Imports (% of GDP) — all countries

Imports (% of GDP) — Sub-Saharan Africa

Imports (% of GDP) in Sub-Saharan Africa in 2025 — 27.88%. Since 1976, the indicator has risen by 5.94 pp.

2025 27.88% −0.76 pp vs 2024
World rank
Period maximum 29.73%2008
Period minimum 17.76%1983

Trend over time

1976–2025 · % of GDP

Imports (% of GDP) — Sub-Saharan Africa, 1976–202515202530197619811986199119962001200620112016202120251976: 21.93%1977: 21.46%1978: 22.58%1979: 23.2%1980: 24.82%1981: 19.53%1982: 18.09%1983: 17.76%1984: 19.69%1985: 18.18%1986: 21.49%1987: 22.17%1988: 22.71%1989: 22.85%1990: 21.04%1991: 20.48%1992: 22.08%1993: 21.39%1994: 22.76%1995: 21.7%1996: 20.28%1997: 20.01%1998: 19.81%1999: 26.39%2000: 26.01%2001: 26.26%2002: 25.97%2003: 25.48%2004: 25.78%2005: 26.06%2006: 25.63%2007: 27.74%2008: 29.73%2009: 27.41%2010: 26.55%2011: 27.77%2012: 27.97%2013: 27.54%2014: 26.26%2015: 25.57%2016: 25.04%2017: 25.11%2018: 25.37%2019: 21.77%2020: 20.14%2021: 22.3%2022: 24.77%2023: 26.33%2024: 28.63%2025: 27.88%
Change over the period: +5.94 pp Annual average: 0.12 pp

Comparison, 2025

How the value compares with the world and the groups this territory belongs to: Sub-Saharan Africa

Sub-Saharan Africa 27.88%
World 28.5%
Imports (% of GDP) — Sub-Saharan Africa, by year Sub-Saharan Africa All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2025 27.88 −0.76 pp
2024 28.63 +2.3 pp
2023 26.33 +1.56 pp
2022 24.77 +2.47 pp
2021 22.3 +2.16 pp
2020 20.14 −1.64 pp
2019 21.77 −3.6 pp
2018 25.37 +0.26 pp
2017 25.11 +0.08 pp
2016 25.04 −0.54 pp
2015 25.57 −0.69 pp
2014 26.26 −1.28 pp
2013 27.54 −0.44 pp
2012 27.97 +0.2 pp
2011 27.77 +1.23 pp
2010 26.55 −0.87 pp
2009 27.41 −2.32 pp
2008 29.73 +1.99 pp
2007 27.74 +2.11 pp
2006 25.63 −0.43 pp
2005 26.06 +0.28 pp
2004 25.78 +0.3 pp
2003 25.48 −0.49 pp
2002 25.97 −0.29 pp
2001 26.26 +0.25 pp
2000 26.01 −0.38 pp
1999 26.39 +6.58 pp
1998 19.81 −0.2 pp
1997 20.01 −0.27 pp
1996 20.28 −1.42 pp
1995 21.7 −1.06 pp
1994 22.76 +1.37 pp
1993 21.39 −0.69 pp
1992 22.08 +1.6 pp
1991 20.48 −0.57 pp
1990 21.04 −1.81 pp
1989 22.85 +0.13 pp
1988 22.71 +0.54 pp
1987 22.17 +0.68 pp
1986 21.49 +3.31 pp
1985 18.18 −1.52 pp
1984 19.69 +1.94 pp
1983 17.76 −0.34 pp
1982 18.09 −1.43 pp
1981 19.53 −5.29 pp
1980 24.82 +1.62 pp
1979 23.2 +0.62 pp
1978 22.58 +1.12 pp
1977 21.46 −0.47 pp
1976 21.93

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.