Merchandise trade (% of GDP) — all countries

Merchandise trade (% of GDP) — China

Merchandise trade (% of GDP) in China in 2025 — 32.59%. Ranked 160 in the world out of 189. Since 1960, the indicator has risen by 23.87 pp.

2025 32.59% −0.29 pp vs 2024
World rank 160of 189
Period maximum 63.06%2006
Period minimum 4.91%1971

Trend over time

1960–2025 · % of GDP

Merchandise trade (% of GDP) — China, 1960–202502040608019601967197419811988199520022009201620231960: 8.72%1962: 6.95%1964: 6.62%1966: 6.72%1968: 6.21%1970: 4.94%1972: 5.75%1974: 10.32%1976: 8.82%1978: 14.08%1980: 19.87%1982: 20.25%1984: 20.56%1986: 24.51%1988: 32.85%1990: 31.93%1992: 38.63%1994: 41.74%1996: 33.38%1998: 31.24%2000: 38.76%2002: 41.67%2004: 58.19%2006: 63.06%2008: 54.92%2010: 48.03%2012: 44.58%2014: 40.3%2016: 32.17%2018: 32.67%2020: 31.05%2022: 34.13%2024: 32.88%2025: 32.59%
Change over the period: +23.87 pp Annual average: 0.37 pp

Comparison, 2025

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

China 32.59%
World 43.89%
Eastern Asia computed 41.12%
Merchandise trade (% of GDP) — China, by year China All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2025 32.59 −0.29 pp
2024 32.88 +0.39 pp
2023 32.49 −1.64 pp
2022 34.13 +1.19 pp
2021 32.94 +1.89 pp
2020 31.05 −0.39 pp
2019 31.44 −1.23 pp
2018 32.67 −0.09 pp
2017 32.76 +0.59 pp
2016 32.17 −2.87 pp
2015 35.04 −5.25 pp
2014 40.3 −2.39 pp
2013 42.69 −1.9 pp
2012 44.58 −2.89 pp
2011 47.47 −0.55 pp
2010 48.03 +5.49 pp
2009 42.54 −12.38 pp
2008 54.92 −5.47 pp
2007 60.39 −2.67 pp
2006 63.06 +1.71 pp
2005 61.35 +3.17 pp
2004 58.19 +7.65 pp
2003 50.54 +8.87 pp
2002 41.67 +4.06 pp
2001 37.61 −1.15 pp
2000 38.76 +6.09 pp
1999 32.67 +1.44 pp
1998 31.24 −2.36 pp
1997 33.6 +0.22 pp
1996 33.38 −4.67 pp
1995 38.05 −3.69 pp
1994 41.74 −2.09 pp
1993 43.82 +5.2 pp
1992 38.63 +3.34 pp
1991 35.29 +3.36 pp
1990 31.93 −0.13 pp
1989 32.06 −0.79 pp
1988 32.85 +2.62 pp
1987 30.23 +5.72 pp
1986 24.51 +2.06 pp
1985 22.45 +1.89 pp
1984 20.56 +1.69 pp
1983 18.87 −1.38 pp
1982 20.25 −2.19 pp
1981 22.43 +2.57 pp
1980 19.87 +3.49 pp
1979 16.37 +2.29 pp
1978 14.08 +5.71 pp
1977 8.37 −0.45 pp
1976 8.82 −0.72 pp
1975 9.54 −0.78 pp
1974 10.32 +2.33 pp
1973 7.99 +2.24 pp
1972 5.75 +0.83 pp
1971 4.91 −0.03 pp
1970 4.94 −0.5 pp
1969 5.44 −0.77 pp
1968 6.21 −0.03 pp
1967 6.24 −0.48 pp
1966 6.72 −0.1 pp
1965 6.81 +0.2 pp
1964 6.62 −0.23 pp
1963 6.85 −0.09 pp
1962 6.95 −0.41 pp
1961 7.35 −1.37 pp
1960 8.72

Eastern Asia, 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.