Fuel imports (% of merchandise imports) in Nigeria
Nigeria: Fuel imports (% of merchandise imports) was 33.2% in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Fuel imports in Nigeria, 1962–2025
Source: Comtrade database, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Statistics Division. Measured in % of merchandise imports.
Analysis
Nigeria recorded 33.2% for fuel imports in 2025.
That represents a change of down 12.6% on the previous year and up 79.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, fuel imports in Nigeria peaked at 39.6% in 2022 and was at its lowest, 0.4%, in 1987.
That places Nigeria 6th out of 196 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Fuel imports (% of merchandise imports) in Nigeria, year by year
| Year | % of merchandise imports | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1962 | 7.0% | — |
| 1963 | 7.6% | +7.8% |
| 1964 | 7.6% | +0.6% |
| 1965 | 6.3% | -17.2% |
| 1966 | 1.5% | -76.4% |
| 1967 | 3.9% | +164.5% |
| 1968 | 7.5% | +91.6% |
| 1969 | 6.3% | -16.6% |
| 1970 | 3.2% | -49.5% |
| 1971 | 0.8% | -73.8% |
| 1972 | 1.0% | +18.9% |
| 1973 | 1.1% | +12.1% |
| 1974 | 3.2% | +188.0% |
| 1975 | 2.7% | -15.6% |
| 1976 | 3.4% | +26.5% |
| 1977 | 1.8% | -46.9% |
| 1978 | 1.9% | +6.5% |
| 1979 | 2.3% | +18.7% |
| 1981 | 1.2% | -47.6% |
| 1983 | 0.8% | -32.3% |
| 1984 | 1.2% | +43.1% |
| 1985 | 0.9% | -25.4% |
| 1986 | 0.5% | -38.2% |
| 1987 | 0.4% | -20.1% |
| 1996 | 1.3% | +210.5% |
| 1997 | 0.9% | -33.0% |
| 1998 | 2.2% | +143.4% |
| 1999 | 1.8% | -17.2% |
| 2000 | 1.7% | -3.3% |
| 2001 | 2.1% | +23.6% |
| 2002 | 1.3% | -39.0% |
| 2003 | 16.0% | +1125.2% |
| 2006 | 2.9% | -82.1% |
| 2007 | 1.8% | -38.1% |
| 2008 | 1.6% | -10.7% |
| 2009 | 1.0% | -37.7% |
| 2010 | 1.3% | +32.9% |
| 2011 | 9.9% | +654.0% |
| 2012 | 2.4% | -76.1% |
| 2013 | 20.2% | +751.9% |
| 2014 | 16.3% | -19.1% |
| 2015 | 18.5% | +13.5% |
| 2016 | 28.6% | +54.5% |
| 2017 | 27.9% | -2.3% |
| 2018 | 29.6% | +6.2% |
| 2019 | 15.5% | -47.7% |
| 2020 | 15.3% | -1.7% |
| 2021 | 31.0% | +103.1% |
| 2022 | 39.6% | +27.7% |
| 2023 | 33.4% | -15.5% |
| 2024 | 38.0% | +13.6% |
| 2025 | 33.2% | -12.6% |
Nigeria compared with similar countries
- Nigeria's 33.2% is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 17.8%, 1.9× the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Nigeria's 33.2% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 18.8%, 1.8× the median. (46 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Fuel imports (% of merchandise imports) 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | +1125.2% | 1.3% | 16.0% |
| 2013 | +751.9% | 2.4% | 20.2% |
| 2011 | +654.0% | 1.3% | 9.9% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 6.0% | 1.5% | 7.6% | 8 |
| 1970s | 2.1% | 0.8% | 3.4% | 10 |
| 1980s | 0.8% | 0.4% | 1.2% | 6 |
| 1990s | 1.5% | 0.9% | 2.2% | 4 |
| 2000s | 3.6% | 1.0% | 16.0% | 8 |
| 2010s | 17.0% | 1.3% | 29.6% | 10 |
| 2020s | 31.7% | 15.3% | 39.6% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Nigeria
More energy & mining data for Nigeria
- Primary energy from fossil nuclear renewables, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Ores and metals imports 1.3% (2025)
- Fuel exports 85.9% (2025)
- Ores and metals exports 0.9% (2025)
- Gas production 507.74 terawatt-hours (2025)
- Fossil fuel production per person, by fuel 2,138 kilowatt-hours per person (2025)
- Fossil fuel production by fuel 507.74 terawatt-hours (2025)
- Gas production per person 2,138 kilowatt-hours per person (2025)
- Fossil fuel production by fuel, per capita 0 terawatt-hours per person (2025)
- Fossil fuel production by fuel, per unit of GDP 0 terawatt-hours per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is fuel imports in Nigeria?
- Fuel imports in Nigeria was 33.2% in 2025, according to Comtrade database, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Statistics Division.
- What is the highest fuel imports recorded in Nigeria?
- The highest recorded value was 39.6% in 2022.
- What is the lowest fuel imports recorded in Nigeria?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.4% in 1987.
- How does Nigeria rank for fuel imports?
- Nigeria ranks 6th out of 196 countries with data for 2025.
- Is fuel imports rising or falling in Nigeria?
- Over the last ten years it is up 79.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Nigeria data come from?
- The figures come from Comtrade database, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Statistics Division, published as part of Fuel imports (% of merchandise imports). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Fuels comprise the commodities in SITC (Rev. 3) section 3 (mineral fuels, lubricants and related materials). This indicator is expressed as a percentage of merchandise imports which is comprised of goods whose economic ownership is changed between a non-resident and a resident and that are not included in the following specific categories: goods under merchanting, non-monetary gold, and parts of travel, construction, and government goods and services n.i.e.