Merchandise trade (% of GDP) — all countries

Merchandise trade (% of GDP) — Bulgaria

Merchandise trade (% of GDP) in Bulgaria in 2025 — 83.51%. Ranked 42 in the world out of 189. Since 1980, the indicator has fallen by 16.59 pp.

2025 83.51% −7.26 pp vs 2024
World rank 42of 189
Period maximum 153.4%1985
Period minimum 48.87%1990

Trend over time

1980–2025 · % of GDP

Merchandise trade (% of GDP) — Bulgaria, 1980–202505010015020019801985199019952000200520102015202020251980: 100.1%1981: 107.2%1982: 116.04%1983: 144.05%1984: 146.92%1985: 153.4%1986: 144.81%1987: 112.6%1988: 147.76%1989: 144.39%1990: 48.87%1991: 98.97%1992: 90.32%1993: 78.29%1994: 88.47%1995: 58%1996: 81.05%1997: 87.22%1998: 61.53%1999: 69.34%2000: 86.03%2001: 87.4%2002: 83.44%2003: 87.08%2004: 93.22%2005: 100.11%2006: 111.49%2007: 109.1%2008: 108.79%2009: 76.61%2010: 91.03%2011: 105.38%2012: 109.39%2013: 114.44%2014: 111.93%2015: 107.5%2016: 102.92%2017: 110.9%2018: 108.13%2019: 103.64%2020: 95.06%2021: 103.54%2022: 119.19%2023: 99.42%2024: 90.77%2025: 83.51%
Change over the period: −16.59 pp Annual average: -0.37 pp

Comparison, 2025

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

Bulgaria 83.51%
World 43.89%
Eastern Europe computed 61.84%
Merchandise trade (% of GDP) — Bulgaria, by year Bulgaria All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2025 83.51 −7.26 pp
2024 90.77 −8.65 pp
2023 99.42 −19.77 pp
2022 119.19 +15.65 pp
2021 103.54 +8.48 pp
2020 95.06 −8.57 pp
2019 103.64 −4.49 pp
2018 108.13 −2.78 pp
2017 110.9 +7.99 pp
2016 102.92 −4.58 pp
2015 107.5 −4.43 pp
2014 111.93 −2.5 pp
2013 114.44 +5.05 pp
2012 109.39 +4 pp
2011 105.38 +14.36 pp
2010 91.03 +14.42 pp
2009 76.61 −32.18 pp
2008 108.79 −0.32 pp
2007 109.1 −2.39 pp
2006 111.49 +11.39 pp
2005 100.11 +6.89 pp
2004 93.22 +6.14 pp
2003 87.08 +3.64 pp
2002 83.44 −3.96 pp
2001 87.4 +1.37 pp
2000 86.03 +16.69 pp
1999 69.34 +7.81 pp
1998 61.53 −25.69 pp
1997 87.22 +6.17 pp
1996 81.05 +23.05 pp
1995 58 −30.48 pp
1994 88.47 +10.19 pp
1993 78.29 −12.03 pp
1992 90.32 −8.65 pp
1991 98.97 +50.09 pp
1990 48.87 −95.52 pp
1989 144.39 −3.37 pp
1988 147.76 +35.17 pp
1987 112.6 −32.21 pp
1986 144.81 −8.59 pp
1985 153.4 +6.48 pp
1984 146.92 +2.87 pp
1983 144.05 +28.01 pp
1982 116.04 +8.84 pp
1981 107.2 +7.1 pp
1980 100.1

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.