Ores and metals exports (% of merchandise exports) in Nigeria
Nigeria: Ores and metals exports (% of merchandise exports) was 0.9% in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Ores and metals exports in Nigeria, 1962–2025
Source: Comtrade database, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Statistics Division. Measured in % of merchandise exports.
Analysis
In 2025, ores and metals exports in Nigeria stood at 0.9%.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 26.0% on the previous year and up 169.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, ores and metals exports in Nigeria peaked at 7.2% in 1968 and was at its lowest, 0.0%, in 1999.
That places Nigeria 148th out of 194 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.
Ores and metals exports (% of merchandise exports) in Nigeria, year by year
| Year | % of merchandise exports | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1962 | 1.1% | — |
| 1963 | 5.7% | +428.8% |
| 1964 | 7.0% | +22.1% |
| 1965 | 6.5% | -6.9% |
| 1966 | 6.4% | -1.3% |
| 1967 | 6.2% | -4.2% |
| 1968 | 7.2% | +15.9% |
| 1969 | 4.8% | -33.5% |
| 1970 | 4.2% | -11.7% |
| 1971 | 2.2% | -48.1% |
| 1972 | 1.5% | -32.2% |
| 1973 | 0.8% | -46.5% |
| 1974 | 0.5% | -33.1% |
| 1975 | 0.5% | -12.8% |
| 1976 | 0.3% | -36.6% |
| 1977 | 0.3% | -3.2% |
| 1978 | 0.3% | +16.3% |
| 1979 | 0.2% | -43.8% |
| 1981 | 0.2% | -18.4% |
| 1983 | 0.1% | -23.7% |
| 1984 | 0.1% | +18.9% |
| 1985 | 0.0% | -63.7% |
| 1986 | 0.0% | -43.8% |
| 1987 | 0.1% | +141.5% |
| 1996 | 0.0% | -80.0% |
| 1997 | 0.0% | +8.9% |
| 1998 | 0.0% | -68.9% |
| 1999 | 0.0% | -41.2% |
| 2000 | 0.0% | +225.3% |
| 2001 | 0.0% | +46.6% |
| 2002 | 0.0% | +123.5% |
| 2003 | 0.0% | -90.0% |
| 2006 | 0.0% | +102.0% |
| 2007 | 0.4% | +6944.3% |
| 2008 | 0.3% | -18.2% |
| 2009 | 0.2% | -40.2% |
| 2010 | 1.1% | +445.8% |
| 2011 | 0.3% | -70.7% |
| 2012 | 0.4% | +36.8% |
| 2013 | 0.6% | +45.0% |
| 2014 | 0.4% | -41.3% |
| 2015 | 0.3% | -8.7% |
| 2016 | 0.2% | -49.2% |
| 2017 | 0.1% | -19.6% |
| 2018 | 0.3% | +124.8% |
| 2019 | 0.3% | -2.7% |
| 2020 | 0.3% | +0.4% |
| 2021 | 0.9% | +196.7% |
| 2022 | 1.0% | +13.2% |
| 2023 | 1.2% | +16.0% |
| 2024 | 1.2% | +4.1% |
| 2025 | 0.9% | -26.0% |
Nigeria compared with similar countries
- Nigeria's 0.9% is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 3.8%, 24% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Nigeria's 0.9% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 2.1%, 43% of the median. (45 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Ores and metals exports (% of merchandise exports) 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | +6944.3% | 0.0% | 0.4% |
| 2010 | +445.8% | 0.2% | 1.1% |
| 1963 | +428.8% | 1.1% | 5.7% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 5.6% | 1.1% | 7.2% | 8 |
| 1970s | 1.1% | 0.2% | 4.2% | 10 |
| 1980s | 0.1% | 0.0% | 0.2% | 6 |
| 1990s | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 4 |
| 2000s | 0.1% | 0.0% | 0.4% | 8 |
| 2010s | 0.4% | 0.1% | 1.1% | 10 |
| 2020s | 0.9% | 0.3% | 1.2% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Nigeria
More energy & mining data for Nigeria
- Fuel imports 33.2% (2025)
- Ores and metals imports 1.3% (2025)
- Fuel exports 85.9% (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)
- Gas production, per capita 0 terawatt-hours per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is ores and metals exports in Nigeria?
- Ores and metals exports in Nigeria was 0.9% in 2025, according to Comtrade database, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Statistics Division.
- What is the highest ores and metals exports recorded in Nigeria?
- The highest recorded value was 7.2% in 1968.
- What is the lowest ores and metals exports recorded in Nigeria?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.0% in 1999.
- How does Nigeria rank for ores and metals exports?
- Nigeria ranks 148th out of 194 countries with data for 2025.
- Is ores and metals exports rising or falling in Nigeria?
- Over the last ten years it is up 169.0%. 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 Ores and metals exports (% of merchandise exports). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Ores and metals comprise the commodities in SITC (Rev. 3) sections 27 (crude fertilizer, minerals nes); 28 (metalliferous ores, scrap); and 68 (non-ferrous metals). Exports of services are services provided by residents to non-residents. This indicator is expressed as a percentage of merchandise exports which is comprised of goods whose economic ownership is changed between a resident and a non-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.