Merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies in South in Ethiopia
Ethiopia: Merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies in South was 9.9% in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies in South in Ethiopia, 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 south in Ethiopia is 9.9%, measured in 2023.
The figure is down 31.7% on the previous year and down 11.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies in south in Ethiopia peaked at 16.1% in 2021 and was at its lowest, 0.8%, in 1988.
Ethiopia ranks 21st of 205 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 South in Ethiopia, year by year
| Year | % of total merchandise imports | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 8.5% | — |
| 1961 | 7.5% | -11.0% |
| 1962 | 5.7% | -24.2% |
| 1963 | 5.5% | -3.0% |
| 1964 | 4.1% | -26.8% |
| 1965 | 3.3% | -18.7% |
| 1966 | 2.5% | -24.9% |
| 1967 | 2.5% | -0.2% |
| 1968 | 2.0% | -20.6% |
| 1969 | 3.1% | +57.8% |
| 1970 | 2.5% | -19.4% |
| 1971 | 2.2% | -10.7% |
| 1972 | 2.5% | +13.3% |
| 1973 | 2.1% | -16.6% |
| 1974 | 1.4% | -33.1% |
| 1975 | 1.7% | +20.7% |
| 1976 | 2.1% | +24.5% |
| 1977 | 2.2% | +3.7% |
| 1978 | 2.1% | -5.2% |
| 1979 | 1.4% | -32.3% |
| 1980 | 1.4% | -1.1% |
| 1981 | 1.4% | +1.5% |
| 1982 | 1.9% | +32.0% |
| 1983 | 0.9% | -51.3% |
| 1984 | 1.1% | +17.3% |
| 1985 | 0.9% | -20.0% |
| 1986 | 0.9% | +0.0% |
| 1987 | 0.8% | -4.9% |
| 1988 | 0.8% | -3.8% |
| 1989 | 1.4% | +76.8% |
| 1990 | 3.7% | +167.1% |
| 1991 | 0.9% | -75.5% |
| 1992 | 1.6% | +75.7% |
| 1993 | 1.6% | +3.2% |
| 1994 | 2.0% | +24.0% |
| 1995 | 3.1% | +52.6% |
| 1996 | 4.5% | +44.5% |
| 1997 | 5.8% | +29.1% |
| 1998 | 6.1% | +5.3% |
| 1999 | 4.4% | -27.2% |
| 2000 | 5.7% | +29.2% |
| 2001 | 5.9% | +2.6% |
| 2002 | 7.3% | +23.9% |
| 2003 | 8.0% | +9.5% |
| 2004 | 7.1% | -11.4% |
| 2005 | 7.8% | +10.1% |
| 2006 | 8.2% | +5.3% |
| 2007 | 10.3% | +25.4% |
| 2008 | 13.0% | +26.6% |
| 2009 | 11.2% | -13.5% |
| 2010 | 9.9% | -12.0% |
| 2011 | 11.8% | +19.6% |
| 2012 | 11.1% | -6.3% |
| 2013 | 11.2% | +1.4% |
| 2014 | 6.9% | -38.3% |
| 2015 | 7.2% | +3.2% |
| 2016 | 7.9% | +11.0% |
| 2017 | 7.6% | -4.8% |
| 2018 | 9.5% | +25.0% |
| 2019 | 8.9% | -6.4% |
| 2020 | 10.9% | +22.8% |
| 2021 | 16.1% | +48.3% |
| 2022 | 14.5% | -9.8% |
| 2023 | 9.9% | -31.7% |
Ethiopia compared with similar countries
- Ethiopia's 9.9% is above the median for low income countries, which is 7.4%, 1.3× the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Ethiopia's 9.9% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 7.0%, 1.4× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 4.5% | 2.0% | 8.5% | 10 |
| 1970s | 2.0% | 1.4% | 2.5% | 10 |
| 1980s | 1.1% | 0.8% | 1.9% | 10 |
| 1990s | 3.4% | 0.9% | 6.1% | 10 |
| 2000s | 8.4% | 5.7% | 13.0% | 10 |
| 2010s | 9.2% | 6.9% | 11.8% | 10 |
| 2020s | 12.9% | 9.9% | 16.1% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Ethiopia
More private sector data for Ethiopia
- Merchandise trade 24.2% (2025)
- Food imports 13.8% (2023)
- Manufactures imports 69.2% (2023)
- Merchandise imports 23.01 billion current US$ (2025)
- Food exports 80.4% (2023)
- Manufactures exports 9.2% (2023)
- Merchandise exports 7.58 billion current US$ (2025)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), per capita 55.99 current US$ per person (2025)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), per unit of GDP 0.06 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), annual growth rate 38.61 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies in south in Ethiopia?
- Merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies in south in Ethiopia was 9.9% in 2023, according to Staff estimates, World Bank (WB).
- What is the highest merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies in south recorded in Ethiopia?
- The highest recorded value was 16.1% in 2021.
- What is the lowest merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies in south recorded in Ethiopia?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.8% in 1988.
- How does Ethiopia rank for merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies in south?
- Ethiopia ranks 21st out of 205 countries with data for 2023.
- Is merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies in south rising or falling in Ethiopia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 11.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Ethiopia 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 South Asia (% 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 South Asia are the sum of merchandise imports by the reporting economy from low- and middle-income economies in the South Asia 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.