Merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies outside in Ghana
Ghana: 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 Ghana, 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 outside in Ghana is 36.6%, measured in 2023.
That represents a change of up 1.6% on the previous year and up 2.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies outside in Ghana peaked at 42.5% in 2021 and was at its lowest, 2.7%, in 1960.
That places Ghana 41st out of 206 countries 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 Ghana, year by year
| Year | % of total merchandise imports | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 2.7% | — |
| 1961 | 3.4% | +27.9% |
| 1962 | 4.6% | +34.5% |
| 1963 | 3.9% | -15.5% |
| 1964 | 4.5% | +15.5% |
| 1965 | 6.0% | +34.4% |
| 1966 | 4.9% | -17.7% |
| 1967 | 4.5% | -9.5% |
| 1968 | 6.4% | +42.8% |
| 1969 | 5.9% | -7.7% |
| 1970 | 7.6% | +28.9% |
| 1971 | 6.7% | -11.9% |
| 1972 | 6.9% | +3.1% |
| 1973 | 8.7% | +26.8% |
| 1974 | 14.7% | +68.2% |
| 1975 | 13.1% | -10.6% |
| 1976 | 8.9% | -32.6% |
| 1977 | 10.4% | +17.3% |
| 1978 | 9.3% | -10.6% |
| 1979 | 8.9% | -4.4% |
| 1980 | 10.6% | +19.1% |
| 1981 | 9.2% | -12.6% |
| 1982 | 17.2% | +86.6% |
| 1983 | 18.9% | +9.7% |
| 1984 | 3.5% | -81.4% |
| 1985 | 5.9% | +68.8% |
| 1986 | 26.2% | +340.1% |
| 1987 | 3.2% | -87.8% |
| 1988 | 5.2% | +62.2% |
| 1989 | 5.2% | +0.0% |
| 1990 | 8.4% | +62.5% |
| 1991 | 4.9% | -42.2% |
| 1992 | 13.7% | +181.9% |
| 1993 | 11.8% | -14.2% |
| 1994 | 12.0% | +1.6% |
| 1995 | 14.7% | +22.6% |
| 1996 | 12.8% | -12.5% |
| 1997 | 12.6% | -1.8% |
| 1998 | 12.2% | -3.5% |
| 1999 | 14.9% | +22.4% |
| 2000 | 12.1% | -19.2% |
| 2001 | 12.1% | +0.4% |
| 2002 | 14.4% | +18.8% |
| 2003 | 18.0% | +25.1% |
| 2004 | 26.5% | +47.6% |
| 2005 | 21.5% | -19.0% |
| 2006 | 23.8% | +10.7% |
| 2007 | 28.1% | +18.2% |
| 2008 | 28.8% | +2.4% |
| 2009 | 30.6% | +6.3% |
| 2010 | 30.4% | -0.5% |
| 2011 | 34.6% | +13.6% |
| 2012 | 33.7% | -2.4% |
| 2013 | 35.7% | +5.7% |
| 2014 | 36.8% | +3.2% |
| 2015 | 39.3% | +6.8% |
| 2016 | 37.7% | -4.2% |
| 2017 | 36.5% | -3.3% |
| 2018 | 40.5% | +11.1% |
| 2019 | 40.4% | -0.3% |
| 2020 | 40.0% | -0.8% |
| 2021 | 42.5% | +6.2% |
| 2022 | 36.0% | -15.2% |
| 2023 | 36.6% | +1.6% |
Ghana compared with similar countries
- Ghana's 36.6% is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 29.9%, 1.2× the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Ghana'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 Ghana 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1986 | +340.1% | 5.9% | 26.2% |
| 1992 | +181.9% | 4.9% | 13.7% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 4.7% | 2.7% | 6.4% | 10 |
| 1970s | 9.5% | 6.7% | 14.7% | 10 |
| 1980s | 10.5% | 3.2% | 26.2% | 10 |
| 1990s | 11.8% | 4.9% | 14.9% | 10 |
| 2000s | 21.6% | 12.1% | 30.6% | 10 |
| 2010s | 36.6% | 30.4% | 40.5% | 10 |
| 2020s | 38.8% | 36.0% | 42.5% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Ghana
More private sector data for Ghana
- Merchandise trade 42.5% (2025)
- Food imports 13.7% (2023)
- Manufactures imports 51.5% (2023)
- Merchandise imports 17.45 billion current US$ (2025)
- Food exports 18.1% (2023)
- Manufactures exports 6.0% (2023)
- Merchandise exports 31.11 billion current US$ (2025)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), per capita 887.14 current US$ per person (2025)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), per unit of GDP 0.2724 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), annual growth rate 62.31 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies outside in Ghana?
- Merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies outside in Ghana 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 Ghana?
- The highest recorded value was 42.5% in 2021.
- What is the lowest merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies outside recorded in Ghana?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.7% in 1960.
- How does Ghana rank for merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies outside?
- Ghana ranks 41st out of 206 countries with data for 2023.
- Is merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies outside rising or falling in Ghana?
- Over the last ten years it is up 2.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Ghana 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.