Merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies outside in Bhutan
Bhutan: Merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies outside was 3.6% in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies outside in Bhutan, 2000–2023
Source: Staff estimates, World Bank (WB). Measured in % of total merchandise imports.
Analysis
In 2023, merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies outside in Bhutan stood at 3.6%.
The figure is down 49.9% on the previous year and down 4.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies outside in Bhutan peaked at 23.7% in 2000 and was at its lowest, 1.6%, in 2019.
That places Bhutan 182nd out of 206 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the bottom 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 Bhutan, year by year
| Year | % of total merchandise imports | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 23.7% | — |
| 2001 | 21.9% | -7.6% |
| 2002 | 19.7% | -10.0% |
| 2003 | 17.5% | -11.0% |
| 2004 | 4.6% | -73.7% |
| 2005 | 5.6% | +22.3% |
| 2006 | 12.0% | +113.5% |
| 2007 | 9.7% | -19.4% |
| 2008 | 7.6% | -21.8% |
| 2009 | 5.3% | -30.2% |
| 2010 | 6.1% | +15.8% |
| 2011 | 5.0% | -18.1% |
| 2012 | 4.9% | -2.2% |
| 2013 | 3.8% | -22.9% |
| 2014 | 3.2% | -16.6% |
| 2015 | 2.3% | -26.7% |
| 2016 | 2.1% | -9.0% |
| 2017 | 2.0% | -6.7% |
| 2018 | 1.8% | -10.3% |
| 2019 | 1.6% | -7.1% |
| 2020 | 1.9% | +15.8% |
| 2021 | 5.7% | +201.9% |
| 2022 | 7.2% | +25.6% |
| 2023 | 3.6% | -49.9% |
Bhutan compared with similar countries
- Bhutan's 3.6% is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 29.9%, 12% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Bhutan's 3.6% is below the median for South Asia, which is 29.7%, 12% of the median. (6 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies outside in Bhutan 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | +201.9% | 1.9% | 5.7% |
| 2006 | +113.5% | 5.6% | 12.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 12.7% | 4.6% | 23.7% | 10 |
| 2010s | 3.3% | 1.6% | 6.1% | 10 |
| 2020s | 4.6% | 1.9% | 7.2% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Bhutan
More private sector data for Bhutan
- Merchandise trade 83.3% (2025)
- Food imports 11.4% (2025)
- Manufactures imports 70.4% (2025)
- Merchandise imports 2.18 billion current US$ (2025)
- Food exports 5.9% (2025)
- Manufactures exports 58.7% (2025)
- Merchandise exports 800.00 million current US$ (2025)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), per capita 1,004 current US$ per person (2025)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), per unit of GDP 0.2235 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), annual growth rate 7.1 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies outside in Bhutan?
- Merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies outside in Bhutan was 3.6% in 2023, according to Staff estimates, World Bank (WB).
- What is the highest merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies outside recorded in Bhutan?
- The highest recorded value was 23.7% in 2000.
- What is the lowest merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies outside recorded in Bhutan?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.6% in 2019.
- How does Bhutan rank for merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies outside?
- Bhutan ranks 182nd out of 206 countries with data for 2023.
- Is merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies outside rising or falling in Bhutan?
- Over the last ten years it is down 4.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Bhutan 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.
Download this data
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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.