Ores and metals imports in Least developed countries

Least developed countries: Ores and metals imports was 1.6% in 2019. ▲ Rising

Latest (2019)
1.6%
Change on year
down 36.2%
Rank
42nd
of 47 groups
All-time high
2.5%
in 2017
All-time low
1.3%
in 2002
Years of data
16
2001–2019

Ores and metals imports in Least developed countries, 2001–2019

01232001201020192001: 1.5 % of merchandise imports2002: 1.3 % of merchandise imports2003: 1.5 % of merchandise imports2007: 1.7 % of merchandise imports2008: 2.3 % of merchandise imports2009: 1.9 % of merchandise imports2010: 2 % of merchandise imports2011: 2.4 % of merchandise imports2012: 2.4 % of merchandise imports2013: 2.1 % of merchandise imports2014: 2.4 % of merchandise imports2015: 1.9 % of merchandise imports2016: 2 % of merchandise imports2017: 2.5 % of merchandise imports2018: 2.5 % of merchandise imports2019: 1.6 % of merchandise imports

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

Analysis

In 2019, ores and metals imports in Least developed countries stood at 1.6%.

The figure is down 36.2% on the previous year and down 16.7% over ten years.

Over the whole period, ores and metals imports in Least developed countries peaked at 2.5% in 2017 and was at its lowest, 1.3%, in 2002.

Least developed countries ranks 42nd of 47 groups on this measure, in the bottom quarter.

The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 16 years of available data.

Ores and metals imports in Least developed countries, year by year

Annual values for Ores and metals imports (% of merchandise imports) in Least developed countries, 2001 to 2019.
Year % of merchandise imports Change
2001 1.5%
2002 1.3% -8.3%
2003 1.5% +12.5%
2007 1.7% +15.5%
2008 2.3% +30.4%
2009 1.9% -15.8%
2010 2.0% +3.1%
2011 2.4% +24.1%
2012 2.4% -1.3%
2013 2.1% -11.0%
2014 2.4% +10.9%
2015 1.9% -18.1%
2016 2.0% +2.9%
2017 2.5% +27.1%
2018 2.5% -2.1%
2019 1.6% -36.2%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 1.7% 1.3% 2.3% 6
2010s 2.2% 1.6% 2.5% 10

Countries ranked near Least developed countries

  1. 39 Belarus 3.5% compare
  2. 40 Iraq 3.4% compare
  3. 41 United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 3.3% compare
  4. 42 New Caledonia 3.3% compare
  5. 43 Argentina 3.3% compare
  6. 44 Slovenia 3.3% compare
  7. 45 Canada 3.2% compare

See the full ranking of 243 places →

More energy & mining data for Least developed countries

All data for Least developed countries →

Frequently asked questions

What is ores and metals imports in Least developed countries?
Ores and metals imports in Least developed countries was 1.6% in 2019, according to Comtrade database, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Statistics Division.
What is the highest ores and metals imports recorded in Least developed countries?
The highest recorded value was 2.5% in 2017.
What is the lowest ores and metals imports recorded in Least developed countries?
The lowest recorded value was 1.3% in 2002.
How does Least developed countries rank for ores and metals imports?
Least developed countries ranks 42nd out of 47 groups with data for 2019.
Is ores and metals imports rising or falling in Least developed countries?
Over the last ten years it is down 16.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this Least developed countries 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 Least developed countries. Statizoid, drawing on Comtrade database, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Statistics Division. Retrieved 13 September 2026, from https://energy.statizoid.com/stat/ores-and-metals-imports-percent-of-merchandise-imports/least-developed-countries-un-classification/

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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.