Merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies outside in Sub-Saharan Africa
Sub-Saharan Africa: Merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies outside was 36.3% in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies outside in Sub-Saharan Africa, 1960–2023
Source: Staff estimates, World Bank (WB). Measured in % of total merchandise imports.
Analysis
Sub-Saharan Africa recorded 36.3% for merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies outside in 2023.
The figure is down 2.2% on the previous year and up 18.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies outside in Sub-Saharan Africa peaked at 38.5% in 2021 and was at its lowest, 6.7%, in 1964.
That places Sub-Saharan Africa 12th out of 47 groups 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 Sub-Saharan Africa, year by year
| Year | % of total merchandise imports | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 7.9% | — |
| 1961 | 7.7% | -2.6% |
| 1962 | 8.6% | +11.3% |
| 1963 | 7.5% | -13.2% |
| 1964 | 6.7% | -10.7% |
| 1965 | 8.0% | +19.6% |
| 1966 | 8.3% | +3.6% |
| 1967 | 8.3% | +0.6% |
| 1968 | 8.2% | -0.6% |
| 1969 | 8.5% | +3.1% |
| 1970 | 7.4% | -12.6% |
| 1971 | 9.0% | +21.4% |
| 1972 | 8.4% | -7.3% |
| 1973 | 9.5% | +13.0% |
| 1974 | 11.4% | +20.7% |
| 1975 | 8.8% | -22.9% |
| 1976 | 8.2% | -6.7% |
| 1977 | 7.6% | -7.1% |
| 1978 | 7.0% | -7.7% |
| 1979 | 8.1% | +14.7% |
| 1980 | 9.2% | +13.7% |
| 1981 | 7.9% | -14.0% |
| 1982 | 8.9% | +12.9% |
| 1983 | 8.3% | -7.0% |
| 1984 | 9.3% | +12.9% |
| 1985 | 9.8% | +5.2% |
| 1986 | 8.8% | -10.2% |
| 1987 | 8.0% | -9.6% |
| 1988 | 9.4% | +17.7% |
| 1989 | 8.9% | -5.3% |
| 1990 | 9.0% | +1.0% |
| 1991 | 9.5% | +6.0% |
| 1992 | 10.9% | +14.3% |
| 1993 | 11.0% | +0.6% |
| 1994 | 11.7% | +6.7% |
| 1995 | 12.5% | +7.4% |
| 1996 | 12.9% | +3.2% |
| 1997 | 13.3% | +3.1% |
| 1998 | 14.4% | +7.6% |
| 1999 | 14.7% | +2.1% |
| 2000 | 15.8% | +7.5% |
| 2001 | 17.0% | +8.0% |
| 2002 | 17.6% | +3.2% |
| 2003 | 21.7% | +23.7% |
| 2004 | 23.0% | +6.0% |
| 2005 | 24.8% | +7.6% |
| 2006 | 25.5% | +3.0% |
| 2007 | 27.2% | +6.4% |
| 2008 | 29.5% | +8.5% |
| 2009 | 30.7% | +4.2% |
| 2010 | 29.6% | -3.7% |
| 2011 | 30.2% | +2.0% |
| 2012 | 30.0% | -0.6% |
| 2013 | 30.7% | +2.4% |
| 2014 | 32.0% | +4.2% |
| 2015 | 33.5% | +4.7% |
| 2016 | 34.7% | +3.6% |
| 2017 | 34.3% | -1.3% |
| 2018 | 34.6% | +1.0% |
| 2019 | 35.1% | +1.5% |
| 2020 | 38.1% | +8.4% |
| 2021 | 38.5% | +1.1% |
| 2022 | 37.2% | -3.5% |
| 2023 | 36.3% | -2.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 8.0% | 6.7% | 8.6% | 10 |
| 1970s | 8.5% | 7.0% | 11.4% | 10 |
| 1980s | 8.9% | 7.9% | 9.8% | 10 |
| 1990s | 12.0% | 9.0% | 14.7% | 10 |
| 2000s | 23.3% | 15.8% | 30.7% | 10 |
| 2010s | 32.5% | 29.6% | 35.1% | 10 |
| 2020s | 37.5% | 36.3% | 38.5% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Sub-Saharan Africa
More private sector data for Sub-Saharan Africa
- Merchandise trade 44.5% (2025)
- Food imports 12.1% (2024)
- Manufactures imports 56.8% (2024)
- Merchandise imports 501.15 billion current US$ (2025)
- Food exports 14.7% (2024)
- Manufactures exports 19.4% (2024)
- Merchandise exports 486.80 billion current US$ (2025)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), per capita 368.33 current US$ per person (2025)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), per unit of GDP 0.2201 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), annual growth rate 11.24 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies outside in Sub-Saharan Africa?
- Merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies outside in Sub-Saharan Africa was 36.3% in 2023, according to Staff estimates, World Bank (WB).
- What is the highest merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies outside recorded in Sub-Saharan Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 38.5% in 2021.
- What is the lowest merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies outside recorded in Sub-Saharan Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 6.7% in 1964.
- How does Sub-Saharan Africa rank for merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies outside?
- Sub-Saharan Africa ranks 12th out of 47 groups with data for 2023.
- Is merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies outside rising or falling in Sub-Saharan Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 18.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Sub-Saharan Africa 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.