Developing countries’ and least developed countries’ share of global in Least Developed Countries (LDCs)

Least Developed Countries (LDCs): Developing countries’ and least developed countries’ share of global was 1.4% in 2024. ▲ Rising

Latest (2024)
1.4%
Change on year
up 0.7%
Rank
6th
of 25 regions
All-time high
1.4%
in 2015
All-time low
0.6%
in 2000
Years of data
25
2000–2024

Developing countries’ and least developed countries’ share of global in Least Developed Countries (LDCs), 2000–2024

00.511.52000201220242000: 0.6382001: 0.7112002: 0.7272003: 0.7482004: 0.7252005: 0.7872006: 0.792007: 0.8482008: 0.952009: 1.22010: 1.12011: 1.12012: 1.22013: 1.32014: 1.32015: 1.42016: 1.42017: 1.42018: 1.42019: 1.42020: 1.42021: 1.42022: 1.42023: 1.42024: 1.4

Source: United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.

Analysis

In 2024, developing countries’ and least developed countries’ share of global in Least Developed Countries (LDCs) stood at 1.4%.

That represents a change of up 0.7% on the previous year and up 3.6% over ten years.

Over the whole period, developing countries’ and least developed countries’ share of global in Least Developed Countries (LDCs) peaked at 1.4% in 2015 and was at its lowest, 0.6%, in 2000.

Least Developed Countries (LDCs) ranks 6th of 25 regions on this measure, in the top quarter.

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

Developing countries’ and least developed countries’ share of global in Least Developed Countries (LDCs), year by year

Annual values for Developing countries’ and least developed countries’ share of global merchandise imports (%) in Least Developed Countries (LDCs), 2000 to 2024.
Year Value Change
2000 0.6%
2001 0.7% +11.4%
2002 0.7% +2.3%
2003 0.7% +2.8%
2004 0.7% -3.1%
2005 0.8% +8.6%
2006 0.8% +0.5%
2007 0.8% +7.3%
2008 1.0% +12.1%
2009 1.2% +22.0%
2010 1.1% -8.8%
2011 1.1% +3.2%
2012 1.2% +8.9%
2013 1.3% +6.0%
2014 1.3% +6.5%
2015 1.4% +6.9%
2016 1.4% -5.5%
2017 1.4% +0.6%
2018 1.4% +0.8%
2019 1.4% +2.8%
2020 1.4% -2.2%
2021 1.4% -0.4%
2022 1.4% +1.5%
2023 1.4% -1.3%
2024 1.4% +0.7%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 0.8% 0.6% 1.2% 10
2010s 1.3% 1.1% 1.4% 10
2020s 1.4% 1.4% 1.4% 5

Countries ranked near Least Developed Countries (LDCs)

  1. 3 United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 3.3% compare
  2. 4 Netherlands (Kingdom of the) 3.3% compare
  3. 5 France 3.0% compare
  4. 6 Japan 3.0% compare
  5. 7 India 2.9% compare
  6. 8 Mexico 2.6% compare
  7. 9 Republic of Korea 2.5% compare

See the full ranking of 262 places →

More infrastructure data for Least Developed Countries (LDCs)

All data for Least Developed Countries (LDCs) →

Frequently asked questions

What is developing countries’ and least developed countries’ share of global in Least Developed Countries (LDCs)?
Developing countries’ and least developed countries’ share of global in Least Developed Countries (LDCs) was 1.4% 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 Least Developed Countries (LDCs)?
The highest recorded value was 1.4% in 2015.
What is the lowest developing countries’ and least developed countries’ share of global recorded in Least Developed Countries (LDCs)?
The lowest recorded value was 0.6% in 2000.
How does Least Developed Countries (LDCs) rank for developing countries’ and least developed countries’ share of global?
Least Developed Countries (LDCs) ranks 6th out of 25 regions with data for 2024.
Is developing countries’ and least developed countries’ share of global rising or falling in Least Developed Countries (LDCs)?
Over the last ten years it is up 3.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this Least Developed Countries (LDCs) 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 Least Developed Countries (LDCs). Statizoid, drawing on United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database. Retrieved 23 August 2026, from https://infrastructure.statizoid.com/stat/developing-countries-and-least-developed-countries-share-of-global-merchandise-imports/least-developed-countries-ldcs/

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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