Merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies in South in Uganda
Uganda: Merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies in South was 11.2% in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies in South in Uganda, 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 Uganda is 11.2%, measured in 2023.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 10.3% on the previous year and down 60.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies in south in Uganda peaked at 28.1% in 2013 and was at its lowest, 1.0%, in 1979.
Uganda ranks 17th of 205 countries on this measure, 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 Uganda, year by year
| Year | % of total merchandise imports | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 5.3% | — |
| 1961 | 7.2% | +36.4% |
| 1962 | 6.8% | -5.3% |
| 1963 | 7.7% | +13.1% |
| 1964 | 7.1% | -8.0% |
| 1965 | 7.3% | +2.7% |
| 1966 | 6.8% | -6.5% |
| 1967 | 5.2% | -24.1% |
| 1968 | 4.3% | -17.7% |
| 1969 | 5.3% | +24.9% |
| 1970 | 4.7% | -11.0% |
| 1971 | 4.7% | -1.6% |
| 1972 | 4.7% | +0.4% |
| 1973 | 3.8% | -19.0% |
| 1974 | 3.4% | -9.4% |
| 1975 | 3.6% | +4.5% |
| 1976 | 2.0% | -45.3% |
| 1977 | 3.1% | +60.2% |
| 1978 | 9.9% | +213.7% |
| 1979 | 1.0% | -90.2% |
| 1980 | 12.5% | +1191.1% |
| 1981 | 8.2% | -34.7% |
| 1982 | 9.4% | +15.0% |
| 1983 | 13.5% | +44.0% |
| 1984 | 2.9% | -78.2% |
| 1985 | 5.5% | +87.3% |
| 1986 | 15.9% | +188.7% |
| 1987 | 10.3% | -35.1% |
| 1988 | 7.5% | -27.7% |
| 1989 | 8.0% | +7.5% |
| 1990 | 3.5% | -56.0% |
| 1991 | 8.7% | +145.3% |
| 1992 | 7.8% | -10.5% |
| 1993 | 7.8% | +0.1% |
| 1994 | 6.7% | -13.7% |
| 1995 | 5.7% | -14.3% |
| 1996 | 5.5% | -3.5% |
| 1997 | 5.7% | +3.7% |
| 1998 | 6.5% | +12.4% |
| 1999 | 6.1% | -5.0% |
| 2000 | 5.7% | -7.8% |
| 2001 | 7.3% | +29.3% |
| 2002 | 8.1% | +10.6% |
| 2003 | 8.8% | +9.4% |
| 2004 | 7.8% | -11.6% |
| 2005 | 7.0% | -10.4% |
| 2006 | 8.6% | +22.7% |
| 2007 | 10.4% | +20.8% |
| 2008 | 10.9% | +4.6% |
| 2009 | 12.9% | +18.4% |
| 2010 | 15.4% | +19.4% |
| 2011 | 17.8% | +16.0% |
| 2012 | 22.0% | +23.6% |
| 2013 | 28.1% | +27.5% |
| 2014 | 26.1% | -7.0% |
| 2015 | 22.1% | -15.2% |
| 2016 | 18.5% | -16.5% |
| 2017 | 14.8% | -19.7% |
| 2018 | 13.3% | -10.3% |
| 2019 | 12.7% | -4.8% |
| 2020 | 13.0% | +2.3% |
| 2021 | 12.2% | -5.8% |
| 2022 | 12.4% | +1.6% |
| 2023 | 11.2% | -10.3% |
Uganda compared with similar countries
- Uganda's 11.2% is above the median for low income countries, which is 7.4%, 1.5× the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Uganda's 11.2% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 7.0%, 1.6× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies in South in Uganda 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | +1191.1% | 1.0% | 12.5% |
| 1978 | +213.7% | 3.1% | 9.9% |
| 1986 | +188.7% | 5.5% | 15.9% |
| 1991 | +145.3% | 3.5% | 8.7% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 6.3% | 4.3% | 7.7% | 10 |
| 1970s | 4.1% | 1.0% | 9.9% | 10 |
| 1980s | 9.4% | 2.9% | 15.9% | 10 |
| 1990s | 6.4% | 3.5% | 8.7% | 10 |
| 2000s | 8.7% | 5.7% | 12.9% | 10 |
| 2010s | 19.1% | 12.7% | 28.1% | 10 |
| 2020s | 12.2% | 11.2% | 13.0% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Uganda
More private sector data for Uganda
- Merchandise trade 49.9% (2025)
- Food imports 10.7% (2024)
- Manufactures imports 47.3% (2024)
- Merchandise imports 18.40 billion current US$ (2025)
- Food exports 39.3% (2024)
- Manufactures exports 14.3% (2024)
- Merchandise exports 12.50 billion current US$ (2025)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), per capita 243.26 current US$ per person (2025)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), per unit of GDP 0.2017 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), annual growth rate 55.49 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies in south in Uganda?
- Merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies in south in Uganda was 11.2% 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 Uganda?
- The highest recorded value was 28.1% in 2013.
- What is the lowest merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies in south recorded in Uganda?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.0% in 1979.
- How does Uganda rank for merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies in south?
- Uganda ranks 17th out of 205 countries with data for 2023.
- Is merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies in south rising or falling in Uganda?
- Over the last ten years it is down 60.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Uganda 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.