Merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies in Middle in India
India: Merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies in Middle was 5.5% in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies in Middle in India, 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 middle in India is 5.5%, measured in 2023.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 21.3% on the previous year and down 30.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies in middle in India peaked at 22.1% in 1974 and was at its lowest, 1.7%, in 2004.
That places India 11th 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 India, year by year
| Year | % of total merchandise imports | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 5.7% | — |
| 1961 | 4.8% | -14.3% |
| 1962 | 6.5% | +35.1% |
| 1963 | 6.4% | -2.9% |
| 1964 | 4.7% | -26.2% |
| 1965 | 4.6% | -1.6% |
| 1966 | 4.9% | +7.0% |
| 1967 | 4.3% | -13.8% |
| 1968 | 5.1% | +20.6% |
| 1969 | 5.6% | +9.7% |
| 1970 | 9.6% | +71.2% |
| 1971 | 10.1% | +5.0% |
| 1972 | 11.3% | +11.6% |
| 1973 | 10.6% | -6.5% |
| 1974 | 22.1% | +109.7% |
| 1975 | 15.1% | -31.9% |
| 1976 | 15.8% | +4.7% |
| 1977 | 17.9% | +13.7% |
| 1978 | 18.1% | +0.7% |
| 1979 | 17.7% | -2.0% |
| 1980 | 21.8% | +23.3% |
| 1981 | 19.6% | -10.0% |
| 1982 | 14.4% | -26.8% |
| 1983 | 14.1% | -2.3% |
| 1984 | 10.9% | -22.3% |
| 1985 | 11.2% | +2.4% |
| 1986 | 6.3% | -43.9% |
| 1987 | 5.6% | -10.1% |
| 1988 | 5.2% | -7.0% |
| 1989 | 4.2% | -19.1% |
| 1990 | 7.1% | +66.4% |
| 1991 | 8.4% | +19.0% |
| 1992 | 8.5% | +1.1% |
| 1993 | 6.3% | -25.7% |
| 1994 | 5.3% | -16.6% |
| 1995 | 4.3% | -18.7% |
| 1996 | 4.4% | +2.4% |
| 1997 | 4.4% | +0.1% |
| 1998 | 4.2% | -5.1% |
| 1999 | 5.7% | +37.8% |
| 2000 | 3.8% | -33.1% |
| 2001 | 2.6% | -32.3% |
| 2002 | 2.5% | -2.5% |
| 2003 | 1.9% | -27.0% |
| 2004 | 1.7% | -9.2% |
| 2005 | 1.9% | +11.8% |
| 2006 | 8.9% | +376.0% |
| 2007 | 10.1% | +12.8% |
| 2008 | 10.1% | -0.1% |
| 2009 | 8.7% | -13.3% |
| 2010 | 7.7% | -12.0% |
| 2011 | 8.2% | +7.0% |
| 2012 | 8.4% | +2.4% |
| 2013 | 7.9% | -6.5% |
| 2014 | 7.1% | -9.6% |
| 2015 | 5.7% | -20.7% |
| 2016 | 6.2% | +10.6% |
| 2017 | 7.0% | +12.4% |
| 2018 | 8.7% | +23.3% |
| 2019 | 6.7% | -23.1% |
| 2020 | 5.9% | -11.9% |
| 2021 | 6.1% | +4.2% |
| 2022 | 7.0% | +14.2% |
| 2023 | 5.5% | -21.3% |
India compared with similar countries
- India's 5.5% is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 0.7%, 7.5× the median. (47 countries reporting)
- India's 5.5% is above the median for South Asia, which is 0.7%, 7.6× the median. (6 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies in Middle in India 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | +376.0% | 1.9% | 8.9% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 5.3% | 4.3% | 6.5% | 10 |
| 1970s | 14.8% | 9.6% | 22.1% | 10 |
| 1980s | 11.3% | 4.2% | 21.8% | 10 |
| 1990s | 5.9% | 4.2% | 8.5% | 10 |
| 2000s | 5.2% | 1.7% | 10.1% | 10 |
| 2010s | 7.4% | 5.7% | 8.7% | 10 |
| 2020s | 6.1% | 5.5% | 7.0% | 4 |
Countries ranked near India
More private sector data for India
- Merchandise trade 30.3% (2025)
- Food imports 5.1% (2024)
- Manufactures imports 46.5% (2024)
- Merchandise imports 753.48 billion current US$ (2025)
- Food exports 11.1% (2024)
- Manufactures exports 67.1% (2024)
- Merchandise exports 445.28 billion current US$ (2025)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), per capita 304.18 current US$ per person (2025)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), per unit of GDP 0.1126 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), annual growth rate 0.5401 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies in middle in India?
- Merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies in middle in India was 5.5% 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 India?
- The highest recorded value was 22.1% in 1974.
- What is the lowest merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies in middle recorded in India?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.7% in 2004.
- How does India rank for merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies in middle?
- India ranks 11th out of 203 countries with data for 2023.
- Is merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies in middle rising or falling in India?
- Over the last ten years it is down 30.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this India 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.