Merchandise trade (% of GDP) — all countries

Merchandise trade (% of GDP) — Democratic Republic of the Congo

Merchandise trade (% of GDP) in the Democratic Republic of the Congo in 2025 — 66.13%. Ranked 69 in the world out of 189. Since 1960, the indicator has risen by 44.85 pp.

2025 66.13% −8.49 pp vs 2024
World rank 69of 189
Period maximum 76.25%2023
Period minimum 7.33%1978

Trend over time

1960–2025 · % of GDP

Merchandise trade (% of GDP) — Democratic Republic of the Congo, 1960–202502040608019601967197419811988199520022009201620231960: 21.28%1962: 11.3%1964: 14.05%1966: 11.65%1968: 17.21%1970: 19.68%1972: 15.32%1974: 18.03%1976: 12.11%1978: 7.33%1980: 26.31%1982: 21.23%1984: 39.5%1986: 38.63%1988: 45.93%1990: 43.48%1992: 26.51%1994: 33.04%1996: 45.67%1998: 40.59%2000: 7.81%2002: 25.36%2004: 38.53%2006: 36.15%2008: 38.29%2010: 40.56%2012: 41.29%2014: 39.12%2016: 32.86%2018: 59.87%2020: 45.34%2022: 38.45%2024: 74.62%2025: 66.13%
Change over the period: +44.85 pp Annual average: 0.69 pp

Comparison, 2025

How the value compares with the world and the groups this territory belongs to: Democratic Republic of the Congo

Democratic Republic of the Congo 66.13%
World 43.89%
Middle Africa computed 47.3%
Low-income countries computed 39.9%
Merchandise trade (% of GDP) — Democratic Republic of the Congo, by year Democratic Republic of the Congo All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2025 66.13 −8.49 pp
2024 74.62 −1.63 pp
2023 76.25 +37.8 pp
2022 38.45 −10.01 pp
2021 48.46 +3.13 pp
2020 45.34 −2.07 pp
2019 47.4 −12.46 pp
2018 59.87 +11.65 pp
2017 48.22 +15.35 pp
2016 32.86 −8.83 pp
2015 41.7 +2.58 pp
2014 39.12 +3.29 pp
2013 35.83 −5.47 pp
2012 41.29 −4.55 pp
2011 45.85 +5.29 pp
2010 40.56 +0.79 pp
2009 39.77 +1.48 pp
2008 38.29 +2.91 pp
2007 35.37 −0.77 pp
2006 36.15 −4.24 pp
2005 40.39 +1.86 pp
2004 38.53 +6.39 pp
2003 32.15 +6.79 pp
2002 25.36 +2.9 pp
2001 22.45 +14.65 pp
2000 7.81 −21.42 pp
1999 29.23 −11.37 pp
1998 40.59 +4.16 pp
1997 36.43 −9.24 pp
1996 45.67 +2.54 pp
1995 43.13 +10.09 pp
1994 33.04 +16.62 pp
1993 16.42 −10.09 pp
1992 26.51 −4.17 pp
1991 30.68 −12.8 pp
1990 43.48 −4.65 pp
1989 48.13 +2.2 pp
1988 45.93 −0.89 pp
1987 46.82 +8.19 pp
1986 38.63 −4.46 pp
1985 43.09 +3.58 pp
1984 39.5 +13.16 pp
1983 26.34 +5.11 pp
1982 21.23 −3.49 pp
1981 24.72 −1.6 pp
1980 26.31 +14.95 pp
1979 11.37 +4.04 pp
1978 7.33 −2.32 pp
1977 9.66 −2.45 pp
1976 12.11 +0.73 pp
1975 11.38 −6.65 pp
1974 18.03 +1.97 pp
1973 16.06 +0.74 pp
1972 15.32 −0.58 pp
1971 15.91 −3.77 pp
1970 19.68 +3.55 pp
1969 16.14 −1.08 pp
1968 17.21 +1.73 pp
1967 15.48 +3.84 pp
1966 11.65 +1.68 pp
1965 9.97 −4.09 pp
1964 14.05 +4.56 pp
1963 9.5 −1.8 pp
1962 11.3 −4.9 pp
1961 16.2 −5.09 pp
1960 21.28

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.