Merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies within in Congo
Congo: Merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies within was 41.7% in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies within in Congo, 1961–2023
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 within in Congo is 41.7%, measured in 2023.
The figure is up 66.3% on the previous year and down 18.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies within in Congo peaked at 61.6% in 2004 and was at its lowest, 2.3%, in 2016.
Congo ranks 24th of 203 countries on this measure, 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 within in Congo, year by year
| Year | % of total merchandise imports | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 3.5% | — |
| 1962 | 2.3% | -34.3% |
| 1963 | 5.8% | +152.0% |
| 1964 | 6.4% | +9.5% |
| 1965 | 5.3% | -16.8% |
| 1966 | 4.7% | -11.7% |
| 1967 | 4.5% | -5.2% |
| 1968 | 2.9% | -34.2% |
| 1969 | 3.1% | +5.6% |
| 1970 | 5.9% | +90.7% |
| 1971 | 4.0% | -31.7% |
| 1972 | 5.9% | +46.0% |
| 1973 | 2.8% | -51.6% |
| 1974 | 14.0% | +391.4% |
| 1975 | 15.0% | +7.3% |
| 1976 | 16.0% | +6.6% |
| 1977 | 5.2% | -67.8% |
| 1978 | 9.0% | +74.2% |
| 1979 | 7.2% | -19.9% |
| 1980 | 14.3% | +98.6% |
| 1981 | 4.9% | -65.8% |
| 1982 | 3.9% | -20.1% |
| 1983 | 2.5% | -36.4% |
| 1984 | 4.9% | +98.9% |
| 1985 | 3.6% | -26.7% |
| 1986 | 2.9% | -20.1% |
| 1987 | 4.4% | +53.7% |
| 1988 | 4.6% | +3.5% |
| 1989 | 2.6% | -44.4% |
| 1990 | 3.9% | +52.3% |
| 1991 | 5.1% | +31.7% |
| 1992 | 6.4% | +25.0% |
| 1993 | 5.8% | -10.1% |
| 1994 | 8.8% | +52.4% |
| 1995 | 8.7% | -0.7% |
| 1996 | 5.8% | -33.8% |
| 1997 | 12.2% | +111.3% |
| 1998 | 10.8% | -11.4% |
| 1999 | 14.9% | +38.0% |
| 2000 | 24.7% | +65.1% |
| 2001 | 23.3% | -5.4% |
| 2002 | 19.5% | -16.3% |
| 2003 | 16.9% | -13.4% |
| 2004 | 61.6% | +264.7% |
| 2005 | 61.3% | -0.6% |
| 2006 | 60.3% | -1.6% |
| 2007 | 60.1% | -0.3% |
| 2008 | 43.5% | -27.6% |
| 2009 | 41.1% | -5.5% |
| 2010 | 42.2% | +2.7% |
| 2011 | 60.6% | +43.6% |
| 2012 | 52.5% | -13.3% |
| 2013 | 51.5% | -2.0% |
| 2014 | 4.5% | -91.2% |
| 2015 | 6.8% | +49.6% |
| 2016 | 2.3% | -66.2% |
| 2017 | 35.4% | +1441.0% |
| 2018 | 28.3% | -19.9% |
| 2019 | 24.9% | -12.1% |
| 2020 | 13.4% | -46.1% |
| 2021 | 17.9% | +33.5% |
| 2022 | 25.1% | +39.8% |
| 2023 | 41.7% | +66.3% |
Congo compared with similar countries
- Congo's 41.7% is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 19.5%, 2.1× the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Congo's 41.7% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 15.0%, 2.8× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies within in Congo 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | +1441.0% | 2.3% | 35.4% |
| 1974 | +391.4% | 2.8% | 14.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 4.3% | 2.3% | 6.4% | 9 |
| 1970s | 8.5% | 2.8% | 16.0% | 10 |
| 1980s | 4.9% | 2.5% | 14.3% | 10 |
| 1990s | 8.3% | 3.9% | 14.9% | 10 |
| 2000s | 41.2% | 16.9% | 61.6% | 10 |
| 2010s | 30.9% | 2.3% | 60.6% | 10 |
| 2020s | 24.6% | 13.4% | 41.7% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Congo
More private sector data for Congo
- Merchandise trade 94.4% (2025)
- Food imports 21.2% (2023)
- Manufactures imports 71.4% (2023)
- Merchandise imports 7.90 billion current US$ (2025)
- Food exports 0.2% (2023)
- Manufactures exports 10.3% (2023)
- Merchandise exports 7.50 billion current US$ (2025)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), per capita 1,157 current US$ per person (2025)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), per unit of GDP 0.4599 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), annual growth rate -4.57 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies within in Congo?
- Merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies within in Congo was 41.7% in 2023, according to Staff estimates, World Bank (WB).
- What is the highest merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies within recorded in Congo?
- The highest recorded value was 61.6% in 2004.
- What is the lowest merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies within recorded in Congo?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.3% in 2016.
- How does Congo rank for merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies within?
- Congo ranks 24th out of 203 countries with data for 2023.
- Is merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies within rising or falling in Congo?
- Over the last ten years it is down 18.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Congo data come from?
- The figures come from Staff estimates, World Bank (WB), published as part of Merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies within 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 within region are the sum of merchandise imports by the reporting economy from other low- and middle-income economies in the same World Bank region according to the World Bank classification of economies. Data are 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. No figures are shown for high-income economies, because they are a separate category in the World Bank classification of economies.