Merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies in East in Africa Eastern and Southern
Africa Eastern and Southern: Merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies in East was 24.7% in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies in East in Africa Eastern and Southern, 1960–2023
Source: Staff estimates, World Bank (WB). Measured in % of total merchandise imports.
Analysis
The most recent figure for merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies in east in Africa Eastern and Southern is 24.7%, measured in 2023. That is the highest value across all 64 years on record.
That represents a change of up 6.1% on the previous year and up 45.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies in east in Africa Eastern and Southern peaked at 24.7% in 2023 and was at its lowest, 0.8%, in 1961.
Africa Eastern and Southern ranks 13th of 47 groups 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 low- and middle-income economies in East in Africa Eastern and Southern, year by year
| Year | % of total merchandise imports | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 1.4% | — |
| 1961 | 0.8% | -42.8% |
| 1962 | 1.1% | +45.0% |
| 1963 | 1.1% | +1.8% |
| 1964 | 0.9% | -18.5% |
| 1965 | 2.0% | +111.8% |
| 1966 | 2.5% | +25.3% |
| 1967 | 2.4% | -4.8% |
| 1968 | 2.2% | -5.6% |
| 1969 | 2.0% | -8.9% |
| 1970 | 2.5% | +22.0% |
| 1971 | 4.5% | +81.2% |
| 1972 | 4.2% | -7.2% |
| 1973 | 4.6% | +9.8% |
| 1974 | 5.0% | +9.8% |
| 1975 | 4.2% | -15.9% |
| 1976 | 3.5% | -16.9% |
| 1977 | 3.5% | -0.5% |
| 1978 | 3.8% | +9.2% |
| 1979 | 3.9% | +2.2% |
| 1980 | 2.5% | -37.2% |
| 1981 | 2.4% | -2.9% |
| 1982 | 2.5% | +4.5% |
| 1983 | 3.2% | +29.1% |
| 1984 | 4.6% | +44.8% |
| 1985 | 3.8% | -17.7% |
| 1986 | 3.9% | +1.4% |
| 1987 | 3.9% | +1.8% |
| 1988 | 4.5% | +13.8% |
| 1989 | 4.5% | +0.7% |
| 1990 | 4.9% | +7.3% |
| 1991 | 4.8% | -0.6% |
| 1992 | 4.6% | -5.4% |
| 1993 | 5.3% | +15.4% |
| 1994 | 5.2% | -1.5% |
| 1995 | 5.6% | +7.5% |
| 1996 | 5.3% | -5.2% |
| 1997 | 5.2% | -2.6% |
| 1998 | 6.3% | +21.8% |
| 1999 | 7.2% | +14.0% |
| 2000 | 8.1% | +13.8% |
| 2001 | 8.6% | +5.0% |
| 2002 | 9.1% | +6.3% |
| 2003 | 9.6% | +5.1% |
| 2004 | 10.1% | +6.1% |
| 2005 | 12.5% | +22.8% |
| 2006 | 11.6% | -6.7% |
| 2007 | 13.3% | +14.6% |
| 2008 | 13.3% | -0.5% |
| 2009 | 16.5% | +24.2% |
| 2010 | 15.3% | -6.9% |
| 2011 | 15.4% | +0.7% |
| 2012 | 16.1% | +4.1% |
| 2013 | 17.0% | +5.7% |
| 2014 | 18.8% | +10.3% |
| 2015 | 21.5% | +14.5% |
| 2016 | 21.5% | +0.3% |
| 2017 | 21.3% | -1.3% |
| 2018 | 21.7% | +2.0% |
| 2019 | 22.0% | +1.4% |
| 2020 | 23.8% | +8.3% |
| 2021 | 23.9% | +0.4% |
| 2022 | 23.3% | -2.7% |
| 2023 | 24.7% | +6.1% |
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies in East in Africa Eastern and Southern 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1965 | +111.8% | 0.9% | 2.0% |
| 1971 | +81.2% | 2.5% | 4.5% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 1.6% | 0.8% | 2.5% | 10 |
| 1970s | 4.0% | 2.5% | 5.0% | 10 |
| 1980s | 3.6% | 2.4% | 4.6% | 10 |
| 1990s | 5.4% | 4.6% | 7.2% | 10 |
| 2000s | 11.3% | 8.1% | 16.5% | 10 |
| 2010s | 19.1% | 15.3% | 22.0% | 10 |
| 2020s | 23.9% | 23.3% | 24.7% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Africa Eastern and Southern
- 10 Philippines 47.5% compare
- 11 Vietnam 46.3% compare
- 12 Kyrgyzstan 43.9% compare
- 13 Mongolia 43.7% compare
- 14 Indonesia 41.1% compare
- 15 Australia 40.0% compare
- 16 Bangladesh 39.9% compare
More private sector data for Africa Eastern and Southern
- Merchandise trade 45.4% (2025)
- Food imports 10.9% (2024)
- Manufactures imports 60.3% (2024)
- Merchandise imports 337.80 billion current US$ (2025)
- Food exports 14.5% (2024)
- Manufactures exports 26.0% (2024)
- Merchandise exports 282.56 billion current US$ (2025)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), per capita 358.19 current US$ per person (2025)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), per unit of GDP 0.208 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), annual growth rate 5.18 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies in east in Africa Eastern and Southern?
- Merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies in east in Africa Eastern and Southern was 24.7% in 2023, according to Staff estimates, World Bank (WB).
- What is the highest merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies in east recorded in Africa Eastern and Southern?
- The highest recorded value was 24.7% in 2023.
- What is the lowest merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies in east recorded in Africa Eastern and Southern?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.8% in 1961.
- How does Africa Eastern and Southern rank for merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies in east?
- Africa Eastern and Southern ranks 13th out of 47 groups with data for 2023.
- Is merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies in east rising or falling in Africa Eastern and Southern?
- Over the last ten years it is up 45.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Africa Eastern and Southern data come from?
- The figures come from Staff estimates, World Bank (WB), published as part of Merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies in East Asia & Pacific (% of total merchandise imports). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies in East Asia and Pacific are the sum of merchandise imports by the reporting economy from low- and middle-income economies in the East Asia and Pacific region according to the World Bank classification of economies. 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.