Merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies in South in Nigeria
Nigeria: Merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies in South was 7.9% in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies in South in Nigeria, 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 Nigeria stood at 7.9%.
That represents a change of up 18.6% on the previous year and up 7.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies in south in Nigeria peaked at 8.9% in 2021 and was at its lowest, 0.5%, in 1979.
That places Nigeria 29th out of 205 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the top 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 Nigeria, year by year
| Year | % of total merchandise imports | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 2.2% | — |
| 1961 | 3.6% | +64.7% |
| 1962 | 3.5% | -4.8% |
| 1963 | 2.4% | -29.5% |
| 1964 | 2.8% | +16.2% |
| 1965 | 3.2% | +12.7% |
| 1966 | 4.0% | +24.5% |
| 1967 | 3.1% | -22.2% |
| 1968 | 2.2% | -29.4% |
| 1969 | 2.3% | +4.2% |
| 1970 | 1.9% | -17.4% |
| 1971 | 2.0% | +6.5% |
| 1972 | 1.3% | -32.9% |
| 1973 | 1.2% | -7.2% |
| 1974 | 1.1% | -10.4% |
| 1975 | 0.8% | -31.0% |
| 1976 | 0.8% | +9.1% |
| 1977 | 0.6% | -23.4% |
| 1978 | 0.7% | +4.3% |
| 1979 | 0.5% | -23.3% |
| 1981 | 0.7% | +41.6% |
| 1982 | 1.0% | +31.6% |
| 1983 | 0.7% | -31.1% |
| 1984 | 1.4% | +105.9% |
| 1985 | 1.0% | -26.7% |
| 1986 | 0.9% | -13.7% |
| 1987 | 0.9% | +0.0% |
| 1988 | 1.2% | +40.5% |
| 1989 | 1.4% | +15.8% |
| 1990 | 1.7% | +19.2% |
| 1991 | 1.7% | -0.8% |
| 1992 | 1.9% | +14.3% |
| 1993 | 1.9% | +2.1% |
| 1994 | 2.5% | +30.5% |
| 1995 | 3.0% | +17.3% |
| 1996 | 2.6% | -12.3% |
| 1997 | 3.3% | +25.4% |
| 1998 | 3.8% | +16.3% |
| 1999 | 4.5% | +19.6% |
| 2000 | 3.6% | -21.4% |
| 2001 | 4.0% | +13.8% |
| 2002 | 3.6% | -11.2% |
| 2003 | 7.3% | +103.9% |
| 2004 | 7.3% | +0.0% |
| 2005 | 7.3% | +0.0% |
| 2006 | 7.5% | +2.0% |
| 2007 | 7.4% | -1.2% |
| 2008 | 7.3% | -0.8% |
| 2009 | 7.5% | +2.1% |
| 2010 | 7.5% | +0.6% |
| 2011 | 7.6% | +0.4% |
| 2012 | 7.3% | -3.0% |
| 2013 | 7.3% | -0.0% |
| 2014 | 7.3% | -0.0% |
| 2015 | 7.3% | -0.0% |
| 2016 | 7.3% | +0.0% |
| 2017 | 7.1% | -3.2% |
| 2018 | 7.3% | +3.3% |
| 2019 | 7.3% | -0.0% |
| 2020 | 8.0% | +9.5% |
| 2021 | 8.9% | +10.9% |
| 2022 | 6.6% | -25.6% |
| 2023 | 7.9% | +18.6% |
Nigeria compared with similar countries
- Nigeria's 7.9% is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 2.7%, 2.9× the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Nigeria's 7.9% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 7.0%, 1.1× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 2.9% | 2.2% | 4.0% | 10 |
| 1970s | 1.1% | 0.5% | 2.0% | 10 |
| 1980s | 1.0% | 0.7% | 1.4% | 9 |
| 1990s | 2.7% | 1.7% | 4.5% | 10 |
| 2000s | 6.3% | 3.6% | 7.5% | 10 |
| 2010s | 7.3% | 7.1% | 7.6% | 10 |
| 2020s | 7.9% | 6.6% | 8.9% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Nigeria
- 26 Mozambique 8.6% compare
- 27 Togo 8.3% compare
- 28 Gibraltar 8.1% compare
- 30 Malawi 7.4% compare
- 31 South Africa 7.4% compare
- 32 Seychelles 7.3% compare
More private sector data for Nigeria
- Merchandise trade 33.3% (2025)
- Food imports 11.0% (2024)
- Manufactures imports 46.0% (2024)
- Merchandise imports 41.45 billion current US$ (2025)
- Food exports 6.0% (2024)
- Manufactures exports 3.5% (2024)
- Merchandise exports 55.47 billion current US$ (2025)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), per capita 233.52 current US$ per person (2025)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), per unit of GDP 0.1907 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), annual growth rate 4.03 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies in south in Nigeria?
- Merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies in south in Nigeria was 7.9% 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 Nigeria?
- The highest recorded value was 8.9% in 2021.
- What is the lowest merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies in south recorded in Nigeria?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.5% in 1979.
- How does Nigeria rank for merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies in south?
- Nigeria ranks 29th out of 205 countries with data for 2023.
- Is merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies in south rising or falling in Nigeria?
- Over the last ten years it is up 7.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Nigeria 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.