (2024)
- Merchandise exports 55.47 billion current US$ (2025)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), per capita 233.52 current US$ per person (2025)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), per unit of GDP 0.1907 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), annual growth rate 4.03 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is merchandise imports from economies in the arab world in Nigeria?
- Merchandise imports from economies in the arab world in Nigeria was 5.2% in 2023, according to Staff estimates, World Bank (WB).
- What is the highest merchandise imports from economies in the arab world recorded in Nigeria?
- The highest recorded value was 7.2% in 2006.
- What is the lowest merchandise imports from economies in the arab world recorded in Nigeria?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.2% in 1985.
- How does Nigeria rank for merchandise imports from economies in the arab world?
- Nigeria ranks 71st out of 206 countries with data for 2023.
- Is merchandise imports from economies in the arab world rising or falling in Nigeria?
- Over the last ten years it is down 27.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Nigeria 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.