Merchandise trade (% of GDP) — all countries

Merchandise trade (% of GDP) — Costa Rica

Merchandise trade (% of GDP) in Costa Rica in 2025 — 52.39%. Ranked 99 in the world out of 189. Since 1960, the indicator has risen by 14.17 pp.

2025 52.39% +2.58 pp vs 2024
World rank 99of 189
Period maximum 91.32%1999
Period minimum 38.23%1960

Trend over time

1960–2025 · % of GDP

Merchandise trade (% of GDP) — Costa Rica, 1960–20252040608010019601967197419811988199520022009201620231960: 38.23%1962: 42.99%1964: 46.63%1966: 48.66%1968: 49.75%1970: 55.64%1972: 52.82%1974: 69.61%1976: 56.5%1978: 57.65%1980: 52.61%1982: 67.48%1984: 57.37%1986: 51.35%1988: 57.56%1990: 60.19%1992: 49.91%1994: 63.56%1996: 69.23%1998: 85.97%2000: 81.52%2002: 75.11%2004: 78.28%2006: 86.94%2008: 80.76%2010: 61.12%2012: 61.45%2014: 55.29%2016: 43.87%2018: 47.6%2020: 43.4%2022: 55.33%2024: 49.81%2025: 52.39%
Change over the period: +14.17 pp Annual average: 0.22 pp

Comparison, 2025

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

Costa Rica 52.39%
World 43.89%
Central America computed 69.64%
Merchandise trade (% of GDP) — Costa Rica, by year Costa Rica All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2025 52.39 +2.58 pp
2024 49.81 +0.6 pp
2023 49.21 −6.12 pp
2022 55.33 +0.1 pp
2021 55.23 +11.82 pp
2020 43.4 −2.06 pp
2019 45.46 −2.14 pp
2018 47.6 +2.05 pp
2017 45.55 +1.68 pp
2016 43.87 −1.65 pp
2015 45.52 −9.76 pp
2014 55.29 −2.82 pp
2013 58.11 −3.34 pp
2012 61.45 −0.82 pp
2011 62.27 +1.15 pp
2010 61.12 −4.51 pp
2009 65.63 −15.13 pp
2008 80.76 −2.14 pp
2007 82.91 −4.03 pp
2006 86.94 +2.86 pp
2005 84.08 +5.8 pp
2004 78.28 −1.41 pp
2003 79.7 +4.59 pp
2002 75.11 +2.56 pp
2001 72.55 −8.97 pp
2000 81.52 −9.8 pp
1999 91.32 +5.34 pp
1998 85.97 +12.21 pp
1997 73.76 +4.53 pp
1996 69.23 +3.89 pp
1995 65.34 +1.79 pp
1994 63.56 −0.65 pp
1993 64.2 +14.3 pp
1992 49.91 +1.75 pp
1991 48.16 −12.03 pp
1990 60.19 +0.55 pp
1989 59.65 +2.09 pp
1988 57.56 +1.5 pp
1987 56.06 +4.71 pp
1986 51.35 −1.57 pp
1985 52.92 −4.45 pp
1984 57.37 −1.77 pp
1983 59.14 −8.34 pp
1982 67.48 −17.01 pp
1981 84.5 +31.88 pp
1980 52.61 −5.15 pp
1979 57.76 +0.12 pp
1978 57.65 −2.53 pp
1977 60.18 +3.68 pp
1976 56.5 −4.04 pp
1975 60.53 −9.07 pp
1974 69.61 +17.28 pp
1973 52.32 −0.49 pp
1972 52.82 −0.57 pp
1971 53.38 −2.26 pp
1970 55.64 +4.69 pp
1969 50.96 +1.21 pp
1968 49.75 +1.86 pp
1967 47.89 −0.77 pp
1966 48.66 −0.24 pp
1965 48.91 +2.28 pp
1964 46.63 +3.85 pp
1963 42.78 −0.21 pp
1962 42.99 +4.04 pp
1961 38.95 +0.73 pp
1960 38.23

Central America, 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.