Merchandise trade (% of GDP) — all countries

Merchandise trade (% of GDP) — Botswana

Merchandise trade (% of GDP) in Botswana in 2025 — 57.78%. Ranked 85 in the world out of 189. Since 1960, the indicator has risen by 1.88 pp.

2025 57.78% −3.83 pp vs 2024
World rank 85of 189
Period maximum 128.43%1987
Period minimum 51.67%1961

Trend over time

1960–2025 · % of GDP

Merchandise trade (% of GDP) — Botswana, 1960–202540608010012014019601967197419811988199520022009201620231960: 55.9%1962: 56.11%1964: 60.07%1966: 79.66%1968: 64.91%1970: 86.24%1972: 102.15%1974: 99.66%1976: 101.87%1978: 102.3%1980: 112.55%1982: 112.62%1984: 109.36%1986: 113.1%1988: 100.62%1990: 98.4%1992: 86.89%1994: 82.6%1996: 86.02%1998: 89.95%2000: 82.17%2002: 78.51%2004: 75.29%2006: 76.77%2008: 94.7%2010: 81.9%2012: 100.64%2014: 107.23%2016: 89.57%2018: 75.63%2020: 72.04%2022: 81.06%2024: 61.6%2025: 57.78%
Change over the period: +1.88 pp Annual average: 0.03 pp

Comparison, 2025

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

Botswana 57.78%
World 43.89%
Southern Africa computed 59.28%
Merchandise trade (% of GDP) — Botswana, by year Botswana All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2025 57.78 −3.83 pp
2024 61.6 −1.59 pp
2023 63.2 −17.86 pp
2022 81.06 −3.31 pp
2021 84.37 +12.33 pp
2020 72.04 +1.49 pp
2019 70.56 −5.07 pp
2018 75.63 +6.09 pp
2017 69.54 −20.03 pp
2016 89.57 −10.61 pp
2015 100.17 −7.05 pp
2014 107.23 −6.73 pp
2013 113.95 +13.32 pp
2012 100.64 +13.59 pp
2011 87.05 +5.15 pp
2010 81.9 +1.02 pp
2009 80.88 −13.82 pp
2008 94.7 +7.25 pp
2007 87.45 +10.68 pp
2006 76.77 +0.29 pp
2005 76.48 +1.19 pp
2004 75.29 +5.29 pp
2003 70 −8.51 pp
2002 78.51 −0.17 pp
2001 78.68 −3.49 pp
2000 82.17 −6.12 pp
1999 88.29 −1.66 pp
1998 89.95 −11.64 pp
1997 101.59 +15.57 pp
1996 86.02 +0.34 pp
1995 85.68 +3.08 pp
1994 82.6 −2.76 pp
1993 85.36 −1.54 pp
1992 86.89 −9.38 pp
1991 96.27 −2.13 pp
1990 98.4 −10.46 pp
1989 108.86 +8.24 pp
1988 100.62 −27.81 pp
1987 128.43 +15.34 pp
1986 113.1 −4.23 pp
1985 117.33 +7.97 pp
1984 109.36 −7.51 pp
1983 116.87 +4.25 pp
1982 112.62 +1.42 pp
1981 111.19 −1.35 pp
1980 112.55 −8.08 pp
1979 120.63 +18.33 pp
1978 102.3 −2.21 pp
1977 104.51 +2.64 pp
1976 101.87 +1.08 pp
1975 100.8 +1.14 pp
1974 99.66 −3.16 pp
1973 102.82 +0.66 pp
1972 102.15 +4.07 pp
1971 98.08 +11.84 pp
1970 86.24 +3.51 pp
1969 82.73 +17.82 pp
1968 64.91 −10.12 pp
1967 75.03 −4.63 pp
1966 79.66 −1.14 pp
1965 80.81 +20.73 pp
1964 60.07 −0.31 pp
1963 60.38 +4.27 pp
1962 56.11 +4.44 pp
1961 51.67 −4.23 pp
1960 55.9

Southern Africa, 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.