Merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies in South in Nepal
Nepal: Merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies in South was 61.5% in 2023. ▲ Rising
Merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies in South in Nepal, 1981–2023
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 Nepal is 61.5%, measured in 2023.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 3.8% on the previous year and down 4.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies in south in Nepal peaked at 69.4% in 2006 and was at its lowest, 12.1%, in 1989.
That places Nepal 2nd out of 205 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 43 years of available data.
Merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies in South in Nepal, year by year
| Year | % of total merchandise imports | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1981 | 41.1% | — |
| 1982 | 25.2% | -38.7% |
| 1983 | 30.3% | +20.3% |
| 1984 | 46.4% | +53.1% |
| 1985 | 32.6% | -29.7% |
| 1986 | 33.4% | +2.5% |
| 1987 | 19.3% | -42.3% |
| 1988 | 18.4% | -4.8% |
| 1989 | 12.1% | -34.4% |
| 1990 | 13.5% | +12.4% |
| 1991 | 19.8% | +46.1% |
| 1992 | 17.6% | -11.2% |
| 1993 | 16.9% | -3.9% |
| 1994 | 18.1% | +7.0% |
| 1995 | 17.3% | -4.3% |
| 1996 | 34.1% | +97.1% |
| 1997 | 28.2% | -17.4% |
| 1998 | 32.1% | +14.2% |
| 1999 | 14.3% | -55.6% |
| 2000 | 40.1% | +180.7% |
| 2001 | 40.2% | +0.4% |
| 2002 | 44.6% | +10.8% |
| 2003 | 57.6% | +29.2% |
| 2004 | 60.3% | +4.7% |
| 2005 | 61.9% | +2.7% |
| 2006 | 69.4% | +12.1% |
| 2007 | 63.1% | -9.1% |
| 2008 | 61.4% | -2.7% |
| 2009 | 57.2% | -7.0% |
| 2010 | 64.0% | +11.9% |
| 2011 | 63.9% | -0.1% |
| 2012 | 65.9% | +3.2% |
| 2013 | 64.0% | -2.8% |
| 2014 | 65.5% | +2.3% |
| 2015 | 61.1% | -6.7% |
| 2016 | 66.4% | +8.6% |
| 2017 | 66.9% | +0.8% |
| 2018 | 66.5% | -0.7% |
| 2019 | 64.1% | -3.6% |
| 2020 | 65.0% | +1.3% |
| 2021 | 61.6% | -5.1% |
| 2022 | 63.9% | +3.6% |
| 2023 | 61.5% | -3.8% |
Nepal compared with similar countries
- Nepal's 61.5% is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 2.7%, 22.7× the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Nepal's 61.5% is above the median for South Asia, which is 21.1%, 2.9× the median. (6 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies in South in Nepal 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | +180.7% | 14.3% | 40.1% |
| 1996 | +97.1% | 17.3% | 34.1% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 28.7% | 12.1% | 46.4% | 9 |
| 1990s | 21.2% | 13.5% | 34.1% | 10 |
| 2000s | 55.6% | 40.1% | 69.4% | 10 |
| 2010s | 64.8% | 61.1% | 66.9% | 10 |
| 2020s | 63.0% | 61.5% | 65.0% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Nepal
More private sector data for Nepal
- Merchandise trade 36.7% (2025)
- Food imports 18.0% (2022)
- Manufactures imports 52.5% (2022)
- Merchandise imports 14.40 billion current US$ (2025)
- Food exports 49.4% (2022)
- Manufactures exports 47.5% (2022)
- Merchandise exports 2.31 billion current US$ (2025)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), per capita 78.03 current US$ per person (2025)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), per unit of GDP 0.0508 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), annual growth rate 75.61 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies in south in Nepal?
- Merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies in south in Nepal was 61.5% 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 Nepal?
- The highest recorded value was 69.4% in 2006.
- What is the lowest merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies in south recorded in Nepal?
- The lowest recorded value was 12.1% in 1989.
- How does Nepal rank for merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies in south?
- Nepal ranks 2nd out of 205 countries with data for 2023.
- Is merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies in south rising or falling in Nepal?
- Over the last ten years it is down 4.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Nepal 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.