Merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies outside in Iraq
Iraq: Merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies outside was 68.2% in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies outside in Iraq, 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 Iraq is 68.2%, measured in 2023.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 4.9% on the previous year and up 22.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies outside in Iraq peaked at 71.8% in 2022 and was at its lowest, 7.8%, in 1981.
Iraq ranks 2nd of 206 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
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 Iraq, year by year
| Year | % of total merchandise imports | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 15.4% | — |
| 1961 | 15.7% | +1.8% |
| 1962 | 17.8% | +13.0% |
| 1963 | 21.0% | +18.4% |
| 1964 | 21.2% | +0.7% |
| 1965 | 17.9% | -15.6% |
| 1966 | 19.2% | +7.5% |
| 1967 | 16.9% | -12.1% |
| 1968 | 22.6% | +34.0% |
| 1969 | 21.0% | -7.1% |
| 1970 | 21.9% | +4.0% |
| 1971 | 20.6% | -6.0% |
| 1972 | 24.1% | +17.3% |
| 1973 | 28.2% | +16.9% |
| 1974 | 25.5% | -9.6% |
| 1975 | 14.3% | -43.9% |
| 1976 | 10.9% | -24.1% |
| 1977 | 12.3% | +13.5% |
| 1978 | 9.8% | -20.4% |
| 1981 | 7.8% | -21.0% |
| 1982 | 8.0% | +3.2% |
| 1983 | 11.4% | +42.7% |
| 1984 | 19.2% | +67.6% |
| 1985 | 21.3% | +11.2% |
| 1986 | 16.3% | -23.5% |
| 1987 | 24.6% | +51.2% |
| 1988 | 19.7% | -20.2% |
| 1989 | 13.7% | -30.2% |
| 1990 | 11.9% | -13.3% |
| 1991 | 36.9% | +210.7% |
| 1992 | 49.6% | +34.4% |
| 1993 | 43.6% | -12.2% |
| 1994 | 42.4% | -2.7% |
| 1995 | 27.1% | -36.1% |
| 1996 | 57.6% | +112.7% |
| 1997 | 28.1% | -51.2% |
| 1998 | 28.7% | +2.2% |
| 1999 | 33.1% | +15.1% |
| 2000 | 33.1% | +0.2% |
| 2001 | 28.6% | -13.7% |
| 2002 | 28.2% | -1.3% |
| 2003 | 29.4% | +4.3% |
| 2004 | 28.3% | -3.7% |
| 2005 | 39.6% | +39.9% |
| 2006 | 40.0% | +0.9% |
| 2007 | 33.4% | -16.4% |
| 2008 | 27.5% | -17.7% |
| 2009 | 30.4% | +10.7% |
| 2010 | 37.7% | +24.0% |
| 2011 | 48.9% | +29.6% |
| 2012 | 54.0% | +10.5% |
| 2013 | 55.6% | +2.8% |
| 2014 | 55.3% | -0.5% |
| 2015 | 58.6% | +6.0% |
| 2016 | 63.5% | +8.4% |
| 2017 | 63.9% | +0.7% |
| 2018 | 62.7% | -1.9% |
| 2019 | 65.9% | +5.1% |
| 2020 | 69.9% | +6.1% |
| 2021 | 69.5% | -0.6% |
| 2022 | 71.8% | +3.2% |
| 2023 | 68.2% | -4.9% |
Iraq compared with similar countries
- Iraq's 68.2% is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 20.2%, 3.4× the median. (59 countries reporting)
- Iraq's 68.2% is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 38.3%, 1.8× the median. (23 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies outside in Iraq 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1991 | +210.7% | 11.9% | 36.9% |
| 1996 | +112.7% | 27.1% | 57.6% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 18.9% | 15.4% | 22.6% | 10 |
| 1970s | 18.6% | 9.8% | 28.2% | 9 |
| 1980s | 15.8% | 7.8% | 24.6% | 9 |
| 1990s | 35.9% | 11.9% | 57.6% | 10 |
| 2000s | 31.9% | 27.5% | 40.0% | 10 |
| 2010s | 56.6% | 37.7% | 65.9% | 10 |
| 2020s | 69.9% | 68.2% | 71.8% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Iraq
More private sector data for Iraq
- Merchandise trade 70.0% (2025)
- Food imports 7.2% (2014)
- Manufactures imports 66.3% (2014)
- Merchandise imports 85.19 billion current US$ (2025)
- Food exports 0.0% (2016)
- Manufactures exports 0.0% (2016)
- Merchandise exports 92.91 billion current US$ (2025)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), per capita 1,976 current US$ per person (2025)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), per unit of GDP 0.3653 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), annual growth rate -8 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies outside in Iraq?
- Merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies outside in Iraq was 68.2% in 2023, according to Staff estimates, World Bank (WB).
- What is the highest merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies outside recorded in Iraq?
- The highest recorded value was 71.8% in 2022.
- What is the lowest merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies outside recorded in Iraq?
- The lowest recorded value was 7.8% in 1981.
- How does Iraq rank for merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies outside?
- Iraq ranks 2nd out of 206 countries with data for 2023.
- Is merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies outside rising or falling in Iraq?
- Over the last ten years it is up 22.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Iraq 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.