Goods (excluding arms) admitted free of tariffs from least developed in United States
United States: Goods (excluding arms) admitted free of tariffs from least developed was 61.3% in 2014. ▲ Rising
Goods (excluding arms) admitted free of tariffs from least developed in United States, 1996–2014
Source: United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, World Trade Organization, and International Trade Center. Data are available online at: www.mdg-trade.org. Measured in % total merchandise imports excluding arms.
Analysis
In 2014, goods (excluding arms) admitted free of tariffs from least developed in United States stood at 61.3%.
That represents a change of down 11.1% on the previous year and down 14.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, goods (excluding arms) admitted free of tariffs from least developed in United States peaked at 83.8% in 2008 and was at its lowest, 20.9%, in 1997.
That places United States 33rd out of 33 countries with data for 2014, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 19 years of available data.
Goods (excluding arms) admitted free of tariffs from least developed in United States, year by year
| Year | % total merchandise imports excluding arms | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1996 | 21.2% | — |
| 1997 | 20.9% | -1.3% |
| 1998 | 57.7% | +175.6% |
| 1999 | 53.4% | -7.4% |
| 2000 | 54.0% | +1.0% |
| 2001 | 49.9% | -7.6% |
| 2002 | 61.7% | +23.7% |
| 2003 | 67.2% | +8.9% |
| 2004 | 71.9% | +7.0% |
| 2005 | 78.7% | +9.5% |
| 2006 | 79.5% | +1.1% |
| 2007 | 78.9% | -0.8% |
| 2008 | 83.8% | +6.2% |
| 2009 | 75.8% | -9.6% |
| 2010 | 75.2% | -0.8% |
| 2011 | 76.2% | +1.3% |
| 2012 | 73.3% | -3.7% |
| 2013 | 68.9% | -6.0% |
| 2014 | 61.3% | -11.1% |
United States compared with similar countries
- United States's 61.3% is below the median for high income countries, which is 99.0%, 62% of the median. (33 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Goods (excluding arms) admitted free of tariffs from least developed in United States 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 | +175.6% | 20.9% | 57.7% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 38.3% | 20.9% | 57.7% | 4 |
| 2000s | 70.1% | 49.9% | 83.8% | 10 |
| 2010s | 71.0% | 61.3% | 76.2% | 5 |
More development goals data for United States
- Red List Index 0.8221 index (2025)
- Number of refugees per 100,000 population, by country of origin 0.4084 per 100,000 people (2025)
- Manufacturing value added per capita 6,933 constant US$ (2025)
- Number of transboundary breeds 197 (2025)
- Number of transboundary breeds (not extinct) 195 (2025)
- Number of transboundary breeds with unknown risk status 102 (2025)
- Number of local breeds with unknown risk status 61 (2025)
- Number of local breeds (not extinct) 89 (2025)
- Number of local breeds kept in the country 96 (2025)
- Infant deaths 20,024 (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is goods (excluding arms) admitted free of tariffs from least developed in United States?
- Goods (excluding arms) admitted free of tariffs from least developed in United States was 61.3% in 2014, according to United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, World Trade Organization, and International Trade Center. Data are available online at: www.mdg-trade.org.
- What is the highest goods (excluding arms) admitted free of tariffs from least developed recorded in United States?
- The highest recorded value was 83.8% in 2008.
- What is the lowest goods (excluding arms) admitted free of tariffs from least developed recorded in United States?
- The lowest recorded value was 20.9% in 1997.
- How does United States rank for goods (excluding arms) admitted free of tariffs from least developed?
- United States ranks 33rd out of 33 countries with data for 2014.
- Is goods (excluding arms) admitted free of tariffs from least developed rising or falling in United States?
- Over the last ten years it is down 14.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this United States data come from?
- The figures come from United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, World Trade Organization, and International Trade Center. Data are available online at: www.mdg-trade.org, published as part of Goods (excluding arms) admitted free of tariffs from least developed countries (% total merchandise imports excluding arms). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
It is the proportion of duty free imports (excluding arms) into developed countries from developing and least developed countries. For the purpose of calculating this indicator, Japan in Asia, Canada and the United States in North America, Australia and New Zealand in Oceania and Iceland, Norway, Switzerland and the EU (25 countries included since 2004) in Europe are considered “developed” regions or areas, following the common accepted practice used for MDG indicators. Developing countries are those not listed as developed or transition countries. The list of least developed countries (LDCs) has been agreed by the General Assembly, on the recommendation of the Committee for Development Policy, Economic and Social Council.