Merchandise trade (% of GDP) — all countries

Merchandise trade (% of GDP) — Benin

Merchandise trade (% of GDP) in Benin in 2025 — 36.39%. Ranked 148 in the world out of 189. Since 1960, the indicator has risen by 14.72 pp.

2025 36.39% −4.85 pp vs 2024
World rank 148of 189
Period maximum 54.12%2018
Period minimum 14.19%1966

Trend over time

1960–2025 · % of GDP

Merchandise trade (% of GDP) — Benin, 1960–2025020406019601967197419811988199520022009201620231960: 21.66%1962: 16.07%1964: 16.31%1966: 14.19%1968: 22.06%1970: 29.07%1972: 31.19%1974: 32.63%1976: 34.94%1978: 36.39%1980: 28.04%1982: 38.49%1984: 43.29%1986: 43.04%1988: 49%1990: 28.21%1992: 53.85%1994: 51.87%1996: 50.06%1998: 46.56%2000: 28.55%2002: 27.97%2004: 23.63%2006: 27.92%2008: 36.48%2010: 34.99%2012: 33.95%2014: 48.09%2016: 39.3%2018: 54.12%2020: 41.76%2022: 49.54%2024: 41.24%2025: 36.39%
Change over the period: +14.72 pp Annual average: 0.23 pp

Comparison, 2025

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

Benin 36.39%
World 43.89%
Western Africa computed 43.23%
Merchandise trade (% of GDP) — Benin, by year Benin All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2025 36.39 −4.85 pp
2024 41.24 −6.04 pp
2023 47.28 −2.26 pp
2022 49.54 +3.47 pp
2021 46.08 +4.32 pp
2020 41.76 −6.77 pp
2019 48.53 −5.59 pp
2018 54.12 +9.17 pp
2017 44.95 +5.65 pp
2016 39.3 +2.04 pp
2015 37.26 −10.83 pp
2014 48.09 +8.21 pp
2013 39.88 +5.93 pp
2012 33.95 +0.85 pp
2011 33.1 −1.89 pp
2010 34.99 +1.21 pp
2009 33.77 −2.71 pp
2008 36.48 −1.27 pp
2007 37.75 +9.83 pp
2006 27.92 +3.62 pp
2005 24.3 +0.67 pp
2004 23.63 −3.15 pp
2003 26.79 −1.18 pp
2002 27.97 +0.77 pp
2001 27.19 −1.36 pp
2000 28.55 −3.29 pp
1999 31.84 −14.71 pp
1998 46.56 −2.16 pp
1997 48.71 −1.35 pp
1996 50.06 −3.68 pp
1995 53.74 +1.87 pp
1994 51.87 +9.89 pp
1993 41.99 −11.87 pp
1992 53.85 +25.11 pp
1991 28.74 +0.53 pp
1990 28.21 −14.32 pp
1989 42.53 −6.47 pp
1988 49 +10.03 pp
1987 38.98 −4.06 pp
1986 43.04 −7.65 pp
1985 50.68 +7.4 pp
1984 43.29 +8.14 pp
1983 35.15 −3.34 pp
1982 38.49 −6.2 pp
1981 44.69 +16.65 pp
1980 28.04 −2.82 pp
1979 30.85 −5.54 pp
1978 36.39 −3.47 pp
1977 39.86 +4.93 pp
1976 34.94 +2.43 pp
1975 32.5 −0.13 pp
1974 32.63 +1.9 pp
1973 30.73 −0.46 pp
1972 31.19 −4.32 pp
1971 35.51 +6.44 pp
1970 29.07 +4.28 pp
1969 24.79 +2.73 pp
1968 22.06 +1.49 pp
1967 20.57 +6.38 pp
1966 14.19 −2.36 pp
1965 16.56 +0.25 pp
1964 16.31 −1.81 pp
1963 18.12 +2.04 pp
1962 16.07 −0.9 pp
1961 16.97 −4.69 pp
1960 21.66

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.