Merchandise imports from economies in the Arab World in Somalia
Somalia: Merchandise imports from economies in the Arab World was 10.9% in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Merchandise imports from economies in the Arab World in Somalia, 1962–2023
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 Somalia is 10.9%, measured in 2023.
That represents a change of up 5.2% on the previous year and down 72.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, merchandise imports from economies in the arab world in Somalia peaked at 42.4% in 1998 and was at its lowest, 1.9%, in 1973.
Somalia ranks 42nd of 206 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
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 Somalia, year by year
| Year | % of total merchandise imports | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1962 | 6.2% | — |
| 1963 | 4.2% | -32.7% |
| 1964 | 4.2% | +0.0% |
| 1965 | 2.6% | -37.5% |
| 1967 | 6.6% | +153.5% |
| 1968 | 3.5% | -46.3% |
| 1969 | 2.5% | -28.5% |
| 1970 | 3.5% | +38.0% |
| 1971 | 3.1% | -11.2% |
| 1972 | 2.0% | -37.0% |
| 1973 | 1.9% | -4.4% |
| 1974 | 3.4% | +81.2% |
| 1975 | 6.5% | +92.6% |
| 1976 | 22.8% | +249.5% |
| 1977 | 4.7% | -79.5% |
| 1978 | 13.1% | +179.4% |
| 1980 | 12.3% | -5.5% |
| 1981 | 14.1% | +14.4% |
| 1982 | 23.3% | +65.2% |
| 1983 | 8.9% | -61.6% |
| 1984 | 18.2% | +103.9% |
| 1985 | 24.9% | +36.4% |
| 1986 | 16.0% | -35.8% |
| 1987 | 11.3% | -29.1% |
| 1988 | 10.5% | -7.4% |
| 1989 | 12.4% | +18.0% |
| 1990 | 13.0% | +5.1% |
| 1991 | 26.7% | +105.7% |
| 1992 | 26.6% | -0.5% |
| 1993 | 31.9% | +19.8% |
| 1994 | 32.3% | +1.4% |
| 1995 | 42.2% | +30.7% |
| 1996 | 34.1% | -19.3% |
| 1997 | 33.1% | -2.8% |
| 1998 | 42.4% | +28.0% |
| 1999 | 39.7% | -6.4% |
| 2000 | 29.6% | -25.4% |
| 2001 | 26.2% | -11.3% |
| 2002 | 25.6% | -2.4% |
| 2003 | 31.0% | +21.0% |
| 2004 | 30.8% | -0.5% |
| 2005 | 36.2% | +17.5% |
| 2006 | 32.0% | -11.6% |
| 2007 | 32.3% | +1.0% |
| 2008 | 29.0% | -10.2% |
| 2009 | 38.9% | +34.2% |
| 2010 | 26.0% | -33.2% |
| 2011 | 31.1% | +19.5% |
| 2012 | 29.1% | -6.4% |
| 2013 | 40.1% | +38.0% |
| 2014 | 30.3% | -24.5% |
| 2015 | 23.6% | -22.3% |
| 2016 | 15.5% | -34.1% |
| 2017 | 21.0% | +35.2% |
| 2018 | 17.0% | -19.2% |
| 2019 | 13.2% | -22.0% |
| 2020 | 14.3% | +8.5% |
| 2021 | 11.1% | -22.7% |
| 2022 | 10.4% | -6.1% |
| 2023 | 10.9% | +5.2% |
Somalia compared with similar countries
- Somalia's 10.9% is above the median for low income countries, which is 10.9%, 1.0× the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Somalia's 10.9% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 10.2%, 1.1× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Merchandise imports from economies in the Arab World in Somalia 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1976 | +249.5% | 6.5% | 22.8% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 4.3% | 2.5% | 6.6% | 7 |
| 1970s | 6.8% | 1.9% | 22.8% | 9 |
| 1980s | 15.2% | 8.9% | 24.9% | 10 |
| 1990s | 32.2% | 13.0% | 42.4% | 10 |
| 2000s | 31.2% | 25.6% | 38.9% | 10 |
| 2010s | 24.7% | 13.2% | 40.1% | 10 |
| 2020s | 11.7% | 10.4% | 14.3% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Somalia
More private sector data for Somalia
- Merchandise trade 40.2% (2025)
- Food imports 22.4% (1982)
- Manufactures imports 54.7% (1982)
- Merchandise imports 3.93 billion current US$ (2025)
- Food exports 93.7% (1982)
- Manufactures exports 1.3% (1982)
- Merchandise exports 1.30 billion current US$ (2025)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), per capita 66.14 current US$ per person (2025)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), per unit of GDP 0.1 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), annual growth rate -11.74 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is merchandise imports from economies in the arab world in Somalia?
- Merchandise imports from economies in the arab world in Somalia was 10.9% in 2023, according to Staff estimates, World Bank (WB).
- What is the highest merchandise imports from economies in the arab world recorded in Somalia?
- The highest recorded value was 42.4% in 1998.
- What is the lowest merchandise imports from economies in the arab world recorded in Somalia?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.9% in 1973.
- How does Somalia rank for merchandise imports from economies in the arab world?
- Somalia ranks 42nd out of 206 countries with data for 2023.
- Is merchandise imports from economies in the arab world rising or falling in Somalia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 72.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Somalia 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.