Merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies outside in Syria
Syria: Merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies outside was 40.5% in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies outside in Syria, 1960–2023
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 Syria stood at 40.5%.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 8.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies outside in Syria peaked at 44.3% in 2013 and was at its lowest, 5.5%, in 1980.
That places Syria 28th 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 Syria, year by year
| Year | % of total merchandise imports | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 9.7% | — |
| 1961 | 10.1% | +4.6% |
| 1962 | 10.8% | +7.1% |
| 1963 | 12.7% | +17.5% |
| 1964 | 12.2% | -4.1% |
| 1965 | 12.1% | -0.5% |
| 1966 | 15.1% | +23.9% |
| 1967 | 13.2% | -12.6% |
| 1968 | 11.1% | -15.7% |
| 1969 | 13.8% | +24.3% |
| 1970 | 10.5% | -24.0% |
| 1971 | 12.6% | +20.3% |
| 1972 | 16.7% | +32.5% |
| 1973 | 16.8% | +0.3% |
| 1974 | 13.5% | -19.2% |
| 1975 | 13.1% | -2.9% |
| 1976 | 7.3% | -44.1% |
| 1977 | 6.3% | -14.2% |
| 1978 | 9.5% | +50.6% |
| 1979 | 7.0% | -26.7% |
| 1980 | 5.5% | -21.5% |
| 1981 | 6.6% | +20.9% |
| 1982 | 7.9% | +19.6% |
| 1983 | 7.2% | -8.4% |
| 1984 | 6.4% | -11.5% |
| 1985 | 6.1% | -4.5% |
| 1986 | 11.2% | +82.7% |
| 1987 | 8.2% | -26.2% |
| 1988 | 13.0% | +58.4% |
| 1989 | 14.6% | +11.7% |
| 1990 | 16.8% | +15.5% |
| 1991 | 20.1% | +19.2% |
| 1992 | 15.2% | -24.1% |
| 1993 | 15.5% | +2.0% |
| 1994 | 16.5% | +6.1% |
| 1995 | 24.1% | +46.3% |
| 1996 | 14.8% | -38.7% |
| 1997 | 15.7% | +6.2% |
| 1998 | 25.9% | +64.7% |
| 1999 | 28.1% | +8.6% |
| 2000 | 28.1% | +0.0% |
| 2001 | 29.2% | +3.8% |
| 2002 | 30.3% | +3.8% |
| 2003 | 38.3% | +26.5% |
| 2004 | 37.6% | -1.9% |
| 2005 | 39.4% | +4.9% |
| 2006 | 29.0% | -26.4% |
| 2007 | 28.4% | -2.2% |
| 2008 | 34.1% | +20.1% |
| 2009 | 43.5% | +27.6% |
| 2010 | 39.6% | -9.0% |
| 2011 | 39.1% | -1.3% |
| 2012 | 29.5% | -24.5% |
| 2013 | 44.3% | +50.3% |
| 2014 | 43.4% | -2.2% |
| 2015 | 41.9% | -3.3% |
| 2016 | 38.5% | -8.3% |
| 2017 | 34.0% | -11.7% |
| 2018 | 31.8% | -6.3% |
| 2019 | 39.6% | +24.4% |
| 2020 | 42.1% | +6.4% |
| 2021 | 40.5% | -3.9% |
| 2022 | 40.5% | +0.0% |
| 2023 | 40.5% | +0.0% |
Syria compared with similar countries
- Syria's 40.5% is above the median for low income countries, which is 36.9%, 1.1× the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Syria's 40.5% is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 38.3%, 1.1× the median. (23 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 12.1% | 9.7% | 15.1% | 10 |
| 1970s | 11.3% | 6.3% | 16.8% | 10 |
| 1980s | 8.7% | 5.5% | 14.6% | 10 |
| 1990s | 19.3% | 14.8% | 28.1% | 10 |
| 2000s | 33.8% | 28.1% | 43.5% | 10 |
| 2010s | 38.2% | 29.5% | 44.3% | 10 |
| 2020s | 40.9% | 40.5% | 42.1% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Syria
More private sector data for Syria
- Merchandise trade 79.2% (2025)
- Food imports 21.0% (2010)
- Manufactures imports 54.1% (2010)
- Merchandise imports 7.91 billion current US$ (2025)
- Food exports 21.0% (2010)
- Manufactures exports 24.7% (2010)
- Merchandise exports 3.38 billion current US$ (2025)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), per capita 132.12 current US$ per person (2025)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), per unit of GDP 0.0816 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2022)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), annual growth rate 1.8 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies outside in Syria?
- Merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies outside in Syria was 40.5% in 2023, according to Staff estimates, World Bank (WB).
- What is the highest merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies outside recorded in Syria?
- The highest recorded value was 44.3% in 2013.
- What is the lowest merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies outside recorded in Syria?
- The lowest recorded value was 5.5% in 1980.
- How does Syria rank for merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies outside?
- Syria ranks 28th out of 206 countries with data for 2023.
- Is merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies outside rising or falling in Syria?
- Over the last ten years it is down 8.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Syria 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.