Merchandise trade (% of GDP) — all countries

Merchandise trade (% of GDP) — Central African Republic

Merchandise trade (% of GDP) in the Central African Republic in 2025 — 27%. Ranked 172 in the world out of 189. Since 1960, the indicator has fallen by 3.31 pp.

2025 27% +3.24 pp vs 2024
World rank 172of 189
Period maximum 44.56%1967
Period minimum 15.83%1991

Trend over time

1960–2025 · % of GDP

Merchandise trade (% of GDP) — Central African Republic, 1960–2025102030405019601967197419811988199520022009201620231960: 30.32%1962: 31.33%1964: 41.54%1966: 41.79%1968: 39.63%1970: 33.84%1972: 31.7%1974: 33.4%1976: 25.71%1978: 21.13%1980: 24.72%1982: 30.74%1984: 27.12%1986: 20.76%1988: 26.17%1990: 19.02%1992: 17.85%1994: 34.07%1996: 28.58%1998: 30.7%2000: 30.32%2002: 26.81%2004: 22.4%2006: 24.69%2008: 22.57%2010: 20.54%2012: 20.96%2014: 26.65%2016: 28.16%2018: 34.67%2020: 27.51%2022: 24.64%2024: 23.77%2025: 27%
Change over the period: −3.31 pp Annual average: -0.05 pp

Comparison, 2025

How the value compares with the world and the groups this territory belongs to: Central African Republic

Central African Republic 27%
World 43.89%
Middle Africa computed 47.3%
Low-income countries computed 39.9%
Merchandise trade (% of GDP) — Central African Republic, by year Central African Republic All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2025 27 +3.24 pp
2024 23.77 +0.06 pp
2023 23.71 −0.92 pp
2022 24.64 +0.48 pp
2021 24.16 −3.35 pp
2020 27.51 −6.75 pp
2019 34.26 −0.41 pp
2018 34.67 +4.37 pp
2017 30.3 +2.14 pp
2016 28.16 +2.69 pp
2015 25.47 −1.18 pp
2014 26.65 +7.2 pp
2013 19.45 −1.51 pp
2012 20.96 +0.45 pp
2011 20.51 −0.03 pp
2010 20.54 +1.67 pp
2009 18.86 −3.71 pp
2008 22.57 −2.55 pp
2007 25.12 +0.43 pp
2006 24.69 +2.05 pp
2005 22.65 +0.25 pp
2004 22.4 +0.86 pp
2003 21.54 −5.27 pp
2002 26.81 +0.11 pp
2001 26.7 −3.63 pp
2000 30.32 +2.61 pp
1999 27.71 −2.99 pp
1998 30.7 −1.72 pp
1997 32.42 +3.84 pp
1996 28.58 −2.44 pp
1995 31.02 −3.05 pp
1994 34.07 +15.69 pp
1993 18.38 +0.53 pp
1992 17.85 +2.02 pp
1991 15.83 −3.19 pp
1990 19.02 −4 pp
1989 23.02 −3.15 pp
1988 26.17 −1.64 pp
1987 27.81 +7.05 pp
1986 20.76 −2.94 pp
1985 23.7 −3.42 pp
1984 27.12 +3.29 pp
1983 23.84 −6.9 pp
1982 30.74 +5.69 pp
1981 25.04 +0.33 pp
1980 24.72 +3.31 pp
1979 21.41 +0.28 pp
1978 21.13 −7.46 pp
1977 28.58 +2.87 pp
1976 25.71 −4.92 pp
1975 30.63 −2.77 pp
1974 33.4 +0.59 pp
1973 32.82 +1.12 pp
1972 31.7 −0.57 pp
1971 32.27 −1.58 pp
1970 33.84 −5.51 pp
1969 39.35 −0.28 pp
1968 39.63 −4.93 pp
1967 44.56 +2.77 pp
1966 41.79 +6.59 pp
1965 35.2 −6.34 pp
1964 41.54 +4.44 pp
1963 37.1 +5.77 pp
1962 31.33 +2.09 pp
1961 29.24 −1.08 pp
1960 30.32

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.