Merchandise trade (% of GDP) — all countries

Merchandise trade (% of GDP) — Ethiopia

Merchandise trade (% of GDP) in Ethiopia in 2025 — 24.21%. Ranked 178 in the world out of 189. Since 1960, the indicator has risen by 13.91 pp.

2025 24.21% +8.14 pp vs 2024
World rank 178of 189
Period maximum 40.9%2006
Period minimum 4.79%1991

Trend over time

1960–2025 · % of GDP

Merchandise trade (% of GDP) — Ethiopia, 1960–2025020406019601967197419811988199520022009201620231960: 10.31%1962: 10.53%1964: 11.49%1966: 11.74%1968: 10.65%1970: 9.65%1972: 10.11%1974: 12.06%1976: 12.78%1978: 12.65%1980: 16.27%1982: 15%1984: 16.38%1986: 15.42%1988: 13.93%1990: 11.05%1992: 9.37%1994: 19.79%1996: 20.75%1998: 25.93%2000: 21.18%2002: 26.42%2004: 35.06%2006: 40.9%2008: 36.5%2010: 36.52%2012: 35.29%2014: 33.5%2016: 28.07%2018: 21.61%2020: 16.59%2022: 18.38%2024: 16.08%2025: 24.21%
Change over the period: +13.91 pp Annual average: 0.21 pp

Comparison, 2025

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

Ethiopia 24.21%
World 43.89%
Eastern Africa computed 37.9%
Low-income countries computed 39.9%
Merchandise trade (% of GDP) — Ethiopia, by year Ethiopia All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2025 24.21 +8.14 pp
2024 16.08 +0.83 pp
2023 15.25 −3.13 pp
2022 18.38 +0.11 pp
2021 18.27 +1.67 pp
2020 16.59 −2.24 pp
2019 18.83 −2.78 pp
2018 21.61 −2.99 pp
2017 24.6 −3.47 pp
2016 28.07 −3.52 pp
2015 31.59 −1.92 pp
2014 33.5 +1.93 pp
2013 31.58 −3.71 pp
2012 35.29 −1.55 pp
2011 36.84 +0.32 pp
2010 36.52 +7.89 pp
2009 28.63 −7.87 pp
2008 36.5 +0.54 pp
2007 35.96 −4.95 pp
2006 40.9 +0.6 pp
2005 40.3 +5.24 pp
2004 35.06 −1.84 pp
2003 36.9 +10.48 pp
2002 26.42 −1.11 pp
2001 27.53 +6.35 pp
2000 21.18 −4.22 pp
1999 25.4 −0.53 pp
1998 25.93 +6.62 pp
1997 19.31 −1.44 pp
1996 20.75 +0.8 pp
1995 19.95 +0.16 pp
1994 19.79 +8.89 pp
1993 10.89 +1.52 pp
1992 9.37 +4.58 pp
1991 4.79 −6.26 pp
1990 11.05 −0.92 pp
1989 11.97 −1.96 pp
1988 13.93 +0.76 pp
1987 13.17 −2.25 pp
1986 15.42 +1.78 pp
1985 13.65 −2.73 pp
1984 16.38 +1.82 pp
1983 14.55 −0.45 pp
1982 15 +0.1 pp
1981 14.9 −1.37 pp
1980 16.27 +1.31 pp
1979 14.96 +2.3 pp
1978 12.65 +0.53 pp
1977 12.12 −0.66 pp
1976 12.78 +0.7 pp
1975 12.08 +0.02 pp
1974 12.06 +0.93 pp
1973 11.13 +1.02 pp
1972 10.11 +0.37 pp
1971 9.74 +0.08 pp
1970 9.65 −0.24 pp
1969 9.9 −0.75 pp
1968 10.65 +0.74 pp
1967 9.91 −1.83 pp
1966 11.74 −0.57 pp
1965 12.31 +0.82 pp
1964 11.49 +0.48 pp
1963 11.01 +0.48 pp
1962 10.53 +0.36 pp
1961 10.17 −0.13 pp
1960 10.31

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.