Imports of goods and services in India
India: Imports of goods and services was 24.0% in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Imports of goods and services in India, 1960–2025
Source: Country official statistics, National Statistical Offices (NSOs). Measured in % of GDP.
Analysis
In 2025, imports of goods and services in India stood at 24.0%.
That represents a change of up 0.6% on the previous year and up 8.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, imports of goods and services in India peaked at 31.3% in 2012 and was at its lowest, 3.7%, in 1972.
That places India 165th out of 193 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Imports of goods and services in India, year by year
| Year | % of GDP | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 6.8% | — |
| 1961 | 6.0% | -12.8% |
| 1962 | 6.0% | +1.2% |
| 1963 | 5.9% | -2.1% |
| 1964 | 5.7% | -3.8% |
| 1965 | 5.2% | -8.3% |
| 1966 | 6.7% | +28.0% |
| 1967 | 5.9% | -10.9% |
| 1968 | 4.9% | -16.9% |
| 1969 | 4.0% | -18.5% |
| 1970 | 3.9% | -3.8% |
| 1971 | 4.0% | +3.2% |
| 1972 | 3.7% | -7.3% |
| 1973 | 4.7% | +27.4% |
| 1974 | 6.0% | +27.5% |
| 1975 | 6.6% | +10.4% |
| 1976 | 6.1% | -8.0% |
| 1977 | 6.3% | +2.5% |
| 1978 | 6.6% | +5.2% |
| 1979 | 8.2% | +24.0% |
| 1980 | 9.2% | +13.2% |
| 1981 | 8.6% | -7.3% |
| 1982 | 8.1% | -5.0% |
| 1983 | 7.9% | -3.6% |
| 1984 | 7.7% | -1.6% |
| 1985 | 7.6% | -1.0% |
| 1986 | 7.0% | -8.1% |
| 1987 | 7.0% | -0.6% |
| 1988 | 7.5% | +6.8% |
| 1989 | 8.2% | +9.3% |
| 1990 | 8.5% | +3.7% |
| 1991 | 8.5% | +0.5% |
| 1992 | 9.6% | +12.9% |
| 1993 | 9.8% | +2.4% |
| 1994 | 10.2% | +3.8% |
| 1995 | 12.0% | +18.0% |
| 1996 | 11.5% | -4.0% |
| 1997 | 11.9% | +3.3% |
| 1998 | 12.7% | +6.3% |
| 1999 | 13.4% | +5.4% |
| 2000 | 13.9% | +4.0% |
| 2001 | 13.4% | -3.4% |
| 2002 | 15.2% | +13.5% |
| 2003 | 15.6% | +2.6% |
| 2004 | 19.6% | +25.6% |
| 2005 | 22.4% | +14.0% |
| 2006 | 24.5% | +9.2% |
| 2007 | 24.9% | +1.8% |
| 2008 | 29.3% | +17.6% |
| 2009 | 25.9% | -11.6% |
| 2010 | 26.9% | +3.8% |
| 2011 | 31.1% | +15.7% |
| 2012 | 31.3% | +0.6% |
| 2013 | 28.4% | -9.1% |
| 2014 | 26.0% | -8.7% |
| 2015 | 22.1% | -14.8% |
| 2016 | 20.9% | -5.4% |
| 2017 | 22.0% | +4.9% |
| 2018 | 23.7% | +7.9% |
| 2019 | 21.2% | -10.3% |
| 2020 | 19.1% | -10.2% |
| 2021 | 24.0% | +25.9% |
| 2022 | 26.7% | +11.0% |
| 2023 | 24.0% | -10.1% |
| 2024 | 23.9% | -0.5% |
| 2025 | 24.0% | +0.6% |
India compared with similar countries
- India's 24.0% is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 41.9%, 57% of the median. (45 countries reporting)
- India's 24.0% is below the median for South Asia, which is 28.9%, 83% of the median. (6 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 5.7% | 4.0% | 6.8% | 10 |
| 1970s | 5.6% | 3.7% | 8.2% | 10 |
| 1980s | 7.9% | 7.0% | 9.2% | 10 |
| 1990s | 10.8% | 8.5% | 13.4% | 10 |
| 2000s | 20.5% | 13.4% | 29.3% | 10 |
| 2010s | 25.3% | 20.9% | 31.3% | 10 |
| 2020s | 23.6% | 19.1% | 26.7% | 6 |
Countries ranked near India
More economy & growth data for India
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 04 - Annual real GDP 5.66 Percent per annum (2029)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 02 - Annual real GDP 6.5 Percent per annum (2029)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), gaps 35.69 billion BoP, current US$ (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0.009 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 24.38 BoP, current US$ per person (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), gaps filled 39.10 billion BoP, current US$ (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), annual 44.06 % change on previous year (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0.0099 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 26.71 BoP, current US$ per person (2025)
- Total reserves (includes gold, current US$), annual growth rate 8.87 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is imports of goods and services in India?
- Imports of goods and services in India was 24.0% in 2025, according to Country official statistics, National Statistical Offices (NSOs).
- What is the highest imports of goods and services recorded in India?
- The highest recorded value was 31.3% in 2012.
- What is the lowest imports of goods and services recorded in India?
- The lowest recorded value was 3.7% in 1972.
- How does India rank for imports of goods and services?
- India ranks 165th out of 193 countries with data for 2025.
- Is imports of goods and services rising or falling in India?
- Over the last ten years it is up 8.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this India data come from?
- The figures come from Country official statistics, National Statistical Offices (NSOs), published as part of Imports of goods and services (% of GDP). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Imports of goods includes change in the economic ownership of goods from non-residents to residents of the compiling economy, irrespective of physical movement of goods across national borders. Imports of services includes services provided by non-residents to residents. This indicator is expressed as a percentage of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) which is the total income earned through the production of goods and services in an economic territory during an accounting period.