Merchandise trade (% of GDP) — all countries

Merchandise trade (% of GDP) — East Asia & Pacific

Merchandise trade (% of GDP) in East Asia & Pacific in 2025 — 50.62%. Since 1960, the indicator has risen by 30.98 pp.

2025 50.62% +1.6 pp vs 2024
World rank
Period maximum 60.09%2008
Period minimum 18.89%1967

Trend over time

1960–2025 · % of GDP

Merchandise trade (% of GDP) — East Asia & Pacific, 1960–202502040608019601967197419811988199520022009201620231960: 19.64%1962: 19.32%1964: 19.06%1966: 18.92%1968: 19.19%1970: 19.72%1972: 19.34%1974: 28.52%1976: 27.08%1978: 24.8%1980: 33.93%1982: 32.88%1984: 32.97%1986: 25.79%1988: 27.27%1990: 30.45%1992: 30.01%1994: 30.4%1996: 34.3%1998: 36.78%2000: 39.68%2002: 41.27%2004: 49.6%2006: 58.31%2008: 60.09%2010: 53.33%2012: 53.05%2014: 52.51%2016: 43.74%2018: 46.64%2020: 43.01%2022: 51.67%2024: 49.02%2025: 50.62%
Change over the period: +30.98 pp Annual average: 0.48 pp

Comparison, 2025

How the value compares with the world and the groups this territory belongs to: East Asia & Pacific

East Asia & Pacific 50.62%
World 43.89%
Merchandise trade (% of GDP) — East Asia & Pacific, by year East Asia & Pacific All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2025 50.62 +1.6 pp
2024 49.02 +1.19 pp
2023 47.82 −3.84 pp
2022 51.67 +4.22 pp
2021 47.44 +4.43 pp
2020 43.01 −1.38 pp
2019 44.4 −2.25 pp
2018 46.64 +0.55 pp
2017 46.1 +2.36 pp
2016 43.74 −3.46 pp
2015 47.2 −5.32 pp
2014 52.51 −1.24 pp
2013 53.75 +0.7 pp
2012 53.05 −1.86 pp
2011 54.91 +1.58 pp
2010 53.33 +5.84 pp
2009 47.48 −12.6 pp
2008 60.09 +0.22 pp
2007 59.86 +1.55 pp
2006 58.31 +4.91 pp
2005 53.4 +3.81 pp
2004 49.6 +5.03 pp
2003 44.56 +3.29 pp
2002 41.27 +2.14 pp
2001 39.13 −0.55 pp
2000 39.68 +4.11 pp
1999 35.57 −1.21 pp
1998 36.78 −0.35 pp
1997 37.13 +2.83 pp
1996 34.3 +2.14 pp
1995 32.17 +1.77 pp
1994 30.4 +1.1 pp
1993 29.3 −0.71 pp
1992 30.01 +0.08 pp
1991 29.93 −0.52 pp
1990 30.45 +1.4 pp
1989 29.05 +1.79 pp
1988 27.27 +0.73 pp
1987 26.53 +0.74 pp
1986 25.79 −5.51 pp
1985 31.3 −1.67 pp
1984 32.97 +1.6 pp
1983 31.37 −1.5 pp
1982 32.88 −0.72 pp
1981 33.6 −0.33 pp
1980 33.93 +5.26 pp
1979 28.68 +3.88 pp
1978 24.8 −1.37 pp
1977 26.17 −0.9 pp
1976 27.08 +1.61 pp
1975 25.47 −3.05 pp
1974 28.52 +6.64 pp
1973 21.88 +2.53 pp
1972 19.34 −0.71 pp
1971 20.05 +0.34 pp
1970 19.72 +0.43 pp
1969 19.29 +0.1 pp
1968 19.19 +0.3 pp
1967 18.89 −0.02 pp
1966 18.92 −0.21 pp
1965 19.12 +0.06 pp
1964 19.06 −0.41 pp
1963 19.47 +0.15 pp
1962 19.32 −0.35 pp
1961 19.67 +0.03 pp
1960 19.64

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.