Merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies in Middle in Lebanon
Lebanon: Merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies in Middle was 7.4% in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies in Middle in Lebanon, 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 Lebanon is 7.4%, measured in 2023.
That represents a change of up 11.5% on the previous year and up 17.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies in middle in Lebanon peaked at 21.1% in 1964 and was at its lowest, 1.3%, in 1987.
Lebanon ranks 9th of 203 countries on this measure, 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 Lebanon, year by year
| Year | % of total merchandise imports | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 14.4% | — |
| 1961 | 11.6% | -19.5% |
| 1963 | 21.1% | +81.4% |
| 1964 | 21.1% | +0.2% |
| 1965 | 20.9% | -1.3% |
| 1966 | 19.7% | -5.7% |
| 1967 | 18.8% | -4.6% |
| 1968 | 19.1% | +1.6% |
| 1969 | 14.7% | -22.9% |
| 1970 | 12.9% | -12.3% |
| 1971 | 9.5% | -26.4% |
| 1972 | 10.8% | +13.8% |
| 1973 | 8.1% | -24.6% |
| 1981 | 2.1% | -74.5% |
| 1982 | 1.8% | -15.3% |
| 1983 | 1.5% | -12.2% |
| 1984 | 1.3% | -15.5% |
| 1985 | 1.8% | +41.4% |
| 1986 | 1.3% | -27.0% |
| 1987 | 1.3% | -6.7% |
| 1988 | 3.4% | +169.4% |
| 1989 | 8.9% | +162.6% |
| 1990 | 14.2% | +60.1% |
| 1991 | 12.4% | -13.1% |
| 1992 | 13.6% | +10.1% |
| 1993 | 10.7% | -21.4% |
| 1994 | 10.3% | -3.7% |
| 1995 | 4.2% | -59.7% |
| 1996 | 7.2% | +72.4% |
| 1997 | 7.0% | -1.7% |
| 1998 | 5.7% | -18.9% |
| 1999 | 6.1% | +6.0% |
| 2000 | 8.0% | +31.4% |
| 2001 | 7.6% | -4.4% |
| 2002 | 7.2% | -5.1% |
| 2003 | 8.3% | +15.5% |
| 2004 | 7.8% | -6.2% |
| 2005 | 7.4% | -5.2% |
| 2006 | 8.0% | +7.6% |
| 2007 | 8.1% | +1.8% |
| 2008 | 6.3% | -22.5% |
| 2009 | 6.2% | -1.2% |
| 2010 | 6.7% | +6.9% |
| 2011 | 9.2% | +37.8% |
| 2012 | 7.4% | -19.8% |
| 2013 | 6.3% | -14.8% |
| 2014 | 6.2% | -0.9% |
| 2015 | 5.4% | -13.5% |
| 2016 | 7.4% | +38.4% |
| 2017 | 6.8% | -8.0% |
| 2018 | 6.3% | -7.7% |
| 2019 | 6.2% | -1.5% |
| 2020 | 6.8% | +8.8% |
| 2021 | 6.2% | -9.0% |
| 2022 | 6.6% | +7.6% |
| 2023 | 7.4% | +11.5% |
Lebanon compared with similar countries
- Lebanon's 7.4% is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 0.7%, 10.1× the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Lebanon's 7.4% is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 3.3%, 2.2× the median. (23 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies in Middle in Lebanon 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1988 | +169.4% | 1.3% | 3.4% |
| 1989 | +162.6% | 3.4% | 8.9% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 17.9% | 11.6% | 21.1% | 9 |
| 1970s | 10.3% | 8.1% | 12.9% | 4 |
| 1980s | 2.6% | 1.3% | 8.9% | 9 |
| 1990s | 9.1% | 4.2% | 14.2% | 10 |
| 2000s | 7.5% | 6.2% | 8.3% | 10 |
| 2010s | 6.8% | 5.4% | 9.2% | 10 |
| 2020s | 6.7% | 6.2% | 7.4% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Lebanon
More private sector data for Lebanon
- Merchandise trade 85.9% (2025)
- Food imports 18.5% (2024)
- Manufactures imports 40.0% (2024)
- Merchandise imports 21.67 billion current US$ (2025)
- Food exports 19.1% (2024)
- Manufactures exports 55.6% (2024)
- Merchandise exports 4.60 billion current US$ (2025)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), per capita 786.06 current US$ per person (2025)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), per unit of GDP 0.1456 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), annual growth rate 21.61 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies in middle in Lebanon?
- Merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies in middle in Lebanon was 7.4% 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 Lebanon?
- The highest recorded value was 21.1% in 1964.
- What is the lowest merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies in middle recorded in Lebanon?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.3% in 1987.
- How does Lebanon rank for merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies in middle?
- Lebanon ranks 9th out of 203 countries with data for 2023.
- Is merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies in middle rising or falling in Lebanon?
- Over the last ten years it is up 17.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Lebanon 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.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 56 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data).
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.