Merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies … outside in Democratic Republic of Congo
Democratic Republic of Congo: Merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies … outside was 36.6% in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies outside in Democratic Republic of Congo, 1963–2023
Source: Staff estimates, World Bank (WB). Measured in % of total merchandise imports.
Analysis
Democratic Republic of Congo recorded 36.6% for merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies outside in 2023.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 0.4% on the previous year and up 29.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies outside in Democratic Republic of Congo peaked at 39.5% in 2021 and was at its lowest, 0.3%, in 1979.
Democratic Republic of Congo ranks 42nd of 206 countries on this measure, 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 Democratic Republic of Congo, year by year
| Year | % of total merchandise imports | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1963 | 0.8% | — |
| 1964 | 0.7% | -9.4% |
| 1965 | 1.2% | +61.5% |
| 1966 | 3.3% | +175.3% |
| 1967 | 2.6% | -20.7% |
| 1968 | 2.8% | +6.9% |
| 1969 | 10.8% | +282.2% |
| 1970 | 3.7% | -66.1% |
| 1972 | 3.5% | -3.5% |
| 1973 | 4.1% | +15.6% |
| 1974 | 8.1% | +98.3% |
| 1975 | 7.9% | -2.0% |
| 1976 | 9.0% | +13.2% |
| 1977 | 4.3% | -52.2% |
| 1978 | 0.9% | -79.9% |
| 1979 | 0.3% | -59.7% |
| 1980 | 2.3% | +570.3% |
| 1981 | 1.2% | -49.6% |
| 1982 | 0.4% | -65.1% |
| 1983 | 0.4% | +0.0% |
| 1984 | 0.4% | +0.0% |
| 1985 | 0.4% | +0.0% |
| 1986 | 0.4% | +0.0% |
| 1987 | 0.4% | +0.0% |
| 1988 | 0.4% | +0.0% |
| 1989 | 4.8% | +1063.9% |
| 1990 | 17.6% | +269.6% |
| 1991 | 14.3% | -18.7% |
| 1992 | 7.0% | -51.3% |
| 1993 | 13.6% | +95.3% |
| 1994 | 13.1% | -3.9% |
| 1995 | 13.4% | +2.5% |
| 1996 | 12.3% | -8.3% |
| 1997 | 8.8% | -28.4% |
| 1998 | 10.5% | +19.6% |
| 1999 | 5.6% | -46.5% |
| 2000 | 19.7% | +249.6% |
| 2001 | 14.0% | -28.7% |
| 2002 | 15.9% | +13.1% |
| 2003 | 16.6% | +4.7% |
| 2004 | 18.9% | +13.4% |
| 2005 | 24.2% | +28.3% |
| 2006 | 25.2% | +4.3% |
| 2007 | 26.7% | +5.7% |
| 2008 | 27.9% | +4.5% |
| 2009 | 26.5% | -4.7% |
| 2010 | 27.3% | +2.9% |
| 2011 | 28.0% | +2.6% |
| 2012 | 28.4% | +1.3% |
| 2013 | 28.3% | -0.3% |
| 2014 | 28.2% | -0.4% |
| 2015 | 27.3% | -3.1% |
| 2016 | 25.8% | -5.6% |
| 2017 | 21.9% | -15.0% |
| 2018 | 25.1% | +14.6% |
| 2019 | 26.7% | +6.3% |
| 2020 | 28.2% | +5.7% |
| 2021 | 39.5% | +40.1% |
| 2022 | 36.5% | -7.8% |
| 2023 | 36.6% | +0.4% |
Democratic Republic of Congo compared with similar countries
- Democratic Republic of Congo's 36.6% is below the median for low income countries, which is 36.9%, 99% of the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Democratic Republic of Congo's 36.6% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 33.0%, 1.1× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies … outside in Democratic Republic of Congo 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1989 | +1063.9% | 0.4% | 4.8% |
| 1980 | +570.3% | 0.3% | 2.3% |
| 1969 | +282.2% | 2.8% | 10.8% |
| 1990 | +269.6% | 4.8% | 17.6% |
| 2000 | +249.6% | 5.6% | 19.7% |
| 1966 | +175.3% | 1.2% | 3.3% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 3.2% | 0.7% | 10.8% | 7 |
| 1970s | 4.6% | 0.3% | 9.0% | 9 |
| 1980s | 1.1% | 0.4% | 4.8% | 10 |
| 1990s | 11.6% | 5.6% | 17.6% | 10 |
| 2000s | 21.6% | 14.0% | 27.9% | 10 |
| 2010s | 26.7% | 21.9% | 28.4% | 10 |
| 2020s | 35.2% | 28.2% | 39.5% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Democratic Republic of Congo
More private sector data for Democratic Republic of Congo
- Merchandise trade 66.1% (2025)
- Food imports 10.5% (2024)
- Manufactures imports 62.6% (2024)
- Merchandise imports 28.10 billion current US$ (2025)
- Commercial service imports 4.59 billion current US$ (2025)
- Food exports 1.3% (2024)
- Manufactures exports 15.4% (2024)
- Merchandise exports 32.10 billion current US$ (2025)
- Commercial service exports 529.41 million current US$ (2025)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), per capita 284.49 current US$ per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies outside in Democratic Republic of Congo?
- Merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies outside in Democratic Republic of Congo was 36.6% in 2023, according to Staff estimates, World Bank (WB).
- What is the highest merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies outside recorded in Democratic Republic of Congo?
- The highest recorded value was 39.5% in 2021.
- What is the lowest merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies outside recorded in Democratic Republic of Congo?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.3% in 1979.
- How does Democratic Republic of Congo rank for merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies outside?
- Democratic Republic of Congo ranks 42nd out of 206 countries with data for 2023.
- Is merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies outside rising or falling in Democratic Republic of Congo?
- Over the last ten years it is up 29.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Democratic Republic of Congo 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.