Developing countries’ and least developed countries’ share of global in Europe

Europe: Developing countries’ and least developed countries’ share of global was 35.0% in 2024. ▼ Falling

Latest (2024)
35.0%
Change on year
down 3.6%
Rank
3rd
of 35 regions
All-time high
43.7%
in 2003
All-time low
35.0%
in 2024
Years of data
25
2000–2024

Developing countries’ and least developed countries’ share of global in Europe, 2000–2024

0102030402000201220242000: 40.72001: 41.92002: 42.32003: 43.72004: 43.22005: 42.12006: 42.32007: 43.22008: 42.52009: 41.52010: 38.62011: 38.22012: 36.22013: 36.12014: 362015: 35.12016: 36.52017: 36.32018: 36.32019: 36.32020: 36.62021: 35.92022: 362023: 36.32024: 35

Source: United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.

Analysis

In 2024, developing countries’ and least developed countries’ share of global in Europe stood at 35.0%. That is the lowest value across all 25 years on record.

The figure is down 3.6% on the previous year and down 2.8% over ten years.

Over the whole period, developing countries’ and least developed countries’ share of global in Europe peaked at 43.7% in 2003 and was at its lowest, 35.0%, in 2024.

Europe ranks 3rd of 35 regions on this measure, in the top 10%.

The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 25 years of available data.

Developing countries’ and least developed countries’ share of global in Europe, year by year

Annual values for Developing countries’ and least developed countries’ share of global merchandise imports (%) in Europe, 2000 to 2024.
Year Value Change
2000 40.7%
2001 41.9% +3.0%
2002 42.3% +0.9%
2003 43.7% +3.3%
2004 43.2% -1.1%
2005 42.1% -2.5%
2006 42.3% +0.4%
2007 43.2% +2.0%
2008 42.5% -1.6%
2009 41.5% -2.3%
2010 38.6% -6.9%
2011 38.2% -1.2%
2012 36.2% -5.0%
2013 36.1% -0.4%
2014 36.0% -0.2%
2015 35.1% -2.4%
2016 36.5% +3.8%
2017 36.3% -0.3%
2018 36.3% -0.0%
2019 36.3% +0.0%
2020 36.6% +0.9%
2021 35.9% -2.0%
2022 36.0% +0.3%
2023 36.3% +0.8%
2024 35.0% -3.6%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 42.3% 40.7% 43.7% 10
2010s 36.6% 35.1% 38.6% 10
2020s 36.0% 35.0% 36.6% 5

Countries ranked near Europe

  1. 1 China 10.4% compare
  2. 2 Germany 5.7% compare
  3. 3 United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 3.3% compare
  4. 4 Netherlands (Kingdom of the) 3.3% compare
  5. 5 France 3.0% compare
  6. 6 Japan 3.0% compare

See the full ranking of 262 places →

More infrastructure data for Europe

All data for Europe →

Frequently asked questions

What is developing countries’ and least developed countries’ share of global in Europe?
Developing countries’ and least developed countries’ share of global in Europe was 35.0% in 2024, according to United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
What is the highest developing countries’ and least developed countries’ share of global recorded in Europe?
The highest recorded value was 43.7% in 2003.
What is the lowest developing countries’ and least developed countries’ share of global recorded in Europe?
The lowest recorded value was 35.0% in 2024.
How does Europe rank for developing countries’ and least developed countries’ share of global?
Europe ranks 3rd out of 35 regions with data for 2024.
Is developing countries’ and least developed countries’ share of global rising or falling in Europe?
Over the last ten years it is down 2.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
Where does this Europe data come from?
The figures come from United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database, published as part of Developing countries’ and least developed countries’ share of global merchandise imports (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Developing countries’ and least developed countries’ share of global in Europe. Statizoid, drawing on United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database. Retrieved 25 August 2026, from https://infrastructure.statizoid.com/stat/developing-countries-and-least-developed-countries-share-of-global-merchandise-imports/europe/

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About this data

Indicator
Developing countries’ and least developed countries’ share of global merchandise imports (%)
Source
United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database
Licence
UN SDG Global Database (open, attribution requested)
Coverage
262 places, 6,425 data points, 2000–2024
Last refreshed