Merchandise imports from economies in the Arab World in Uganda
Uganda: Merchandise imports from economies in the Arab World was 18.5% in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Merchandise imports from economies in the Arab World in Uganda, 1964–2023
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 Uganda is 18.5%, measured in 2023.
That represents a change of down 17.8% on the previous year and up 65.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, merchandise imports from economies in the arab world in Uganda peaked at 23.4% in 2018 and was at its lowest, 0.1%, in 1971.
That places Uganda 25th out of 206 countries with data for 2023, putting it 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 Uganda, year by year
| Year | % of total merchandise imports | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1964 | 0.1% | — |
| 1966 | 0.1% | -23.2% |
| 1969 | 0.1% | -10.7% |
| 1970 | 0.1% | +0.6% |
| 1971 | 0.1% | -28.7% |
| 1972 | 0.1% | +66.5% |
| 1973 | 0.4% | +328.6% |
| 1974 | 0.2% | -47.2% |
| 1975 | 0.7% | +231.3% |
| 1976 | 0.7% | -5.8% |
| 1977 | 0.3% | -56.8% |
| 1978 | 0.6% | +112.6% |
| 1979 | 0.1% | -80.5% |
| 1980 | 0.1% | +9.7% |
| 1981 | 1.1% | +697.7% |
| 1982 | 4.4% | +307.7% |
| 1983 | 3.1% | -28.9% |
| 1984 | 3.7% | +18.4% |
| 1985 | 2.7% | -26.0% |
| 1986 | 1.6% | -39.4% |
| 1987 | 1.5% | -7.5% |
| 1988 | 2.0% | +30.9% |
| 1989 | 2.7% | +34.3% |
| 1990 | 2.6% | -3.6% |
| 1991 | 2.7% | +4.4% |
| 1992 | 3.9% | +42.7% |
| 1993 | 4.3% | +10.8% |
| 1994 | 3.0% | -29.0% |
| 1995 | 3.0% | -2.0% |
| 1996 | 2.5% | -17.2% |
| 1997 | 2.3% | -6.9% |
| 1998 | 2.5% | +7.8% |
| 1999 | 2.5% | +2.0% |
| 2000 | 6.7% | +166.9% |
| 2001 | 7.0% | +4.8% |
| 2002 | 7.4% | +4.4% |
| 2003 | 7.5% | +1.3% |
| 2004 | 6.7% | -9.5% |
| 2005 | 9.9% | +46.2% |
| 2006 | 19.3% | +95.5% |
| 2007 | 16.5% | -14.6% |
| 2008 | 16.8% | +2.3% |
| 2009 | 16.7% | -0.6% |
| 2010 | 16.8% | +0.5% |
| 2011 | 15.9% | -5.5% |
| 2012 | 16.5% | +3.8% |
| 2013 | 11.1% | -32.5% |
| 2014 | 12.9% | +15.5% |
| 2015 | 13.6% | +5.9% |
| 2016 | 16.3% | +19.7% |
| 2017 | 20.6% | +26.2% |
| 2018 | 23.4% | +13.5% |
| 2019 | 19.7% | -15.5% |
| 2020 | 12.5% | -36.8% |
| 2021 | 15.8% | +26.7% |
| 2022 | 22.5% | +42.2% |
| 2023 | 18.5% | -17.8% |
Uganda compared with similar countries
- Uganda's 18.5% is above the median for low income countries, which is 10.9%, 1.7× the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Uganda's 18.5% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 10.2%, 1.8× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Merchandise imports from economies in the Arab World in Uganda 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 | +697.7% | 0.1% | 1.1% |
| 1973 | +328.6% | 0.1% | 0.4% |
| 1982 | +307.7% | 1.1% | 4.4% |
| 1975 | +231.3% | 0.2% | 0.7% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 0.1% | 0.1% | 0.1% | 3 |
| 1970s | 0.3% | 0.1% | 0.7% | 10 |
| 1980s | 2.3% | 0.1% | 4.4% | 10 |
| 1990s | 2.9% | 2.3% | 4.3% | 10 |
| 2000s | 11.4% | 6.7% | 19.3% | 10 |
| 2010s | 16.7% | 11.1% | 23.4% | 10 |
| 2020s | 17.3% | 12.5% | 22.5% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Uganda
More private sector data for Uganda
- Merchandise trade 49.9% (2025)
- Food imports 10.7% (2024)
- Manufactures imports 47.3% (2024)
- Merchandise imports 18.40 billion current US$ (2025)
- Food exports 39.3% (2024)
- Manufactures exports 14.3% (2024)
- Merchandise exports 12.50 billion current US$ (2025)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), per capita 243.26 current US$ per person (2025)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), per unit of GDP 0.2017 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), annual growth rate 55.49 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is merchandise imports from economies in the arab world in Uganda?
- Merchandise imports from economies in the arab world in Uganda was 18.5% in 2023, according to Staff estimates, World Bank (WB).
- What is the highest merchandise imports from economies in the arab world recorded in Uganda?
- The highest recorded value was 23.4% in 2018.
- What is the lowest merchandise imports from economies in the arab world recorded in Uganda?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.1% in 1971.
- How does Uganda rank for merchandise imports from economies in the arab world?
- Uganda ranks 25th out of 206 countries with data for 2023.
- Is merchandise imports from economies in the arab world rising or falling in Uganda?
- Over the last ten years it is up 65.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Uganda 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
CSV · JSON — 57 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data).
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.