Merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies outside in Africa Eastern and Southern
Africa Eastern and Southern: Merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies outside was 37.8% in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies outside in Africa Eastern and Southern, 1960–2023
Source: Staff estimates, World Bank (WB). Measured in % of total merchandise imports.
Analysis
Africa Eastern and Southern recorded 37.8% for merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies outside in 2023.
That represents a change of up 0.1% on the previous year and up 28.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies outside in Africa Eastern and Southern peaked at 37.8% in 2021 and was at its lowest, 7.3%, in 1964.
That places Africa Eastern and Southern 10th out of 47 groups 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 outside in Africa Eastern and Southern, year by year
| Year | % of total merchandise imports | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 13.2% | — |
| 1961 | 12.5% | -5.5% |
| 1962 | 13.6% | +9.2% |
| 1963 | 10.1% | -25.4% |
| 1964 | 7.3% | -27.6% |
| 1965 | 8.5% | +15.6% |
| 1966 | 9.7% | +13.9% |
| 1967 | 9.4% | -2.5% |
| 1968 | 9.2% | -2.2% |
| 1969 | 10.4% | +12.8% |
| 1970 | 9.4% | -9.6% |
| 1971 | 13.0% | +38.0% |
| 1972 | 11.7% | -10.1% |
| 1973 | 12.2% | +4.7% |
| 1974 | 14.8% | +21.5% |
| 1975 | 14.4% | -2.8% |
| 1976 | 15.4% | +6.6% |
| 1977 | 14.2% | -7.8% |
| 1978 | 12.0% | -15.3% |
| 1979 | 10.7% | -10.6% |
| 1980 | 9.6% | -10.1% |
| 1981 | 8.4% | -13.1% |
| 1982 | 10.3% | +23.2% |
| 1983 | 10.3% | -0.3% |
| 1984 | 11.4% | +11.1% |
| 1985 | 10.4% | -9.0% |
| 1986 | 10.1% | -2.7% |
| 1987 | 9.8% | -3.7% |
| 1988 | 11.0% | +13.0% |
| 1989 | 10.2% | -7.8% |
| 1990 | 11.6% | +14.5% |
| 1991 | 12.4% | +6.6% |
| 1992 | 13.7% | +10.0% |
| 1993 | 13.0% | -4.9% |
| 1994 | 14.7% | +13.3% |
| 1995 | 14.7% | +0.1% |
| 1996 | 15.2% | +2.9% |
| 1997 | 14.6% | -3.7% |
| 1998 | 15.6% | +6.9% |
| 1999 | 15.0% | -3.6% |
| 2000 | 16.6% | +10.5% |
| 2001 | 17.9% | +7.6% |
| 2002 | 17.9% | -0.0% |
| 2003 | 18.7% | +4.5% |
| 2004 | 20.3% | +8.8% |
| 2005 | 22.8% | +12.4% |
| 2006 | 23.1% | +1.2% |
| 2007 | 25.3% | +9.2% |
| 2008 | 27.5% | +8.9% |
| 2009 | 29.4% | +6.9% |
| 2010 | 27.6% | -6.1% |
| 2011 | 28.1% | +1.9% |
| 2012 | 28.4% | +0.8% |
| 2013 | 29.5% | +4.1% |
| 2014 | 30.8% | +4.2% |
| 2015 | 33.4% | +8.5% |
| 2016 | 34.4% | +2.9% |
| 2017 | 34.0% | -1.0% |
| 2018 | 33.5% | -1.5% |
| 2019 | 34.2% | +2.1% |
| 2020 | 37.4% | +9.4% |
| 2021 | 37.8% | +1.0% |
| 2022 | 37.8% | -0.1% |
| 2023 | 37.8% | +0.1% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 10.4% | 7.3% | 13.6% | 10 |
| 1970s | 12.8% | 9.4% | 15.4% | 10 |
| 1980s | 10.2% | 8.4% | 11.4% | 10 |
| 1990s | 14.1% | 11.6% | 15.6% | 10 |
| 2000s | 22.0% | 16.6% | 29.4% | 10 |
| 2010s | 31.4% | 27.6% | 34.4% | 10 |
| 2020s | 37.7% | 37.4% | 37.8% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Africa Eastern and Southern
- 7 United Arab Emirates 56.4% compare
- 8 Sierra Leone 54.8% compare
- 9 Eritrea 51.5% compare
- 10 Bangladesh 50.6% compare
- 11 Chad 50.1% compare
- 12 Tanzania 49.4% compare
- 13 Iran 48.5% compare
More private sector data for Africa Eastern and Southern
- Merchandise trade 45.4% (2025)
- Food imports 10.9% (2024)
- Manufactures imports 60.3% (2024)
- Merchandise imports 337.80 billion current US$ (2025)
- Food exports 14.5% (2024)
- Manufactures exports 26.0% (2024)
- Merchandise exports 282.56 billion current US$ (2025)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), per capita 358.19 current US$ per person (2025)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), per unit of GDP 0.208 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), annual growth rate 5.18 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies outside in Africa Eastern and Southern?
- Merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies outside in Africa Eastern and Southern was 37.8% in 2023, according to Staff estimates, World Bank (WB).
- What is the highest merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies outside recorded in Africa Eastern and Southern?
- The highest recorded value was 37.8% in 2021.
- What is the lowest merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies outside recorded in Africa Eastern and Southern?
- The lowest recorded value was 7.3% in 1964.
- How does Africa Eastern and Southern rank for merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies outside?
- Africa Eastern and Southern ranks 10th out of 47 groups with data for 2023.
- Is merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies outside rising or falling in Africa Eastern and Southern?
- Over the last ten years it is up 28.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Africa Eastern and Southern data come from?
- The figures come from Staff estimates, World Bank (WB), published as part of Merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies outside region (% 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 outside region are the sum of merchandise imports by the reporting economy from other low- and middle-income economies in other World Bank regions 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.