Merchandise trade (% of GDP) — all countries

Merchandise trade (% of GDP) — Afghanistan

Merchandise trade (% of GDP) in Afghanistan in 2025 — 22.24%. Ranked 184 in the world out of 189. Since 2000, the indicator has fallen by 15.04 pp.

2025 22.24% −2.48 pp vs 2024
World rank 184of 189
Period maximum 66.71%2002
Period minimum 22.24%2025

Trend over time

2000–2025 · % of GDP

Merchandise trade (% of GDP) — Afghanistan, 2000–20250204060802000200320062009201220152018202120242000: 37.29%2001: 62.7%2002: 66.71%2003: 49.66%2004: 47.5%2005: 46.02%2006: 45.33%2007: 35.66%2008: 35.22%2009: 30.11%2010: 34.95%2011: 38.7%2012: 47.71%2013: 45.02%2014: 40.49%2015: 43.35%2016: 39.36%2017: 41.53%2018: 45.88%2019: 40.64%2020: 36.66%2021: 41.58%2022: 33.43%2023: 27.19%2024: 24.73%2025: 22.24%
Change over the period: −15.04 pp Annual average: -0.6 pp

Comparison, 2025

How the value compares with the world and the groups this territory belongs to: Afghanistan

Afghanistan 22.24%
World 43.89%
South Asia 30.04%
Southern Asia computed 30.86%
Low-income countries computed 39.9%
Merchandise trade (% of GDP) — Afghanistan, by year Afghanistan All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2025 22.24 −2.48 pp
2024 24.73 −2.47 pp
2023 27.19 −6.24 pp
2022 33.43 −8.15 pp
2021 41.58 +4.93 pp
2020 36.66 −3.99 pp
2019 40.64 −5.23 pp
2018 45.88 +4.35 pp
2017 41.53 +2.17 pp
2016 39.36 −3.99 pp
2015 43.35 +2.86 pp
2014 40.49 −4.53 pp
2013 45.02 −2.7 pp
2012 47.71 +9.01 pp
2011 38.7 +3.75 pp
2010 34.95 +4.84 pp
2009 30.11 −5.1 pp
2008 35.22 −0.44 pp
2007 35.66 −9.67 pp
2006 45.33 −0.7 pp
2005 46.02 −1.48 pp
2004 47.5 −2.15 pp
2003 49.66 −17.05 pp
2002 66.71 +4.01 pp
2001 62.7 +25.41 pp
2000 37.29

Southern Asia, 2025

The same indicator for neighboring countries — with links to their pages

About the indicator

The sum of exports and imports of goods as a percent of GDP. It differs from trade openness in that services are not counted here, and the difference between the two indicators is exactly what shows the weight of services in a country's foreign trade. The highest values come not from large exporters but from transshipment economies — Singapore, Hong Kong, Luxembourg — where goods are brought in to be sent out again, and both flows are counted in full.

Important: Goods only. The value can exceed 100% of GDP: exports and imports are counted at the full value of the goods while GDP is counted as value added, so in transshipment economies the values run to several hundred percent.

Source: World Development Indicators (World Bank), license CC BY 4.0.