Merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies in South in India
India: Merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies in South was 0.8% in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies in South in India, 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 south in India stood at 0.8%.
That represents a change of up 6.5% on the previous year and up 43.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies in south in India peaked at 2.9% in 1965 and was at its lowest, 0.4%, in 1989.
That places India 175th out of 205 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the bottom quarter.
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 India, year by year
| Year | % of total merchandise imports | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 2.4% | — |
| 1961 | 1.9% | -21.4% |
| 1962 | 2.9% | +55.8% |
| 1963 | 2.1% | -26.2% |
| 1964 | 2.1% | -1.7% |
| 1965 | 2.9% | +38.6% |
| 1966 | 1.2% | -59.1% |
| 1967 | 1.6% | +32.4% |
| 1968 | 1.6% | +4.6% |
| 1969 | 2.3% | +39.5% |
| 1970 | 1.6% | -28.9% |
| 1971 | 1.2% | -28.9% |
| 1972 | 1.7% | +43.2% |
| 1973 | 2.0% | +18.1% |
| 1974 | 1.2% | -36.8% |
| 1975 | 1.4% | +10.6% |
| 1976 | 1.7% | +26.8% |
| 1977 | 1.3% | -26.2% |
| 1978 | 1.1% | -12.7% |
| 1979 | 1.1% | -5.5% |
| 1980 | 1.2% | +12.5% |
| 1981 | 1.5% | +29.5% |
| 1982 | 1.0% | -35.2% |
| 1983 | 0.9% | -13.3% |
| 1984 | 0.9% | +9.2% |
| 1985 | 0.9% | -4.8% |
| 1986 | 0.7% | -23.3% |
| 1987 | 0.7% | +4.1% |
| 1988 | 0.7% | -1.5% |
| 1989 | 0.4% | -42.2% |
| 1990 | 0.5% | +33.6% |
| 1991 | 0.7% | +25.0% |
| 1992 | 0.9% | +36.8% |
| 1993 | 0.5% | -44.1% |
| 1994 | 0.5% | +3.7% |
| 1995 | 0.7% | +23.1% |
| 1996 | 0.6% | -12.2% |
| 1997 | 0.6% | +2.1% |
| 1998 | 1.0% | +70.8% |
| 1999 | 0.9% | -10.8% |
| 2000 | 1.2% | +34.6% |
| 2001 | 1.6% | +30.9% |
| 2002 | 1.3% | -19.4% |
| 2003 | 1.2% | -5.1% |
| 2004 | 1.2% | +0.3% |
| 2005 | 1.3% | +7.3% |
| 2006 | 0.9% | -32.1% |
| 2007 | 0.8% | -6.6% |
| 2008 | 0.6% | -25.4% |
| 2009 | 0.6% | -4.9% |
| 2010 | 0.6% | -0.5% |
| 2011 | 0.6% | -6.9% |
| 2012 | 0.6% | +0.6% |
| 2013 | 0.5% | -4.6% |
| 2014 | 0.6% | +11.8% |
| 2015 | 0.8% | +33.5% |
| 2016 | 0.8% | -1.1% |
| 2017 | 0.6% | -25.5% |
| 2018 | 0.8% | +30.9% |
| 2019 | 0.8% | +0.8% |
| 2020 | 0.8% | +8.6% |
| 2021 | 0.9% | +5.6% |
| 2022 | 0.7% | -18.9% |
| 2023 | 0.8% | +6.5% |
India compared with similar countries
- India's 0.8% is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 2.7%, 28% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
- India's 0.8% is below the median for South Asia, which is 21.1%, 4% of the median. (6 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 2.1% | 1.2% | 2.9% | 10 |
| 1970s | 1.4% | 1.1% | 2.0% | 10 |
| 1980s | 0.9% | 0.4% | 1.5% | 10 |
| 1990s | 0.7% | 0.5% | 1.0% | 10 |
| 2000s | 1.1% | 0.6% | 1.6% | 10 |
| 2010s | 0.7% | 0.5% | 0.8% | 10 |
| 2020s | 0.8% | 0.7% | 0.9% | 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 south in India?
- Merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies in south in India was 0.8% 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 India?
- The highest recorded value was 2.9% in 1965.
- What is the lowest merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies in south recorded in India?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.4% in 1989.
- How does India rank for merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies in south?
- India ranks 175th out of 205 countries with data for 2023.
- Is merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies in south rising or falling in India?
- Over the last ten years it is up 43.7%. 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 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.