Merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies within in Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia: Merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies within was 3.9% in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies within in Saudi Arabia, 1964–2023
Source: Staff estimates, World Bank (WB). Measured in % of total merchandise imports.
Analysis
Saudi Arabia recorded 3.9% for merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies within in 2023.
That represents a change of down 19.6% on the previous year and up 53.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies within in Saudi Arabia peaked at 21.5% in 1974 and was at its lowest, 1.4%, in 1985.
That places Saudi Arabia 153rd out of 203 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the bottom 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 Saudi Arabia, year by year
| Year | % of total merchandise imports | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1964 | 13.9% | — |
| 1965 | 17.3% | +24.3% |
| 1966 | 13.2% | -23.2% |
| 1967 | 13.0% | -1.6% |
| 1968 | 16.2% | +24.5% |
| 1969 | 15.1% | -7.1% |
| 1970 | 16.1% | +6.5% |
| 1971 | 17.5% | +8.8% |
| 1972 | 16.9% | -3.1% |
| 1973 | 17.0% | +0.3% |
| 1974 | 21.5% | +26.7% |
| 1975 | 17.4% | -19.1% |
| 1976 | 12.2% | -29.7% |
| 1977 | 7.9% | -35.3% |
| 1978 | 2.9% | -62.8% |
| 1979 | 2.8% | -5.4% |
| 1980 | 2.4% | -15.1% |
| 1981 | 2.4% | +3.6% |
| 1982 | 1.7% | -30.6% |
| 1983 | 1.5% | -10.9% |
| 1984 | 1.5% | -2.9% |
| 1985 | 1.4% | -4.0% |
| 1986 | 1.6% | +13.3% |
| 1987 | 1.8% | +12.7% |
| 1988 | 2.3% | +26.4% |
| 1989 | 2.4% | +3.4% |
| 1990 | 2.6% | +9.6% |
| 1991 | 2.5% | -1.9% |
| 1992 | 2.2% | -13.4% |
| 1993 | 2.8% | +25.8% |
| 1994 | 3.1% | +10.4% |
| 1995 | 2.8% | -9.8% |
| 1996 | 3.1% | +13.2% |
| 1997 | 2.7% | -11.8% |
| 1998 | 2.9% | +5.3% |
| 1999 | 3.6% | +25.7% |
| 2000 | 2.7% | -26.6% |
| 2001 | 3.3% | +22.3% |
| 2002 | 3.8% | +15.3% |
| 2003 | 3.4% | -9.4% |
| 2004 | 3.8% | +9.9% |
| 2005 | 4.3% | +15.2% |
| 2006 | 3.6% | -15.8% |
| 2007 | 3.4% | -6.7% |
| 2008 | 3.4% | -0.5% |
| 2009 | 3.4% | -0.3% |
| 2010 | 3.4% | +0.1% |
| 2011 | 2.9% | -12.6% |
| 2012 | 2.7% | -8.6% |
| 2013 | 2.6% | -4.6% |
| 2014 | 2.6% | -0.4% |
| 2015 | 2.6% | +2.2% |
| 2016 | 2.9% | +11.3% |
| 2017 | 3.1% | +5.2% |
| 2018 | 2.5% | -18.3% |
| 2019 | 3.1% | +23.6% |
| 2020 | 3.5% | +14.4% |
| 2021 | 4.3% | +21.0% |
| 2022 | 4.9% | +14.2% |
| 2023 | 3.9% | -19.6% |
Saudi Arabia compared with similar countries
- Saudi Arabia's 3.9% is below the median for high income countries, which is 4.5%, 88% of the median. (71 countries reporting)
- Saudi Arabia's 3.9% is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 3.3%, 1.2× the median. (23 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 14.8% | 13.0% | 17.3% | 6 |
| 1970s | 13.2% | 2.8% | 21.5% | 10 |
| 1980s | 1.9% | 1.4% | 2.4% | 10 |
| 1990s | 2.8% | 2.2% | 3.6% | 10 |
| 2000s | 3.5% | 2.7% | 4.3% | 10 |
| 2010s | 2.8% | 2.5% | 3.4% | 10 |
| 2020s | 4.2% | 3.5% | 4.9% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Saudi Arabia
More private sector data for Saudi Arabia
- Merchandise trade 44.2% (2025)
- Food imports 13.0% (2024)
- Manufactures imports 70.5% (2024)
- Merchandise imports 254.06 billion current US$ (2025)
- Food exports 1.9% (2024)
- Manufactures exports 15.9% (2024)
- Merchandise exports 310.67 billion current US$ (2025)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), per capita 8,403 current US$ per person (2025)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), per unit of GDP 0.2433 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), annual growth rate 1.69 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies within in Saudi Arabia?
- Merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies within in Saudi Arabia was 3.9% in 2023, according to Staff estimates, World Bank (WB).
- What is the highest merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies within recorded in Saudi Arabia?
- The highest recorded value was 21.5% in 1974.
- What is the lowest merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies within recorded in Saudi Arabia?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.4% in 1985.
- How does Saudi Arabia rank for merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies within?
- Saudi Arabia ranks 153rd out of 203 countries with data for 2023.
- Is merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies within rising or falling in Saudi Arabia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 53.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Saudi Arabia 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.