Merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies in Middle in Iraq
Iraq: Merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies in Middle was 4.9% in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies in Middle in Iraq, 1960–2023
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 Iraq stood at 4.9%.
The figure is up 13.5% on the previous year and down 29.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies in middle in Iraq peaked at 46.0% in 2008 and was at its lowest, 1.1%, in 1983.
That places Iraq 15th 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 Iraq, year by year
| Year | % of total merchandise imports | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 4.2% | — |
| 1961 | 3.8% | -10.7% |
| 1962 | 4.6% | +21.4% |
| 1963 | 6.5% | +41.9% |
| 1964 | 6.4% | -2.3% |
| 1965 | 5.9% | -8.1% |
| 1966 | 5.4% | -8.0% |
| 1967 | 5.5% | +2.4% |
| 1968 | 9.0% | +63.1% |
| 1969 | 8.9% | -1.4% |
| 1970 | 8.3% | -6.7% |
| 1971 | 6.2% | -25.4% |
| 1972 | 6.7% | +7.9% |
| 1973 | 4.5% | -32.2% |
| 1974 | 3.8% | -15.1% |
| 1975 | 2.5% | -34.5% |
| 1976 | 1.4% | -42.6% |
| 1977 | 1.7% | +15.2% |
| 1978 | 2.2% | +32.6% |
| 1981 | 1.2% | -46.8% |
| 1982 | 1.2% | -1.7% |
| 1983 | 1.1% | -8.8% |
| 1984 | 2.6% | +151.4% |
| 1985 | 2.8% | +6.4% |
| 1986 | 2.5% | -10.2% |
| 1987 | 3.5% | +38.5% |
| 1988 | 3.3% | -6.8% |
| 1989 | 4.3% | +33.4% |
| 1990 | 5.3% | +22.7% |
| 1991 | 35.9% | +573.1% |
| 1992 | 13.4% | -62.6% |
| 1993 | 25.4% | +89.2% |
| 1994 | 34.6% | +36.3% |
| 1995 | 45.8% | +32.2% |
| 1996 | 27.3% | -40.3% |
| 1997 | 25.8% | -5.8% |
| 1998 | 13.9% | -46.0% |
| 1999 | 12.8% | -8.1% |
| 2000 | 9.5% | -25.5% |
| 2001 | 15.6% | +63.5% |
| 2002 | 15.4% | -1.0% |
| 2003 | 23.6% | +53.1% |
| 2004 | 31.7% | +34.3% |
| 2005 | 13.1% | -58.8% |
| 2006 | 15.4% | +17.5% |
| 2007 | 28.0% | +82.6% |
| 2008 | 46.0% | +64.2% |
| 2009 | 42.1% | -8.5% |
| 2010 | 34.5% | -18.1% |
| 2011 | 11.8% | -65.7% |
| 2012 | 7.9% | -33.5% |
| 2013 | 6.9% | -11.8% |
| 2014 | 6.2% | -10.9% |
| 2015 | 4.7% | -23.9% |
| 2016 | 2.8% | -40.0% |
| 2017 | 4.2% | +48.6% |
| 2018 | 4.2% | -0.4% |
| 2019 | 4.0% | -5.3% |
| 2020 | 5.2% | +32.5% |
| 2021 | 4.4% | -15.5% |
| 2022 | 4.3% | -3.0% |
| 2023 | 4.9% | +13.5% |
Iraq compared with similar countries
- Iraq's 4.9% is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 0.5%, 10.1× the median. (58 countries reporting)
- Iraq's 4.9% is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 3.3%, 1.5× the median. (23 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies in Middle in Iraq 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1991 | +573.1% | 5.3% | 35.9% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 6.0% | 3.8% | 9.0% | 10 |
| 1970s | 4.2% | 1.4% | 8.3% | 9 |
| 1980s | 2.5% | 1.1% | 4.3% | 9 |
| 1990s | 24.0% | 5.3% | 45.8% | 10 |
| 2000s | 24.0% | 9.5% | 46.0% | 10 |
| 2010s | 8.7% | 2.8% | 34.5% | 10 |
| 2020s | 4.7% | 4.3% | 5.2% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Iraq
More private sector data for Iraq
- Merchandise trade 70.0% (2025)
- Food imports 7.2% (2014)
- Manufactures imports 66.3% (2014)
- Merchandise imports 85.19 billion current US$ (2025)
- Food exports 0.0% (2016)
- Manufactures exports 0.0% (2016)
- Merchandise exports 92.91 billion current US$ (2025)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), per capita 1,976 current US$ per person (2025)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), per unit of GDP 0.3653 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), annual growth rate -8 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies in middle in Iraq?
- Merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies in middle in Iraq was 4.9% 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 Iraq?
- The highest recorded value was 46.0% in 2008.
- What is the lowest merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies in middle recorded in Iraq?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.1% in 1983.
- How does Iraq rank for merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies in middle?
- Iraq ranks 15th out of 203 countries with data for 2023.
- Is merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies in middle rising or falling in Iraq?
- Over the last ten years it is down 29.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Iraq 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.