Ores and metals imports in Afghanistan

Afghanistan: Ores and metals imports was 1.7% in 2019. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2019)
1.7%
Change on year
down 5.4%
World rank
86th
of 196 countries
All-time high
4.7%
in 2008
All-time low
0.0%
in 1962
Years of data
25
1962–2019

Ores and metals imports in Afghanistan, 1962–2019

0123451962199020191962: 0.04 % of merchandise imports1963: 0.228 % of merchandise imports1964: 0.163 % of merchandise imports1965: 0.126 % of merchandise imports1966: 0.069 % of merchandise imports1967: 0.086 % of merchandise imports1968: 0.053 % of merchandise imports1969: 0.142 % of merchandise imports1970: 0.107 % of merchandise imports1971: 0.061 % of merchandise imports1972: 0.11 % of merchandise imports1973: 0.259 % of merchandise imports1974: 0.127 % of merchandise imports1975: 0.115 % of merchandise imports1976: 0.109 % of merchandise imports1977: 0.121 % of merchandise imports2008: 4.7 % of merchandise imports2009: 0.216 % of merchandise imports2010: 0.282 % of merchandise imports2011: 0.274 % of merchandise imports2015: 0.265 % of merchandise imports2016: 0.565 % of merchandise imports2017: 2.4 % of merchandise imports2018: 1.8 % of merchandise imports2019: 1.7 % of merchandise imports

Source: Comtrade database, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Statistics Division. Measured in % of merchandise imports.

Analysis

Afghanistan recorded 1.7% for ores and metals imports in 2019.

Compared with earlier readings it is down 5.4% on the previous year and up 683.0% over ten years.

Over the whole period, ores and metals imports in Afghanistan peaked at 4.7% in 2008 and was at its lowest, 0.0%, in 1962.

That places Afghanistan 86th out of 196 countries with data for 2019, putting it in the middle of the range.

The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.

Ores and metals imports in Afghanistan, year by year

Annual values for Ores and metals imports (% of merchandise imports) in Afghanistan, 1962 to 2019.
Year % of merchandise imports Change
1962 0.0%
1963 0.2% +472.9%
1964 0.2% -28.5%
1965 0.1% -22.6%
1966 0.1% -45.1%
1967 0.1% +24.7%
1968 0.1% -38.5%
1969 0.1% +166.5%
1970 0.1% -24.7%
1971 0.1% -42.8%
1972 0.1% +79.8%
1973 0.3% +136.4%
1974 0.1% -51.2%
1975 0.1% -9.2%
1976 0.1% -5.6%
1977 0.1% +11.5%
2008 4.7% +3805.2%
2009 0.2% -95.4%
2010 0.3% +30.4%
2011 0.3% -3.0%
2015 0.3% -3.0%
2016 0.6% +113.0%
2017 2.4% +331.9%
2018 1.8% -26.7%
2019 1.7% -5.4%

Afghanistan compared with similar countries

  • Afghanistan's 1.7% is above the median for low income countries, which is 1.0%, 1.7× the median. (22 countries reporting)
  • Afghanistan's 1.7% is below the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 2.2%, 78% of the median. (23 countries reporting)

Biggest year-on-year movements

Years where Ores and metals imports in Afghanistan 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.

YearChange FromTo
2008 +3805.2% 0.1% 4.7%
1963 +472.9% 0.0% 0.2%
2017 +331.9% 0.6% 2.4%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1960s 0.1% 0.0% 0.2% 8
1970s 0.1% 0.1% 0.3% 8
2000s 2.5% 0.2% 4.7% 2
2010s 1.0% 0.3% 2.4% 7

Countries ranked near Afghanistan

  1. 83 Lebanon 1.8% compare
  2. 84 Libya 1.7% compare
  3. 85 Colombia 1.7% compare
  4. 87 Georgia 1.7% compare
  5. 88 Hong Kong, China 1.6% compare
  6. 89 Montenegro 1.6% compare

See the full ranking of 243 places →

More energy & mining data for Afghanistan

All data for Afghanistan →

Frequently asked questions

What is ores and metals imports in Afghanistan?
Ores and metals imports in Afghanistan was 1.7% in 2019, according to Comtrade database, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Statistics Division.
What is the highest ores and metals imports recorded in Afghanistan?
The highest recorded value was 4.7% in 2008.
What is the lowest ores and metals imports recorded in Afghanistan?
The lowest recorded value was 0.0% in 1962.
How does Afghanistan rank for ores and metals imports?
Afghanistan ranks 86th out of 196 countries with data for 2019.
Is ores and metals imports rising or falling in Afghanistan?
Over the last ten years it is up 683.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this Afghanistan data come from?
The figures come from Comtrade database, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Statistics Division, published as part of Ores and metals imports (% of merchandise imports). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Ores and metals imports in Afghanistan. Statizoid, drawing on Comtrade database, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Statistics Division. Retrieved 16 September 2026, from https://energy.statizoid.com/stat/ores-and-metals-imports-percent-of-merchandise-imports/afghanistan/

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About this data

Indicator
Ores and metals imports (% of merchandise imports)
Unit
% of merchandise imports
Source
Comtrade database, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Statistics Division
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
243 places, 9,983 data points, 1962–2025
Last refreshed

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). Imports of services are services provided by non-residents to residents. 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.