Value of imported goods as a share of GDP (International Monetary) in Ethiopia
Ethiopia: Value of imported goods as a share of GDP (International Monetary) was 15.8% in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Value of imported goods as a share of GDP in Ethiopia, 1960–2025
Source: International Monetary Fund (2026); National statistical organizations and central banks, OECD national accounts, and World Bank staff estimates (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
Ethiopia recorded 15.8% for value of imported goods as a share of gdp in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 30.5% on the previous year and down 44.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, value of imported goods as a share of gdp in Ethiopia peaked at 30.1% in 2014 and was at its lowest, 3.2%, in 1991.
Ethiopia ranks 170th of 201 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Value of imported goods as a share of GDP (International Monetary) in Ethiopia, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 4.5% | — |
| 1961 | 4.6% | +2.2% |
| 1962 | 5.2% | +12.6% |
| 1963 | 5.2% | +0.6% |
| 1964 | 5.2% | +0.6% |
| 1965 | 6.0% | +14.2% |
| 1966 | 6.0% | -0.4% |
| 1967 | 4.8% | -19.0% |
| 1968 | 5.7% | +17.2% |
| 1969 | 4.7% | -17.3% |
| 1970 | 4.8% | +1.9% |
| 1971 | 5.0% | +6.0% |
| 1972 | 4.7% | -6.9% |
| 1973 | 4.6% | -1.2% |
| 1974 | 5.3% | +14.2% |
| 1975 | 6.0% | +13.1% |
| 1976 | 5.8% | -3.2% |
| 1977 | 5.4% | -6.4% |
| 1978 | 6.4% | +18.0% |
| 1979 | 7.5% | +16.4% |
| 1980 | 9.0% | +20.2% |
| 1981 | 8.6% | -4.1% |
| 1982 | 8.6% | +0.0% |
| 1983 | 8.8% | +1.8% |
| 1984 | 9.5% | +9.0% |
| 1985 | 8.8% | -7.3% |
| 1986 | 9.5% | +7.3% |
| 1987 | 8.9% | -5.9% |
| 1988 | 8.4% | -6.0% |
| 1989 | 6.8% | -19.3% |
| 1990 | 7.8% | +15.2% |
| 1991 | 3.2% | -59.5% |
| 1992 | 5.5% | +74.4% |
| 1993 | 7.4% | +34.1% |
| 1994 | 13.0% | +75.7% |
| 1995 | 12.9% | -0.7% |
| 1996 | 10.8% | -16.3% |
| 1997 | 12.2% | +13.5% |
| 1998 | 16.8% | +37.7% |
| 1999 | 19.5% | +15.8% |
| 2000 | 13.2% | -32.1% |
| 2001 | 19.1% | +44.5% |
| 2002 | 17.0% | -11.4% |
| 2003 | 21.1% | +24.2% |
| 2004 | 21.3% | +1.2% |
| 2005 | 28.9% | +35.8% |
| 2006 | 25.9% | -10.5% |
| 2007 | 24.5% | -5.4% |
| 2008 | 21.5% | -12.4% |
| 2009 | 24.5% | +14.0% |
| 2010 | 21.6% | -11.8% |
| 2011 | 22.3% | +3.2% |
| 2012 | 22.1% | -0.9% |
| 2013 | 25.3% | +14.8% |
| 2014 | 30.1% | +18.7% |
| 2015 | 28.5% | -5.3% |
| 2016 | 25.5% | -10.5% |
| 2017 | 20.6% | -19.0% |
| 2018 | 18.0% | -12.8% |
| 2019 | 16.9% | -5.9% |
| 2020 | 14.3% | -15.6% |
| 2021 | 14.0% | -1.9% |
| 2022 | 13.4% | -4.2% |
| 2023 | 12.5% | -6.6% |
| 2024 | 12.1% | -3.6% |
| 2025 | 15.8% | +30.5% |
Ethiopia compared with similar countries
- Ethiopia's 15.8% is below the median for low income countries, which is 24.9%, 63% of the median. (23 countries reporting)
- Ethiopia's 15.8% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 26.0%, 61% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 5.2% | 4.5% | 6.0% | 10 |
| 1970s | 5.6% | 4.6% | 7.5% | 10 |
| 1980s | 8.7% | 6.8% | 9.5% | 10 |
| 1990s | 10.9% | 3.2% | 19.5% | 10 |
| 2000s | 21.7% | 13.2% | 28.9% | 10 |
| 2010s | 23.1% | 16.9% | 30.1% | 10 |
| 2020s | 13.7% | 12.1% | 15.8% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Ethiopia
More economy & growth data for Ethiopia
- Real gdp growth, annual growth rate 13.66 % change on previous year (2025)
- SDRs holdings, US dollar, annual growth rate 4.53 % change on previous year (2025)
- SDRs holdings, US dollar, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- SDRs holdings, US dollar, per capita 0.0318 units per person (2025)
- SDRs holdings, SDR, annual growth rate -0.4608 % change on previous year (2025)
- SDRs holdings, SDR, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- SDRs holdings, SDR, per capita 0.0232 units per person (2025)
- IMF holdings of currency, US dollar, annual growth rate -16.34 % change on previous year (2025)
- IMF holdings of currency, US dollar, per unit of GDP 0.0038 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- IMF holdings of currency, US dollar, per capita 3.57 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is value of imported goods as a share of gdp in Ethiopia?
- Value of imported goods as a share of gdp in Ethiopia was 15.8% in 2025, according to International Monetary Fund (2026); National statistical organizations and central banks, OECD national accounts, and World Bank staff estimates (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest value of imported goods as a share of gdp recorded in Ethiopia?
- The highest recorded value was 30.1% in 2014.
- What is the lowest value of imported goods as a share of gdp recorded in Ethiopia?
- The lowest recorded value was 3.2% in 1991.
- How does Ethiopia rank for value of imported goods as a share of gdp?
- Ethiopia ranks 170th out of 201 countries with data for 2025.
- Is value of imported goods as a share of gdp rising or falling in Ethiopia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 44.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Ethiopia data come from?
- The figures come from International Monetary Fund (2026); National statistical organizations and central banks, OECD national accounts, and World Bank staff estimates (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Value of imported goods as a share of GDP. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Value of a country’s total goods imports, including freight and insurance costs, as a percentage of a country’s gross domestic product (GDP).