Merchandise trade (% of GDP) — all countries

Merchandise trade (% of GDP) — Belgium

Merchandise trade (% of GDP) in Belgium in 2025 — 152.43%. Ranked 7 in the world out of 189. Since 1999, the indicator has risen by 19.24 pp.

2025 152.43% −8.62 pp vs 2024
World rank 7of 189
Period maximum 213.59%2022
Period minimum 133.19%1999

Trend over time

1999–2025 · % of GDP

Merchandise trade (% of GDP) — Belgium, 1999–202512515017520022519992002200520082011201420172020202320251999: 133.19%2000: 154.52%2001: 155.87%2002: 160.4%2003: 154.22%2004: 160.47%2005: 169.32%2006: 175.96%2007: 178.91%2008: 181.34%2009: 149.17%2010: 165.89%2011: 178.8%2012: 177.58%2013: 175.62%2014: 172.1%2015: 167.53%2016: 163.94%2017: 167.47%2018: 170.17%2019: 163.17%2020: 154.56%2021: 180.13%2022: 213.59%2023: 175.71%2024: 161.04%2025: 152.43%
Change over the period: +19.24 pp Annual average: 0.74 pp

Comparison, 2025

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

Belgium 152.43%
World 43.89%
Western Europe computed 76.24%
High-income countries computed 44.15%
Merchandise trade (% of GDP) — Belgium, by year Belgium All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2025 152.43 −8.62 pp
2024 161.04 −14.67 pp
2023 175.71 −37.88 pp
2022 213.59 +33.46 pp
2021 180.13 +25.56 pp
2020 154.56 −8.61 pp
2019 163.17 −7 pp
2018 170.17 +2.7 pp
2017 167.47 +3.52 pp
2016 163.94 −3.58 pp
2015 167.53 −4.58 pp
2014 172.1 −3.52 pp
2013 175.62 −1.95 pp
2012 177.58 −1.22 pp
2011 178.8 +12.9 pp
2010 165.89 +16.72 pp
2009 149.17 −32.18 pp
2008 181.34 +2.44 pp
2007 178.91 +2.94 pp
2006 175.96 +6.64 pp
2005 169.32 +8.85 pp
2004 160.47 +6.25 pp
2003 154.22 −6.17 pp
2002 160.4 +4.53 pp
2001 155.87 +1.35 pp
2000 154.52 +21.32 pp
1999 133.19

Western Europe, 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.