Imports (% of GDP) — all countries

Imports (% of GDP) — Lower-middle-income countries

Imports (% of GDP) in lower-middle-income countries in 2025 — 32.16%. Since 1981, the indicator has risen by 10.01 pp.

2025 32.16% +1.24 pp vs 2024
World rank
Period maximum 35.04%2008
Period minimum 14.21%1987

Trend over time

1981–2025 · % of GDP

Imports (% of GDP) — Lower-middle-income countries, 1981–20251020304019811986199119962001200620112016202120251981: 22.15%1983: 19.87%1984: 17.73%1985: 16.35%1986: 14.36%1987: 14.21%1988: 16.22%1989: 19.4%1990: 20.38%1991: 21.67%1992: 21.37%1993: 21.69%1994: 21.95%1995: 23.78%1996: 23.44%1997: 24.14%1998: 23.65%1999: 23.08%2000: 24.03%2001: 24.16%2002: 25.11%2003: 25.83%2004: 28.56%2005: 29.98%2006: 30.79%2007: 31.62%2008: 35.04%2009: 30.67%2010: 30.36%2011: 32.35%2012: 32.95%2013: 31.9%2014: 30.55%2015: 28.23%2016: 26.72%2017: 28.38%2018: 30.73%2019: 29.14%2020: 26.32%2021: 29.73%2022: 33.05%2023: 30.64%2024: 30.92%2025: 32.16%
Change over the period: +10.01 pp Annual average: 0.23 pp

Comparison, 2025

How the value compares with the world and the groups this territory belongs to: Lower-middle-income countries

Lower-middle-income countries 32.16%
World 28.5%
Imports (% of GDP) — Lower-middle-income countries, by year Lower-middle-income countries All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2025 32.16 +1.24 pp
2024 30.92 +0.28 pp
2023 30.64 −2.41 pp
2022 33.05 +3.33 pp
2021 29.73 +3.41 pp
2020 26.32 −2.82 pp
2019 29.14 −1.59 pp
2018 30.73 +2.35 pp
2017 28.38 +1.66 pp
2016 26.72 −1.51 pp
2015 28.23 −2.32 pp
2014 30.55 −1.35 pp
2013 31.9 −1.05 pp
2012 32.95 +0.6 pp
2011 32.35 +1.99 pp
2010 30.36 −0.31 pp
2009 30.67 −4.37 pp
2008 35.04 +3.42 pp
2007 31.62 +0.82 pp
2006 30.79 +0.81 pp
2005 29.98 +1.42 pp
2004 28.56 +2.73 pp
2003 25.83 +0.72 pp
2002 25.11 +0.94 pp
2001 24.16 +0.13 pp
2000 24.03 +0.95 pp
1999 23.08 −0.57 pp
1998 23.65 −0.48 pp
1997 24.14 +0.7 pp
1996 23.44 −0.34 pp
1995 23.78 +1.84 pp
1994 21.95 +0.26 pp
1993 21.69 +0.31 pp
1992 21.37 −0.29 pp
1991 21.67 +1.29 pp
1990 20.38 +0.98 pp
1989 19.4 +3.18 pp
1988 16.22 +2 pp
1987 14.21 −0.15 pp
1986 14.36 −1.99 pp
1985 16.35 −1.38 pp
1984 17.73 −2.13 pp
1983 19.87
1981 22.15

About the indicator

Imports of goods and services as a percent of GDP — a measure of how far an economy depends on supplies from abroad. High values are typical both of small open economies and of countries embedded in global supply chains, where imported components are processed and shipped back out.

Source: World Development Indicators (World Bank), license CC BY 4.0.