Merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies within in Malaysia
Malaysia: Merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies within was 34.2% in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies within in Malaysia, 1967–2023
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 Malaysia is 34.2%, measured in 2023.
That represents a change of down 3.1% on the previous year and up 11.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies within in Malaysia peaked at 37.2% in 2021 and was at its lowest, 6.5%, in 1990.
Malaysia ranks 37th 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 Malaysia, year by year
| Year | % of total merchandise imports | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1967 | 17.2% | — |
| 1968 | 19.2% | +11.8% |
| 1969 | 18.4% | -4.1% |
| 1970 | 15.1% | -18.2% |
| 1971 | 12.2% | -19.1% |
| 1972 | 13.2% | +7.9% |
| 1973 | 14.5% | +10.2% |
| 1974 | 11.9% | -18.0% |
| 1975 | 12.5% | +4.9% |
| 1976 | 10.3% | -17.5% |
| 1977 | 10.2% | -0.6% |
| 1978 | 10.1% | -0.9% |
| 1979 | 8.6% | -15.1% |
| 1980 | 7.7% | -10.8% |
| 1981 | 7.8% | +1.5% |
| 1982 | 8.3% | +5.9% |
| 1983 | 7.5% | -8.7% |
| 1984 | 8.9% | +18.7% |
| 1985 | 9.2% | +2.6% |
| 1986 | 9.6% | +4.7% |
| 1987 | 9.6% | -0.2% |
| 1988 | 9.1% | -5.1% |
| 1989 | 8.4% | -7.1% |
| 1990 | 6.5% | -23.3% |
| 1991 | 6.9% | +6.3% |
| 1992 | 7.8% | +12.7% |
| 1993 | 7.5% | -3.0% |
| 1994 | 7.4% | -1.3% |
| 1995 | 7.4% | -0.5% |
| 1996 | 9.0% | +21.5% |
| 1997 | 10.2% | +13.8% |
| 1998 | 12.5% | +22.4% |
| 1999 | 12.9% | +3.1% |
| 2000 | 13.9% | +8.0% |
| 2001 | 15.5% | +11.3% |
| 2002 | 19.0% | +22.5% |
| 2003 | 21.4% | +12.7% |
| 2004 | 23.0% | +7.3% |
| 2005 | 24.7% | +7.6% |
| 2006 | 25.1% | +1.6% |
| 2007 | 26.1% | +3.9% |
| 2008 | 26.4% | +1.1% |
| 2009 | 28.2% | +7.1% |
| 2010 | 28.5% | +0.9% |
| 2011 | 28.4% | -0.4% |
| 2012 | 30.0% | +5.7% |
| 2013 | 30.8% | +2.7% |
| 2014 | 30.2% | -2.0% |
| 2015 | 33.7% | +11.6% |
| 2016 | 36.3% | +7.7% |
| 2017 | 35.1% | -3.2% |
| 2018 | 33.7% | -4.1% |
| 2019 | 34.2% | +1.5% |
| 2020 | 34.1% | -0.0% |
| 2021 | 37.2% | +9.1% |
| 2022 | 35.3% | -5.3% |
| 2023 | 34.2% | -3.1% |
Malaysia compared with similar countries
- Malaysia's 34.2% is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 16.6%, 2.1× the median. (59 countries reporting)
- Malaysia's 34.2% is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 34.3%, 100% of the median. (36 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 18.3% | 17.2% | 19.2% | 3 |
| 1970s | 11.8% | 8.6% | 15.1% | 10 |
| 1980s | 8.6% | 7.5% | 9.6% | 10 |
| 1990s | 8.8% | 6.5% | 12.9% | 10 |
| 2000s | 22.3% | 13.9% | 28.2% | 10 |
| 2010s | 32.1% | 28.4% | 36.3% | 10 |
| 2020s | 35.2% | 34.1% | 37.2% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Malaysia
- 34 El Salvador 35.0% compare
- 35 Singapore 34.4% compare
- 36 Argentina 34.4% compare
- 38 Sao Tome and Principe 34.1% compare
- 39 Liberia 34.0% compare
- 40 Macau, China 33.9% compare
More private sector data for Malaysia
- Merchandise trade 151.7% (2025)
- Food imports 8.3% (2025)
- Manufactures imports 72.0% (2025)
- Merchandise imports 340.44 billion current US$ (2025)
- Food exports 10.4% (2025)
- Manufactures exports 72.7% (2025)
- Merchandise exports 376.04 billion current US$ (2025)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), per capita 10,452 current US$ per person (2025)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), per unit of GDP 0.7964 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), annual growth rate 13.69 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies within in Malaysia?
- Merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies within in Malaysia was 34.2% in 2023, according to Staff estimates, World Bank (WB).
- What is the highest merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies within recorded in Malaysia?
- The highest recorded value was 37.2% in 2021.
- What is the lowest merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies within recorded in Malaysia?
- The lowest recorded value was 6.5% in 1990.
- How does Malaysia rank for merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies within?
- Malaysia ranks 37th out of 203 countries with data for 2023.
- Is merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies within rising or falling in Malaysia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 11.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Malaysia 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.