Merchandise trade (% of GDP) — all countries

Merchandise trade (% of GDP) — El Salvador

Merchandise trade (% of GDP) in El Salvador in 2025 — 66.14%. Ranked 68 in the world out of 189. Since 1965, the indicator has risen by 21.7 pp.

2025 66.14% +2.73 pp vs 2024
World rank 68of 189
Period maximum 80.39%2008
Period minimum 37.94%1989

Trend over time

1965–2025 · % of GDP

Merchandise trade (% of GDP) — El Salvador, 1965–202520406080100196519711977198319891995200120072013201920251965: 44.43%1967: 44.15%1969: 39.07%1971: 40.22%1973: 50.54%1975: 60.77%1977: 64.62%1979: 65.25%1981: 51.87%1983: 46.37%1985: 43.15%1987: 40.05%1989: 37.94%1991: 40.06%1993: 47.56%1995: 55.83%1997: 60.21%1999: 58.53%2001: 64.25%2003: 67.06%2005: 68.77%2007: 75.45%2009: 63.58%2011: 75.3%2013: 73.95%2015: 67.42%2017: 65.38%2019: 65.13%2021: 72.35%2023: 65.98%2025: 66.14%
Change over the period: +21.7 pp Annual average: 0.36 pp

Comparison, 2025

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

El Salvador 66.14%
World 43.89%
Central America computed 69.64%
Merchandise trade (% of GDP) — El Salvador, by year El Salvador All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2025 66.14 +2.73 pp
2024 63.4 −2.58 pp
2023 65.98 −10.03 pp
2022 76.01 +3.66 pp
2021 72.35 +13.39 pp
2020 58.96 −6.17 pp
2019 65.13 −1.62 pp
2018 66.75 +1.37 pp
2017 65.38 +2.36 pp
2016 63.02 −4.4 pp
2015 67.42 −2.58 pp
2014 70 −3.95 pp
2013 73.95 +1.02 pp
2012 72.93 −2.37 pp
2011 75.3 +5.29 pp
2010 70.01 +6.43 pp
2009 63.58 −16.81 pp
2008 80.39 +4.93 pp
2007 75.45 +4.4 pp
2006 71.06 +2.29 pp
2005 68.77 −1.42 pp
2004 70.19 +3.13 pp
2003 67.06 +2.47 pp
2002 64.59 +0.35 pp
2001 64.25 −2.69 pp
2000 66.93 +8.4 pp
1999 58.53 −0.11 pp
1998 58.65 −1.57 pp
1997 60.21 +7.93 pp
1996 52.28 −3.55 pp
1995 55.83 +6.4 pp
1994 49.43 +1.87 pp
1993 47.56 +1.96 pp
1992 45.6 +5.54 pp
1991 40.06 +1.76 pp
1990 38.3 +0.35 pp
1989 37.94 −0.62 pp
1988 38.57 −1.48 pp
1987 40.05 −4.76 pp
1986 44.81 +1.65 pp
1985 43.15 −3.11 pp
1984 46.26 −0.11 pp
1983 46.37 +0.6 pp
1982 45.78 −6.1 pp
1981 51.87 −2.21 pp
1980 54.09 −11.16 pp
1979 65.25 +5.27 pp
1978 59.98 −4.65 pp
1977 64.62 +1.14 pp
1976 63.48 +2.71 pp
1975 60.77 −0.76 pp
1974 61.53 +10.99 pp
1973 50.54 +7.42 pp
1972 43.13 +2.91 pp
1971 40.22 +1.11 pp
1970 39.1 +0.03 pp
1969 39.07 −3.22 pp
1968 42.29 −1.86 pp
1967 44.15 +0.04 pp
1966 44.11 −0.32 pp
1965 44.43

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.