Merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies in East in South Asia
South Asia: Merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies in East was 24.9% in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies in East in South Asia, 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 South Asia is 24.9%, measured in 2023.
That represents a change of up 2.9% on the previous year and up 27.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies in east in South Asia peaked at 27.2% in 2016 and was at its lowest, 1.7%, in 1972.
South Asia ranks 10th of 47 groups 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 low- and middle-income economies in East in South Asia, year by year
| Year | % of total merchandise imports | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 4.9% | — |
| 1961 | 3.5% | -27.7% |
| 1962 | 3.8% | +6.2% |
| 1963 | 3.2% | -15.6% |
| 1964 | 4.7% | +49.3% |
| 1965 | 4.3% | -9.6% |
| 1966 | 8.9% | +109.3% |
| 1967 | 5.0% | -44.5% |
| 1968 | 5.4% | +8.7% |
| 1969 | 6.3% | +16.8% |
| 1970 | 4.3% | -31.9% |
| 1971 | 3.4% | -21.1% |
| 1972 | 1.7% | -50.8% |
| 1973 | 2.3% | +39.4% |
| 1974 | 2.4% | +2.3% |
| 1975 | 3.1% | +32.3% |
| 1976 | 2.0% | -36.0% |
| 1977 | 5.2% | +160.7% |
| 1978 | 5.8% | +11.0% |
| 1979 | 5.4% | -7.3% |
| 1980 | 5.1% | -5.0% |
| 1981 | 5.2% | +2.5% |
| 1982 | 5.2% | -1.5% |
| 1983 | 5.0% | -2.6% |
| 1984 | 6.7% | +33.2% |
| 1985 | 6.0% | -10.6% |
| 1986 | 6.5% | +7.9% |
| 1987 | 7.0% | +8.5% |
| 1988 | 7.2% | +2.3% |
| 1989 | 7.4% | +3.5% |
| 1990 | 6.5% | -12.9% |
| 1991 | 6.3% | -3.1% |
| 1992 | 6.9% | +10.7% |
| 1993 | 6.9% | -0.7% |
| 1994 | 8.8% | +27.2% |
| 1995 | 9.6% | +9.2% |
| 1996 | 9.2% | -3.6% |
| 1997 | 10.0% | +7.7% |
| 1998 | 10.7% | +8.0% |
| 1999 | 10.8% | +0.6% |
| 2000 | 12.6% | +17.1% |
| 2001 | 14.0% | +10.4% |
| 2002 | 15.3% | +9.8% |
| 2003 | 16.5% | +7.3% |
| 2004 | 17.0% | +3.6% |
| 2005 | 17.9% | +5.1% |
| 2006 | 17.2% | -4.1% |
| 2007 | 16.8% | -2.0% |
| 2008 | 16.6% | -1.5% |
| 2009 | 18.6% | +11.9% |
| 2010 | 18.8% | +1.4% |
| 2011 | 19.5% | +3.7% |
| 2012 | 18.4% | -5.5% |
| 2013 | 19.6% | +6.3% |
| 2014 | 22.0% | +12.3% |
| 2015 | 25.0% | +13.5% |
| 2016 | 27.2% | +8.6% |
| 2017 | 25.8% | -5.0% |
| 2018 | 24.1% | -6.5% |
| 2019 | 24.3% | +0.7% |
| 2020 | 25.6% | +5.4% |
| 2021 | 25.0% | -2.6% |
| 2022 | 24.2% | -2.9% |
| 2023 | 24.9% | +2.9% |
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies in East in South Asia 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1977 | +160.7% | 2.0% | 5.2% |
| 1966 | +109.3% | 4.3% | 8.9% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 5.0% | 3.2% | 8.9% | 10 |
| 1970s | 3.6% | 1.7% | 5.8% | 10 |
| 1980s | 6.1% | 5.0% | 7.4% | 10 |
| 1990s | 8.6% | 6.3% | 10.8% | 10 |
| 2000s | 16.3% | 12.6% | 18.6% | 10 |
| 2010s | 22.5% | 18.4% | 27.2% | 10 |
| 2020s | 24.9% | 24.2% | 25.6% | 4 |
Countries ranked near South Asia
More private sector data for South Asia
- Merchandise trade 30.0% (2025)
- Food imports 5.6% (2024)
- Manufactures imports 47.1% (2024)
- Merchandise imports 864.53 billion current US$ (2025)
- Food exports 11.8% (2024)
- Manufactures exports 67.0% (2024)
- Merchandise exports 510.58 billion current US$ (2025)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), per capita 301.72 current US$ per person (2025)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), per unit of GDP 0.1115 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), annual growth rate 1.04 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies in east in South Asia?
- Merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies in east in South Asia was 24.9% 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 South Asia?
- The highest recorded value was 27.2% in 2016.
- What is the lowest merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies in east recorded in South Asia?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.7% in 1972.
- How does South Asia rank for merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies in east?
- South Asia ranks 10th out of 47 groups with data for 2023.
- Is merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies in east rising or falling in South Asia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 27.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South Asia 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.