Merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies in Middle in Afghanistan
Afghanistan: Merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies in Middle was 23.7% in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies in Middle in Afghanistan, 1967–2023
Source: Staff estimates, World Bank (WB). Measured in % of total merchandise imports.
Analysis
In 2023, merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies in middle in Afghanistan stood at 23.7%.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 34.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies in middle in Afghanistan peaked at 36.1% in 2013 and was at its lowest, 0.0%, in 1990.
That places Afghanistan 1st out of 203 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the top 10%.
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 Middle in Afghanistan, year by year
| Year | % of total merchandise imports | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1967 | 5.0% | — |
| 1969 | 5.3% | +6.8% |
| 1970 | 5.2% | -3.4% |
| 1971 | 5.9% | +14.1% |
| 1973 | 5.6% | -5.3% |
| 1974 | 8.4% | +50.8% |
| 1975 | 6.1% | -27.9% |
| 1976 | 9.2% | +51.5% |
| 1977 | 20.3% | +120.9% |
| 1980 | 0.2% | -98.8% |
| 1981 | 0.0% | -88.6% |
| 1982 | 0.0% | -53.1% |
| 1983 | 0.0% | -27.3% |
| 1984 | 0.0% | +62.4% |
| 1985 | 0.2% | +991.9% |
| 1986 | 0.0% | -73.4% |
| 1987 | 0.0% | -91.1% |
| 1988 | 0.0% | +95.9% |
| 1989 | 0.0% | +7.7% |
| 1990 | 0.0% | -90.4% |
| 1991 | 0.0% | +1954.3% |
| 1992 | 0.0% | +4.0% |
| 1993 | 0.0% | -44.2% |
| 1994 | 0.0% | +145.8% |
| 1995 | 0.0% | +21.5% |
| 1996 | 0.0% | -96.4% |
| 1997 | 0.0% | +2497.8% |
| 1998 | 0.6% | +2202.6% |
| 1999 | 0.0% | -99.2% |
| 2000 | 23.0% | +500577.8% |
| 2001 | 22.7% | -1.4% |
| 2002 | 23.8% | +5.0% |
| 2003 | 23.8% | +0.0% |
| 2004 | 24.0% | +0.8% |
| 2005 | 23.4% | -2.5% |
| 2006 | 21.7% | -7.1% |
| 2007 | 17.3% | -20.4% |
| 2008 | 6.7% | -61.3% |
| 2009 | 5.3% | -20.0% |
| 2010 | 7.5% | +41.3% |
| 2011 | 9.2% | +21.8% |
| 2012 | 16.1% | +74.9% |
| 2013 | 36.1% | +124.6% |
| 2014 | 34.9% | -3.3% |
| 2015 | 23.5% | -32.7% |
| 2016 | 19.4% | -17.3% |
| 2017 | 15.8% | -18.6% |
| 2018 | 17.4% | +10.0% |
| 2019 | 18.6% | +7.1% |
| 2020 | 17.0% | -8.6% |
| 2021 | 20.3% | +19.3% |
| 2022 | 23.7% | +16.6% |
| 2023 | 23.7% | +0.0% |
Afghanistan compared with similar countries
- Afghanistan's 23.7% is above the median for low income countries, which is 2.7%, 8.9× the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Afghanistan's 23.7% is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 3.3%, 7.2× the median. (23 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies in Middle in Afghanistan 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | +500577.8% | 0.0% | 23.0% |
| 1997 | +2497.8% | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| 1998 | +2202.6% | 0.0% | 0.6% |
| 1991 | +1954.3% | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| 1985 | +991.9% | 0.0% | 0.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 5.2% | 5.0% | 5.3% | 2 |
| 1970s | 8.6% | 5.2% | 20.3% | 7 |
| 1980s | 0.1% | 0.0% | 0.2% | 10 |
| 1990s | 0.1% | 0.0% | 0.6% | 10 |
| 2000s | 19.1% | 5.3% | 24.0% | 10 |
| 2010s | 19.8% | 7.5% | 36.1% | 10 |
| 2020s | 21.2% | 17.0% | 23.7% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Afghanistan
More private sector data for Afghanistan
- Merchandise trade 22.2% (2025)
- Food imports 26.9% (2019)
- Manufactures imports 41.1% (2019)
- Merchandise imports 3.61 billion current US$ (2025)
- Food exports 63.9% (2019)
- Manufactures exports 4.8% (2019)
- Merchandise exports 926.00 million current US$ (2025)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), per capita 21.12 current US$ per person (2025)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), per unit of GDP 0.0517 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), annual growth rate 0.7617 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies in middle in Afghanistan?
- Merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies in middle in Afghanistan was 23.7% in 2023, according to Staff estimates, World Bank (WB).
- What is the highest merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies in middle recorded in Afghanistan?
- The highest recorded value was 36.1% in 2013.
- What is the lowest merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies in middle recorded in Afghanistan?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.0% in 1990.
- How does Afghanistan rank for merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies in middle?
- Afghanistan ranks 1st out of 203 countries with data for 2023.
- Is merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies in middle rising or falling in Afghanistan?
- Over the last ten years it is down 34.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Afghanistan 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 Middle East & North Africa (% 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 Middle East and North Africa are the sum of merchandise imports by the reporting economy from low- and middle-income economies in the Middle East and North Africa 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.