Merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies in South in Least developed countries
Least developed countries: Merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies in South was 11.0% in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies in South in Least developed countries, 1960–2023
Source: Staff estimates, World Bank (WB). Measured in % of total merchandise imports.
Analysis
Least developed countries recorded 11.0% for merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies in south in 2023.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 10.0% on the previous year and up 5.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies in south in Least developed countries peaked at 13.2% in 2021 and was at its lowest, 1.9%, in 1972.
That places Least developed countries 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 South in Least developed countries, year by year
| Year | % of total merchandise imports | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 5.7% | — |
| 1961 | 5.5% | -3.5% |
| 1962 | 4.4% | -20.8% |
| 1963 | 3.6% | -17.3% |
| 1964 | 4.3% | +19.7% |
| 1965 | 3.8% | -11.7% |
| 1966 | 2.9% | -23.8% |
| 1967 | 2.7% | -8.9% |
| 1968 | 2.6% | -1.0% |
| 1969 | 2.9% | +11.7% |
| 1970 | 3.1% | +3.9% |
| 1971 | 3.5% | +14.7% |
| 1972 | 1.9% | -45.8% |
| 1973 | 3.4% | +79.5% |
| 1974 | 2.9% | -14.6% |
| 1975 | 3.5% | +20.7% |
| 1976 | 3.8% | +6.8% |
| 1977 | 3.8% | +0.4% |
| 1978 | 3.9% | +3.7% |
| 1979 | 3.0% | -24.1% |
| 1980 | 3.0% | +2.4% |
| 1981 | 3.6% | +18.7% |
| 1982 | 2.7% | -25.4% |
| 1983 | 2.7% | +0.2% |
| 1984 | 2.8% | +2.4% |
| 1985 | 2.6% | -4.5% |
| 1986 | 3.2% | +23.4% |
| 1987 | 3.0% | -7.6% |
| 1988 | 3.7% | +24.5% |
| 1989 | 2.9% | -23.6% |
| 1990 | 2.8% | -1.7% |
| 1991 | 2.9% | +2.9% |
| 1992 | 3.3% | +14.9% |
| 1993 | 3.6% | +7.3% |
| 1994 | 4.0% | +13.6% |
| 1995 | 5.5% | +36.6% |
| 1996 | 6.8% | +22.5% |
| 1997 | 6.2% | -8.9% |
| 1998 | 6.6% | +7.0% |
| 1999 | 5.8% | -11.6% |
| 2000 | 7.1% | +21.8% |
| 2001 | 8.2% | +15.6% |
| 2002 | 8.9% | +8.1% |
| 2003 | 9.4% | +6.2% |
| 2004 | 9.1% | -3.7% |
| 2005 | 9.0% | -0.7% |
| 2006 | 9.4% | +3.8% |
| 2007 | 9.6% | +2.9% |
| 2008 | 9.2% | -4.5% |
| 2009 | 8.8% | -3.8% |
| 2010 | 9.7% | +9.2% |
| 2011 | 10.0% | +3.2% |
| 2012 | 10.0% | +0.4% |
| 2013 | 10.4% | +4.3% |
| 2014 | 11.0% | +5.0% |
| 2015 | 9.8% | -10.8% |
| 2016 | 11.9% | +21.8% |
| 2017 | 11.9% | -0.2% |
| 2018 | 12.6% | +6.3% |
| 2019 | 11.1% | -12.0% |
| 2020 | 11.2% | +0.5% |
| 2021 | 13.2% | +18.2% |
| 2022 | 12.2% | -7.2% |
| 2023 | 11.0% | -10.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 3.9% | 2.6% | 5.7% | 10 |
| 1970s | 3.3% | 1.9% | 3.9% | 10 |
| 1980s | 3.0% | 2.6% | 3.7% | 10 |
| 1990s | 4.7% | 2.8% | 6.8% | 10 |
| 2000s | 8.9% | 7.1% | 9.6% | 10 |
| 2010s | 10.8% | 9.7% | 12.6% | 10 |
| 2020s | 11.9% | 11.0% | 13.2% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Least developed countries
More private sector data for Least developed countries
- Merchandise trade 41.4% (2025)
- Food imports 15.6% (2019)
- Manufactures imports 62.6% (2019)
- Merchandise imports 376.94 billion current US$ (2025)
- Food exports 15.1% (2023)
- Manufactures exports 20.1% (2023)
- Merchandise exports 311.48 billion current US$ (2025)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), per capita 256.54 current US$ per person (2025)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), per unit of GDP 0.1884 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), annual growth rate 10.88 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies in south in Least developed countries?
- Merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies in south in Least developed countries was 11.0% 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 Least developed countries?
- The highest recorded value was 13.2% in 2021.
- What is the lowest merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies in south recorded in Least developed countries?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.9% in 1972.
- How does Least developed countries rank for merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies in south?
- Least developed countries ranks 1st out of 47 groups with data for 2023.
- Is merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies in south rising or falling in Least developed countries?
- Over the last ten years it is up 5.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Least developed countries 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.