Merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies in Middle in South Asia
South Asia: 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 South Asia, 1960–2023
Source: Staff estimates, World Bank (WB). Measured in % of total merchandise imports.
Analysis
South Asia recorded 4.9% for merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies in middle in 2023.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 21.4% 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 South Asia peaked at 18.4% in 1980 and was at its lowest, 1.8%, in 2004.
That places South Asia 1st out of 47 groups 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 South Asia, year by year
| Year | % of total merchandise imports | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 5.6% | — |
| 1961 | 4.8% | -13.4% |
| 1962 | 6.3% | +30.9% |
| 1963 | 6.2% | -1.9% |
| 1964 | 4.4% | -29.2% |
| 1965 | 4.5% | +1.6% |
| 1966 | 4.6% | +3.3% |
| 1967 | 4.2% | -9.2% |
| 1968 | 5.0% | +20.1% |
| 1969 | 5.1% | +2.0% |
| 1970 | 8.5% | +66.2% |
| 1971 | 9.2% | +7.2% |
| 1972 | 10.3% | +12.4% |
| 1973 | 8.3% | -19.7% |
| 1974 | 18.1% | +118.1% |
| 1975 | 12.5% | -30.6% |
| 1976 | 14.4% | +14.7% |
| 1977 | 15.9% | +10.7% |
| 1978 | 15.2% | -4.6% |
| 1979 | 14.5% | -4.4% |
| 1980 | 18.4% | +26.8% |
| 1981 | 15.5% | -15.8% |
| 1982 | 12.4% | -19.6% |
| 1983 | 11.8% | -5.1% |
| 1984 | 8.7% | -26.3% |
| 1985 | 9.5% | +9.8% |
| 1986 | 5.3% | -44.9% |
| 1987 | 5.1% | -3.6% |
| 1988 | 4.7% | -6.9% |
| 1989 | 3.8% | -19.1% |
| 1990 | 6.3% | +65.2% |
| 1991 | 6.8% | +8.1% |
| 1992 | 7.0% | +2.1% |
| 1993 | 5.0% | -28.6% |
| 1994 | 4.3% | -13.0% |
| 1995 | 3.6% | -17.7% |
| 1996 | 3.7% | +4.8% |
| 1997 | 3.7% | -0.5% |
| 1998 | 3.4% | -8.0% |
| 1999 | 4.7% | +37.3% |
| 2000 | 3.2% | -31.3% |
| 2001 | 2.4% | -25.7% |
| 2002 | 2.3% | -5.4% |
| 2003 | 1.8% | -19.8% |
| 2004 | 1.8% | -1.7% |
| 2005 | 2.0% | +11.6% |
| 2006 | 8.1% | +306.0% |
| 2007 | 9.2% | +13.9% |
| 2008 | 9.4% | +1.7% |
| 2009 | 8.1% | -13.7% |
| 2010 | 7.1% | -12.5% |
| 2011 | 7.7% | +9.3% |
| 2012 | 7.8% | +0.8% |
| 2013 | 7.1% | -9.4% |
| 2014 | 6.3% | -11.2% |
| 2015 | 5.0% | -21.0% |
| 2016 | 5.3% | +7.1% |
| 2017 | 6.0% | +13.3% |
| 2018 | 7.4% | +23.2% |
| 2019 | 5.7% | -22.8% |
| 2020 | 5.0% | -12.4% |
| 2021 | 5.3% | +5.6% |
| 2022 | 6.3% | +18.6% |
| 2023 | 4.9% | -21.4% |
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies in Middle in South Asia 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 | +306.0% | 2.0% | 8.1% |
| 1974 | +118.1% | 8.3% | 18.1% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 5.1% | 4.2% | 6.3% | 10 |
| 1970s | 12.7% | 8.3% | 18.1% | 10 |
| 1980s | 9.5% | 3.8% | 18.4% | 10 |
| 1990s | 4.8% | 3.4% | 7.0% | 10 |
| 2000s | 4.8% | 1.8% | 9.4% | 10 |
| 2010s | 6.5% | 5.0% | 7.8% | 10 |
| 2020s | 5.4% | 4.9% | 6.3% | 4 |
Countries ranked near South Asia
More private sector data for South Asia
- Merchandise trade 30.0% (2025)
- Food imports 5.6% (2024)
- Manufactures imports 47.1% (2024)
- Merchandise imports 864.53 billion current US$ (2025)
- Food exports 11.8% (2024)
- Manufactures exports 67.0% (2024)
- Merchandise exports 510.58 billion current US$ (2025)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), per capita 301.72 current US$ per person (2025)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), per unit of GDP 0.1115 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), annual growth rate 1.04 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies in middle in South Asia?
- Merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies in middle in South Asia 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 South Asia?
- The highest recorded value was 18.4% in 1980.
- What is the lowest merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies in middle recorded in South Asia?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.8% in 2004.
- How does South Asia rank for merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies in middle?
- South Asia ranks 1st out of 47 groups with data for 2023.
- Is merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies in middle rising or falling in South Asia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 30.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South Asia 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.