Merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies outside in Qatar
Qatar: Merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies outside was 32.3% in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies outside in Qatar, 1969–2023
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 Qatar stood at 32.3%.
That represents a change of down 11.1% on the previous year and up 44.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies outside in Qatar peaked at 36.9% in 2021 and was at its lowest, 4.4%, in 1982.
Qatar ranks 54th of 206 countries on this measure, 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 Qatar, year by year
| Year | % of total merchandise imports | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1969 | 7.3% | — |
| 1970 | 11.9% | +62.9% |
| 1971 | 8.2% | -30.9% |
| 1972 | 6.5% | -21.5% |
| 1973 | 7.3% | +12.6% |
| 1974 | 10.5% | +45.0% |
| 1975 | 6.6% | -37.8% |
| 1976 | 4.6% | -29.5% |
| 1977 | 4.6% | -0.8% |
| 1978 | 4.6% | +0.1% |
| 1979 | 5.7% | +24.7% |
| 1980 | 8.1% | +41.4% |
| 1981 | 7.3% | -9.1% |
| 1982 | 4.4% | -39.7% |
| 1983 | 4.5% | +2.4% |
| 1984 | 6.1% | +34.3% |
| 1985 | 5.5% | -10.2% |
| 1986 | 6.4% | +16.8% |
| 1987 | 6.5% | +2.6% |
| 1988 | 7.5% | +14.2% |
| 1989 | 7.0% | -5.9% |
| 1990 | 8.5% | +21.0% |
| 1991 | 9.2% | +8.3% |
| 1992 | 9.1% | -1.0% |
| 1993 | 9.9% | +8.9% |
| 1994 | 10.2% | +2.4% |
| 1995 | 11.7% | +15.3% |
| 1996 | 7.3% | -37.4% |
| 1997 | 9.8% | +33.9% |
| 1998 | 8.7% | -11.8% |
| 1999 | 11.7% | +35.6% |
| 2000 | 12.6% | +7.1% |
| 2001 | 12.0% | -5.0% |
| 2002 | 13.2% | +10.3% |
| 2003 | 13.3% | +1.0% |
| 2004 | 10.6% | -20.8% |
| 2005 | 16.9% | +59.9% |
| 2006 | 17.3% | +2.3% |
| 2007 | 16.8% | -2.4% |
| 2008 | 21.0% | +24.8% |
| 2009 | 20.9% | -0.7% |
| 2010 | 21.7% | +3.9% |
| 2011 | 23.1% | +6.4% |
| 2012 | 22.6% | -2.4% |
| 2013 | 22.3% | -1.1% |
| 2014 | 23.6% | +5.8% |
| 2015 | 24.8% | +4.9% |
| 2016 | 22.4% | -9.7% |
| 2017 | 27.0% | +20.8% |
| 2018 | 30.3% | +12.2% |
| 2019 | 30.7% | +1.2% |
| 2020 | 35.0% | +14.2% |
| 2021 | 36.9% | +5.2% |
| 2022 | 36.3% | -1.5% |
| 2023 | 32.3% | -11.1% |
Qatar compared with similar countries
- Qatar's 32.3% is above the median for high income countries, which is 11.2%, 2.9× the median. (74 countries reporting)
- Qatar's 32.3% is below the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 38.3%, 84% of the median. (23 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 7.3% | 7.3% | 7.3% | 1 |
| 1970s | 7.0% | 4.6% | 11.9% | 10 |
| 1980s | 6.3% | 4.4% | 8.1% | 10 |
| 1990s | 9.6% | 7.3% | 11.7% | 10 |
| 2000s | 15.5% | 10.6% | 21.0% | 10 |
| 2010s | 24.8% | 21.7% | 30.7% | 10 |
| 2020s | 35.1% | 32.3% | 36.9% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Qatar
More private sector data for Qatar
- Merchandise trade 58.6% (2025)
- Food imports 11.2% (2024)
- Manufactures imports 74.4% (2024)
- Merchandise imports 37.54 billion current US$ (2025)
- Food exports 0.1% (2024)
- Manufactures exports 11.6% (2024)
- Merchandise exports 88.77 billion current US$ (2025)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), per capita 29,867 current US$ per person (2025)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), per unit of GDP 0.4118 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), annual growth rate -6.6 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies outside in Qatar?
- Merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies outside in Qatar was 32.3% in 2023, according to Staff estimates, World Bank (WB).
- What is the highest merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies outside recorded in Qatar?
- The highest recorded value was 36.9% in 2021.
- What is the lowest merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies outside recorded in Qatar?
- The lowest recorded value was 4.4% in 1982.
- How does Qatar rank for merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies outside?
- Qatar ranks 54th out of 206 countries with data for 2023.
- Is merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies outside rising or falling in Qatar?
- Over the last ten years it is up 44.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Qatar 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.