Merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies in East in United Arab Emirates
United Arab Emirates: Merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies in East was 26.1% in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies in East in United Arab Emirates, 1970–2023
Source: Staff estimates, World Bank (WB). Measured in % of total merchandise imports.
Analysis
In 2023, merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies in east in United Arab Emirates stood at 26.1%.
The figure is down 1.7% on the previous year and up 77.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies in east in United Arab Emirates peaked at 26.5% in 2022 and was at its lowest, 2.6%, in 1978.
That places United Arab Emirates 51st 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 low- and middle-income economies in East in United Arab Emirates, year by year
| Year | % of total merchandise imports | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 2.7% | — |
| 1971 | 3.3% | +23.1% |
| 1972 | 3.7% | +14.2% |
| 1973 | 3.6% | -3.2% |
| 1974 | 3.6% | -0.8% |
| 1975 | 3.0% | -15.0% |
| 1976 | 2.7% | -9.8% |
| 1977 | 3.0% | +11.1% |
| 1978 | 2.6% | -16.4% |
| 1979 | 3.3% | +28.7% |
| 1980 | 3.9% | +17.3% |
| 1981 | 3.4% | -12.2% |
| 1982 | 3.1% | -9.0% |
| 1983 | 3.8% | +24.4% |
| 1984 | 4.0% | +5.4% |
| 1985 | 4.8% | +19.0% |
| 1986 | 5.7% | +18.7% |
| 1987 | 7.2% | +26.6% |
| 1988 | 8.7% | +20.8% |
| 1989 | 9.4% | +8.3% |
| 1990 | 11.5% | +21.3% |
| 1991 | 13.4% | +17.0% |
| 1992 | 12.8% | -4.4% |
| 1993 | 13.8% | +7.4% |
| 1994 | 13.2% | -4.5% |
| 1995 | 14.9% | +13.3% |
| 1996 | 15.5% | +3.9% |
| 1997 | 15.1% | -2.8% |
| 1998 | 13.3% | -11.7% |
| 1999 | 10.8% | -18.4% |
| 2000 | 13.7% | +26.0% |
| 2001 | 12.3% | -9.8% |
| 2002 | 13.3% | +8.0% |
| 2003 | 15.0% | +12.3% |
| 2004 | 14.5% | -3.1% |
| 2005 | 15.3% | +5.5% |
| 2006 | 15.9% | +3.9% |
| 2007 | 17.7% | +11.6% |
| 2008 | 16.7% | -5.6% |
| 2009 | 16.4% | -1.7% |
| 2010 | 15.8% | -4.2% |
| 2011 | 14.4% | -8.5% |
| 2012 | 19.3% | +33.6% |
| 2013 | 14.7% | -23.8% |
| 2014 | 17.5% | +19.0% |
| 2015 | 18.3% | +4.9% |
| 2016 | 17.3% | -5.4% |
| 2017 | 26.0% | +50.1% |
| 2018 | 22.3% | -14.1% |
| 2019 | 22.8% | +2.3% |
| 2020 | 24.6% | +7.6% |
| 2021 | 25.6% | +4.2% |
| 2022 | 26.5% | +3.4% |
| 2023 | 26.1% | -1.7% |
United Arab Emirates compared with similar countries
- United Arab Emirates's 26.1% is above the median for high income countries, which is 10.5%, 2.5× the median. (74 countries reporting)
- United Arab Emirates's 26.1% is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 19.6%, 1.3× the median. (23 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 3.2% | 2.6% | 3.7% | 10 |
| 1980s | 5.4% | 3.1% | 9.4% | 10 |
| 1990s | 13.4% | 10.8% | 15.5% | 10 |
| 2000s | 15.1% | 12.3% | 17.7% | 10 |
| 2010s | 18.8% | 14.4% | 26.0% | 10 |
| 2020s | 25.7% | 24.6% | 26.5% | 4 |
Countries ranked near United Arab Emirates
- 48 Saudi Arabia 26.6% compare
- 49 Madagascar 26.5% compare
- 50 Peru 26.4% compare
- 52 Turkmenistan 26.0% compare
- 53 Cameroon 26.0% compare
- 54 Chile 25.7% compare
More private sector data for United Arab Emirates
- Merchandise trade 208.2% (2024)
- Food imports 5.0% (2023)
- Manufactures imports 54.9% (2023)
- Merchandise imports 618.88 billion current US$ (2025)
- Food exports 2.9% (2023)
- Manufactures exports 8.8% (2023)
- Merchandise exports 706.67 billion current US$ (2025)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), per capita 61,380 current US$ per person (2025)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), per unit of GDP 1.1 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), annual growth rate 16.69 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies in east in United Arab Emirates?
- Merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies in east in United Arab Emirates was 26.1% 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 United Arab Emirates?
- The highest recorded value was 26.5% in 2022.
- What is the lowest merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies in east recorded in United Arab Emirates?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.6% in 1978.
- How does United Arab Emirates rank for merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies in east?
- United Arab Emirates ranks 51st out of 206 countries with data for 2023.
- Is merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies in east rising or falling in United Arab Emirates?
- Over the last ten years it is up 77.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this United Arab Emirates 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.