Merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies within in Lebanon
Lebanon: Merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies within was 7.4% in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies within in Lebanon, 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 within in Lebanon is 7.4%, measured in 2023.
The figure is up 11.5% on the previous year and up 17.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies within in Lebanon peaked at 21.1% in 1964 and was at its lowest, 1.3%, in 1987.
That places Lebanon 134th out of 203 countries with data for 2023, putting it 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 within in Lebanon, year by year
| Year | % of total merchandise imports | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 14.4% | — |
| 1961 | 11.6% | -19.5% |
| 1963 | 21.1% | +81.4% |
| 1964 | 21.1% | +0.2% |
| 1965 | 20.9% | -1.3% |
| 1966 | 19.7% | -5.7% |
| 1967 | 18.8% | -4.6% |
| 1968 | 19.1% | +1.6% |
| 1969 | 14.7% | -22.9% |
| 1970 | 12.9% | -12.3% |
| 1971 | 9.5% | -26.4% |
| 1972 | 10.8% | +13.8% |
| 1973 | 8.1% | -24.6% |
| 1981 | 2.1% | -74.5% |
| 1982 | 1.8% | -15.3% |
| 1983 | 1.5% | -12.2% |
| 1984 | 1.3% | -15.5% |
| 1985 | 1.8% | +41.4% |
| 1986 | 1.3% | -27.0% |
| 1987 | 1.3% | -6.7% |
| 1988 | 3.4% | +169.4% |
| 1989 | 8.9% | +162.6% |
| 1990 | 14.2% | +60.1% |
| 1991 | 12.4% | -13.1% |
| 1992 | 13.6% | +10.1% |
| 1993 | 10.7% | -21.4% |
| 1994 | 10.3% | -3.7% |
| 1995 | 4.2% | -59.7% |
| 1996 | 7.2% | +72.4% |
| 1997 | 7.0% | -1.7% |
| 1998 | 5.7% | -18.9% |
| 1999 | 6.1% | +6.0% |
| 2000 | 8.0% | +31.4% |
| 2001 | 7.6% | -4.4% |
| 2002 | 7.2% | -5.1% |
| 2003 | 8.3% | +15.5% |
| 2004 | 7.8% | -6.2% |
| 2005 | 7.4% | -5.2% |
| 2006 | 8.0% | +7.6% |
| 2007 | 8.1% | +1.8% |
| 2008 | 6.3% | -22.5% |
| 2009 | 6.2% | -1.2% |
| 2010 | 6.7% | +6.9% |
| 2011 | 9.2% | +37.8% |
| 2012 | 7.4% | -19.8% |
| 2013 | 6.3% | -14.8% |
| 2014 | 6.2% | -0.9% |
| 2015 | 5.4% | -13.5% |
| 2016 | 7.4% | +38.4% |
| 2017 | 6.8% | -8.0% |
| 2018 | 6.3% | -7.7% |
| 2019 | 6.2% | -1.5% |
| 2020 | 6.8% | +8.8% |
| 2021 | 6.2% | -9.0% |
| 2022 | 6.6% | +7.6% |
| 2023 | 7.4% | +11.5% |
Lebanon compared with similar countries
- Lebanon's 7.4% is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 19.5%, 38% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Lebanon's 7.4% is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 3.3%, 2.3× the median. (23 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies within in Lebanon 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1988 | +169.4% | 1.3% | 3.4% |
| 1989 | +162.6% | 3.4% | 8.9% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 17.9% | 11.6% | 21.1% | 9 |
| 1970s | 10.3% | 8.1% | 12.9% | 4 |
| 1980s | 2.6% | 1.3% | 8.9% | 9 |
| 1990s | 9.1% | 4.2% | 14.2% | 10 |
| 2000s | 7.5% | 6.2% | 8.3% | 10 |
| 2010s | 6.8% | 5.4% | 9.2% | 10 |
| 2020s | 6.7% | 6.2% | 7.4% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Lebanon
- 131 Madagascar 8.1% compare
- 132 South Africa 8.1% compare
- 133 Palestine, State of 8.0% compare
- 135 Cameroon 7.3% compare
- 136 Barbados 7.2% compare
- 137 Grenada 7.1% compare
More private sector data for Lebanon
- Merchandise trade 85.9% (2025)
- Food imports 18.5% (2024)
- Manufactures imports 40.0% (2024)
- Merchandise imports 21.67 billion current US$ (2025)
- Food exports 19.1% (2024)
- Manufactures exports 55.6% (2024)
- Merchandise exports 4.60 billion current US$ (2025)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), per capita 786.06 current US$ per person (2025)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), per unit of GDP 0.1456 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), annual growth rate 21.61 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies within in Lebanon?
- Merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies within in Lebanon was 7.4% in 2023, according to Staff estimates, World Bank (WB).
- What is the highest merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies within recorded in Lebanon?
- The highest recorded value was 21.1% in 1964.
- What is the lowest merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies within recorded in Lebanon?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.3% in 1987.
- How does Lebanon rank for merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies within?
- Lebanon ranks 134th out of 203 countries with data for 2023.
- Is merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies within rising or falling in Lebanon?
- Over the last ten years it is up 17.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Lebanon 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.
Download this data
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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.