Imports (% of GDP) — all countries

Imports (% of GDP) — Eastern Africa

Imports (% of GDP) in Eastern Africa in 2025 — 28.92%. Since 1994, the indicator has fallen by 7.72 pp.

2025 28.92% +2.29 pp vs 2024
World rank
Period maximum 38.01%2013
Period minimum 23.83%2020

Trend over time

1994–2025 · % of GDP

Imports (% of GDP) — Eastern Africa, 1994–202520253035401994199820022006201020142018202220251994: 36.64%1995: 36.98%1996: 33.1%1997: 32.14%1998: 30.11%1999: 29.96%2000: 30.1%2001: 30.19%2002: 31.69%2003: 31.07%2004: 33.15%2005: 34.8%2006: 33.99%2007: 35.08%2008: 36.72%2009: 32%2010: 33.62%2011: 36.79%2012: 37.58%2013: 38.01%2014: 35.51%2015: 33.79%2016: 30.17%2017: 29.78%2018: 29.58%2019: 27.08%2020: 23.83%2021: 26.28%2022: 29.13%2023: 27.75%2024: 26.63%2025: 28.92%
Change over the period: −7.72 pp Annual average: -0.25 pp

Comparison, 2025

How the value compares with the world and the groups this territory belongs to: Eastern Africa

Eastern Africa 28.92%
World 28.5%
Imports (% of GDP) — Eastern Africa, by year Eastern Africa All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2025 28.92 +2.29 pp
2024 26.63 −1.11 pp
2023 27.75 −1.39 pp
2022 29.13 +2.85 pp
2021 26.28 +2.45 pp
2020 23.83 −3.24 pp
2019 27.08 −2.5 pp
2018 29.58 −0.2 pp
2017 29.78 −0.38 pp
2016 30.17 −3.63 pp
2015 33.79 −1.72 pp
2014 35.51 −2.5 pp
2013 38.01 +0.43 pp
2012 37.58 +0.79 pp
2011 36.79 +3.17 pp
2010 33.62 +1.62 pp
2009 32 −4.72 pp
2008 36.72 +1.64 pp
2007 35.08 +1.09 pp
2006 33.99 −0.81 pp
2005 34.8 +1.65 pp
2004 33.15 +2.08 pp
2003 31.07 −0.62 pp
2002 31.69 +1.5 pp
2001 30.19 +0.09 pp
2000 30.1 +0.14 pp
1999 29.96 −0.16 pp
1998 30.11 −2.02 pp
1997 32.14 −0.96 pp
1996 33.1 −3.88 pp
1995 36.98 +0.34 pp
1994 36.64

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.