Merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies outside in Congo
Congo: Merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies outside was 29.9% in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies outside in Congo, 1961–2023
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 outside in Congo is 29.9%, measured in 2023.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 16.9% on the previous year and up 142.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies outside in Congo peaked at 36.4% in 2021 and was at its lowest, 2.2%, in 1996.
That places Congo 63rd out of 206 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the middle of the range.
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 Congo, year by year
| Year | % of total merchandise imports | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 2.7% | — |
| 1962 | 2.6% | -1.2% |
| 1963 | 2.7% | +3.8% |
| 1964 | 2.9% | +4.1% |
| 1965 | 4.0% | +39.5% |
| 1966 | 3.6% | -9.7% |
| 1967 | 7.5% | +107.3% |
| 1968 | 3.4% | -54.1% |
| 1969 | 4.2% | +21.8% |
| 1970 | 4.6% | +9.6% |
| 1971 | 3.5% | -22.3% |
| 1972 | 5.2% | +46.2% |
| 1973 | 4.4% | -15.8% |
| 1974 | 4.3% | -0.8% |
| 1975 | 4.4% | +0.7% |
| 1976 | 5.0% | +14.6% |
| 1977 | 3.3% | -33.7% |
| 1978 | 7.5% | +127.4% |
| 1979 | 5.3% | -29.5% |
| 1980 | 6.5% | +22.8% |
| 1981 | 11.4% | +75.3% |
| 1982 | 11.4% | -0.2% |
| 1983 | 3.9% | -65.9% |
| 1984 | 8.3% | +114.6% |
| 1985 | 7.2% | -13.6% |
| 1986 | 3.9% | -46.5% |
| 1987 | 3.2% | -17.1% |
| 1988 | 4.6% | +42.7% |
| 1989 | 4.3% | -6.1% |
| 1990 | 4.0% | -5.9% |
| 1991 | 3.6% | -9.9% |
| 1992 | 2.5% | -32.1% |
| 1993 | 3.3% | +35.4% |
| 1994 | 2.9% | -13.9% |
| 1995 | 2.6% | -10.0% |
| 1996 | 2.2% | -14.6% |
| 1997 | 6.2% | +180.9% |
| 1998 | 11.6% | +87.6% |
| 1999 | 10.3% | -11.4% |
| 2000 | 8.8% | -14.9% |
| 2001 | 9.5% | +7.9% |
| 2002 | 16.3% | +72.1% |
| 2003 | 8.8% | -45.8% |
| 2004 | 7.7% | -12.4% |
| 2005 | 8.6% | +11.6% |
| 2006 | 7.5% | -13.4% |
| 2007 | 4.8% | -35.2% |
| 2008 | 9.7% | +100.9% |
| 2009 | 8.6% | -11.8% |
| 2010 | 7.9% | -7.7% |
| 2011 | 8.8% | +10.6% |
| 2012 | 15.2% | +73.9% |
| 2013 | 12.3% | -19.2% |
| 2014 | 21.6% | +75.3% |
| 2015 | 24.6% | +13.9% |
| 2016 | 20.5% | -16.6% |
| 2017 | 16.6% | -18.8% |
| 2018 | 22.0% | +32.0% |
| 2019 | 24.3% | +10.5% |
| 2020 | 35.4% | +45.6% |
| 2021 | 36.4% | +3.0% |
| 2022 | 35.9% | -1.3% |
| 2023 | 29.9% | -16.9% |
Congo compared with similar countries
- Congo's 29.9% is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 29.9%, 1.0× the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Congo's 29.9% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 33.0%, 90% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies outside in 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 | +180.9% | 2.2% | 6.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 3.7% | 2.6% | 7.5% | 9 |
| 1970s | 4.8% | 3.3% | 7.5% | 10 |
| 1980s | 6.5% | 3.2% | 11.4% | 10 |
| 1990s | 4.9% | 2.2% | 11.6% | 10 |
| 2000s | 9.0% | 4.8% | 16.3% | 10 |
| 2010s | 17.4% | 7.9% | 24.6% | 10 |
| 2020s | 34.4% | 29.9% | 36.4% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Congo
More private sector data for Congo
- Merchandise trade 94.4% (2025)
- Food imports 21.2% (2023)
- Manufactures imports 71.4% (2023)
- Merchandise imports 7.90 billion current US$ (2025)
- Food exports 0.2% (2023)
- Manufactures exports 10.3% (2023)
- Merchandise exports 7.50 billion current US$ (2025)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), per capita 1,157 current US$ per person (2025)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), per unit of GDP 0.4599 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), annual growth rate -4.57 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies outside in Congo?
- Merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies outside in Congo was 29.9% in 2023, according to Staff estimates, World Bank (WB).
- What is the highest merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies outside recorded in Congo?
- The highest recorded value was 36.4% in 2021.
- What is the lowest merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies outside recorded in Congo?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.2% in 1996.
- How does Congo rank for merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies outside?
- Congo ranks 63rd out of 206 countries with data for 2023.
- Is merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies outside rising or falling in Congo?
- Over the last ten years it is up 142.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this 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.
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.