Imports of goods, services and primary income in Nigeria
Nigeria: Imports of goods, services and primary income was 77.59 billion BoP, current US$ in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Imports of goods, services and primary income in Nigeria, 1977–2025
Source: Balance of Payments Statistics Yearbook and data files, International Monetary Fund (IMF). Measured in BoP, current US$.
Analysis
Nigeria recorded 77.59 billion BoP, current US$ for imports of goods, services and primary income in 2025.
That represents a change of up 15.4% on the previous year and down 9.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, imports of goods, services and primary income in Nigeria peaked at 114.47 billion BoP, current US$ in 2011 and was at its lowest, 4.51 billion BoP, current US$, in 1996.
That places Nigeria 58th out of 200 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Imports of goods, services and primary income in Nigeria, year by year
| Year | BoP, current US$ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1977 | 14.12 billion BoP, current US$ | — |
| 1978 | 15.09 billion BoP, current US$ | +6.9% |
| 1979 | 15.96 billion BoP, current US$ | +5.8% |
| 1980 | 22.01 billion BoP, current US$ | +37.8% |
| 1981 | 25.38 billion BoP, current US$ | +15.4% |
| 1982 | 19.74 billion BoP, current US$ | -22.3% |
| 1983 | 14.80 billion BoP, current US$ | -25.0% |
| 1984 | 11.89 billion BoP, current US$ | -19.7% |
| 1985 | 10.65 billion BoP, current US$ | -10.5% |
| 1986 | 5.04 billion BoP, current US$ | -52.6% |
| 1987 | 7.88 billion BoP, current US$ | +56.2% |
| 1988 | 7.56 billion BoP, current US$ | -4.0% |
| 1989 | 7.61 billion BoP, current US$ | +0.6% |
| 1990 | 9.86 billion BoP, current US$ | +29.5% |
| 1991 | 12.89 billion BoP, current US$ | +30.8% |
| 1992 | 11.48 billion BoP, current US$ | -10.9% |
| 1993 | 12.72 billion BoP, current US$ | +10.8% |
| 1994 | 12.50 billion BoP, current US$ | -1.7% |
| 1995 | 4.92 billion BoP, current US$ | -60.6% |
| 1996 | 4.51 billion BoP, current US$ | -8.3% |
| 1997 | 5.37 billion BoP, current US$ | +19.1% |
| 1998 | 4.56 billion BoP, current US$ | -15.2% |
| 1999 | 14.88 billion BoP, current US$ | +226.4% |
| 2000 | 15.38 billion BoP, current US$ | +3.4% |
| 2001 | 18.73 billion BoP, current US$ | +21.8% |
| 2002 | 18.65 billion BoP, current US$ | -0.4% |
| 2003 | 25.19 billion BoP, current US$ | +35.1% |
| 2004 | 23.67 billion BoP, current US$ | -6.0% |
| 2005 | 35.77 billion BoP, current US$ | +51.1% |
| 2006 | 42.39 billion BoP, current US$ | +18.5% |
| 2007 | 60.96 billion BoP, current US$ | +43.8% |
| 2008 | 81.61 billion BoP, current US$ | +33.9% |
| 2009 | 64.82 billion BoP, current US$ | -20.6% |
| 2010 | 91.29 billion BoP, current US$ | +40.8% |
| 2011 | 114.47 billion BoP, current US$ | +25.4% |
| 2012 | 103.92 billion BoP, current US$ | -9.2% |
| 2013 | 103.06 billion BoP, current US$ | -0.8% |
| 2014 | 107.24 billion BoP, current US$ | +4.1% |
| 2015 | 85.59 billion BoP, current US$ | -20.2% |
| 2016 | 54.50 billion BoP, current US$ | -36.3% |
| 2017 | 60.77 billion BoP, current US$ | +11.5% |
| 2018 | 84.94 billion BoP, current US$ | +39.8% |
| 2019 | 112.30 billion BoP, current US$ | +32.2% |
| 2020 | 78.65 billion BoP, current US$ | -30.0% |
| 2021 | 77.96 billion BoP, current US$ | -0.9% |
| 2022 | 91.59 billion BoP, current US$ | +17.5% |
| 2023 | 78.40 billion BoP, current US$ | -14.4% |
| 2024 | 67.26 billion BoP, current US$ | -14.2% |
| 2025 | 77.59 billion BoP, current US$ | +15.4% |
Nigeria compared with similar countries
- Nigeria's 77.59 billion BoP, current US$ is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 12.80 billion BoP, current US$, 6.1× the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Nigeria's 77.59 billion BoP, current US$ is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 6.72 billion BoP, current US$, 11.5× the median. (47 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Imports of goods, services and primary income in Nigeria changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | +226.4% | 4.56 billion BoP, current US$ | 14.88 billion BoP, current US$ |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 15.06 billion BoP, current US$ | 14.12 billion BoP, current US$ | 15.96 billion BoP, current US$ | 3 |
| 1980s | 13.26 billion BoP, current US$ | 5.04 billion BoP, current US$ | 25.38 billion BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 1990s | 9.37 billion BoP, current US$ | 4.51 billion BoP, current US$ | 14.88 billion BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 2000s | 38.72 billion BoP, current US$ | 15.38 billion BoP, current US$ | 81.61 billion BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 2010s | 91.81 billion BoP, current US$ | 54.50 billion BoP, current US$ | 114.47 billion BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 2020s | 78.58 billion BoP, current US$ | 67.26 billion BoP, current US$ | 91.59 billion BoP, current US$ | 6 |
Countries ranked near Nigeria
- 55 New Zealand 86.51 billion BoP, current US$ compare
- 56 Pakistan 84.54 billion BoP, current US$ compare
- 57 Bulgaria 79.04 billion BoP, current US$ compare
- 59 Kuwait 73.86 billion BoP, current US$ compare
- 60 Lithuania 72.24 billion BoP, current US$ compare
- 61 Malta 69.12 billion BoP, current US$ compare
More economy & growth data for Nigeria
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 04 - Annual real GDP 1.04 Percent per annum (2029)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 02 - Annual real GDP 3.32 Percent per annum (2029)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), gaps 1.19 billion BoP, current US$ (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0.0041 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 5 BoP, current US$ per person (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), gaps filled 4.01 billion BoP, current US$ (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), annual 148.16 % change on previous year (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0.0138 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 16.86 BoP, current US$ per person (2025)
- Total reserves (includes gold, current US$), annual growth rate 13.91 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is imports of goods, services and primary income in Nigeria?
- Imports of goods, services and primary income in Nigeria was 77.59 billion BoP, current US$ in 2025, according to Balance of Payments Statistics Yearbook and data files, International Monetary Fund (IMF).
- What is the highest imports of goods, services and primary income recorded in Nigeria?
- The highest recorded value was 114.47 billion BoP, current US$ in 2011.
- What is the lowest imports of goods, services and primary income recorded in Nigeria?
- The lowest recorded value was 4.51 billion BoP, current US$ in 1996.
- How does Nigeria rank for imports of goods, services and primary income?
- Nigeria ranks 58th out of 200 countries with data for 2025.
- Is imports of goods, services and primary income rising or falling in Nigeria?
- Over the last ten years it is down 9.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Nigeria data come from?
- The figures come from Balance of Payments Statistics Yearbook and data files, International Monetary Fund (IMF), published as part of Imports of goods, services and primary income (BoP, current US$). 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. Primary income represents the return that accrues to institutional units for their contribution to the production process or for the provision of financial assets and renting natural resources to other institutional units. This indicator is expressed in current prices, meaning no adjustment has been made to account for price changes over time. This indicator is expressed in United States dollars.