Merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies in South in Laos
Laos: Merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies in South was 0.5% in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies in South in Laos, 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 Laos is 0.5%, measured in 2023.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 66.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies in south in Laos peaked at 4.5% in 1970 and was at its lowest, 0.0%, in 1981.
That places Laos 181st 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 Laos, year by year
| Year | % of total merchandise imports | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 0.6% | — |
| 1961 | 0.6% | -2.8% |
| 1962 | 1.6% | +165.0% |
| 1964 | 0.4% | -74.8% |
| 1965 | 0.7% | +67.4% |
| 1970 | 4.5% | +548.8% |
| 1971 | 0.2% | -96.6% |
| 1972 | 0.1% | -11.1% |
| 1973 | 0.3% | +136.2% |
| 1974 | 0.7% | +102.9% |
| 1981 | 0.0% | -95.4% |
| 1982 | 0.2% | +657.0% |
| 1983 | 0.7% | +184.7% |
| 1985 | 0.0% | -93.5% |
| 1987 | 0.1% | +44.9% |
| 1988 | 0.0% | -45.8% |
| 1989 | 0.7% | +1982.1% |
| 1990 | 0.2% | -70.3% |
| 1991 | 0.9% | +356.2% |
| 1992 | 0.2% | -80.3% |
| 1993 | 0.3% | +38.8% |
| 1994 | 0.2% | -32.3% |
| 1995 | 0.2% | +7.3% |
| 1996 | 0.2% | -7.2% |
| 1997 | 0.1% | -62.6% |
| 1998 | 0.3% | +406.1% |
| 1999 | 0.3% | -2.2% |
| 2000 | 0.3% | +0.7% |
| 2001 | 0.3% | +0.0% |
| 2002 | 0.3% | +0.0% |
| 2003 | 0.3% | +0.0% |
| 2004 | 0.3% | +0.0% |
| 2005 | 0.3% | +0.0% |
| 2006 | 0.3% | +0.0% |
| 2007 | 0.3% | +0.0% |
| 2008 | 0.3% | +0.0% |
| 2009 | 0.3% | +0.0% |
| 2010 | 0.3% | +0.0% |
| 2011 | 0.3% | -0.2% |
| 2012 | 0.3% | +0.0% |
| 2013 | 0.3% | -0.0% |
| 2014 | 0.3% | +0.2% |
| 2015 | 0.3% | -0.2% |
| 2016 | 0.5% | +39.6% |
| 2017 | 0.8% | +73.4% |
| 2018 | 0.6% | -29.2% |
| 2019 | 0.7% | +24.2% |
| 2020 | 0.8% | +17.6% |
| 2021 | 0.5% | -33.6% |
| 2022 | 0.5% | -0.0% |
| 2023 | 0.5% | +0.0% |
Laos compared with similar countries
- Laos's 0.5% is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 2.7%, 20% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Laos's 0.5% is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 1.0%, 55% of the median. (36 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies in South in Laos 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1989 | +1982.1% | 0.0% | 0.7% |
| 1982 | +657.0% | 0.0% | 0.2% |
| 1970 | +548.8% | 0.7% | 4.5% |
| 1998 | +406.1% | 0.1% | 0.3% |
| 1991 | +356.2% | 0.2% | 0.9% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 0.8% | 0.4% | 1.6% | 5 |
| 1970s | 1.2% | 0.1% | 4.5% | 5 |
| 1980s | 0.3% | 0.0% | 0.7% | 7 |
| 1990s | 0.3% | 0.1% | 0.9% | 10 |
| 2000s | 0.3% | 0.3% | 0.3% | 10 |
| 2010s | 0.4% | 0.3% | 0.8% | 10 |
| 2020s | 0.6% | 0.5% | 0.8% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Laos
More private sector data for Laos
- Merchandise trade 124.1% (2025)
- Food imports 12.7% (2023)
- Manufactures imports 61.7% (2023)
- Merchandise imports 10.34 billion current US$ (2025)
- Food exports 23.2% (2023)
- Manufactures exports 32.8% (2023)
- Merchandise exports 12.38 billion current US$ (2025)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), per capita 1,572 current US$ per person (2025)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), per unit of GDP 0.6762 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), annual growth rate 31.87 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies in south in Laos?
- Merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies in south in Laos was 0.5% 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 Laos?
- The highest recorded value was 4.5% in 1970.
- What is the lowest merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies in south recorded in Laos?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.0% in 1981.
- How does Laos rank for merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies in south?
- Laos ranks 181st out of 205 countries with data for 2023.
- Is merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies in south rising or falling in Laos?
- Over the last ten years it is up 66.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Laos 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.
Download this data
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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.