Merchandise trade (% of GDP) — all countries

Merchandise trade (% of GDP) — European Union

Merchandise trade (% of GDP) in the European Union in 2025 — 70.94%. Since 1960, the indicator has risen by 43.54 pp.

2025 70.94% −1.28 pp vs 2024
World rank
Period maximum 86.23%2022
Period minimum 26.17%1962

Trend over time

1960–2025 · % of GDP

Merchandise trade (% of GDP) — European Union, 1960–2025025507510019601967197419811988199520022009201620231960: 27.4%1962: 26.17%1964: 26.81%1966: 27.5%1968: 28.48%1970: 31.57%1972: 31.51%1974: 40.32%1976: 39.3%1978: 37.95%1980: 41.82%1982: 43.4%1984: 45.6%1986: 40.32%1988: 39.91%1990: 40.44%1992: 37.93%1994: 40.69%1996: 43.74%1998: 48.57%2000: 59.69%2002: 56.88%2004: 58.83%2006: 65.24%2008: 67.71%2010: 64.91%2012: 71.29%2014: 69.79%2016: 68.57%2018: 72.98%2020: 68.56%2022: 86.23%2024: 72.22%2025: 70.94%
Change over the period: +43.54 pp Annual average: 0.67 pp

Comparison, 2025

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

European Union 70.94%
World 43.89%
Merchandise trade (% of GDP) — European Union, by year European Union All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2025 70.94 −1.28 pp
2024 72.22 −4.38 pp
2023 76.6 −9.63 pp
2022 86.23 +11.14 pp
2021 75.1 +6.53 pp
2020 68.56 −3.36 pp
2019 71.92 −1.07 pp
2018 72.98 +1.52 pp
2017 71.47 +2.9 pp
2016 68.57 −1.28 pp
2015 69.85 +0.05 pp
2014 69.79 −0.31 pp
2013 70.11 −1.19 pp
2012 71.29 +1.1 pp
2011 70.2 +5.29 pp
2010 64.91 +7.96 pp
2009 56.95 −10.75 pp
2008 67.71 +1.02 pp
2007 66.69 +1.45 pp
2006 65.24 +3.79 pp
2005 61.44 +2.62 pp
2004 58.83 +2.62 pp
2003 56.21 −0.67 pp
2002 56.88 −1.86 pp
2001 58.74 −0.95 pp
2000 59.69 +7.72 pp
1999 51.97 +3.4 pp
1998 48.57 +1.5 pp
1997 47.08 +3.33 pp
1996 43.74 +0.53 pp
1995 43.21 +2.52 pp
1994 40.69 +3.02 pp
1993 37.67 −0.25 pp
1992 37.93 −1.34 pp
1991 39.26 −1.18 pp
1990 40.44 −1.53 pp
1989 41.97 +2.06 pp
1988 39.91 +0.35 pp
1987 39.56 −0.76 pp
1986 40.32 −6.03 pp
1985 46.35 +0.75 pp
1984 45.6 +2.53 pp
1983 43.06 −0.34 pp
1982 43.4 −0.34 pp
1981 43.75 +1.93 pp
1980 41.82 +1.62 pp
1979 40.21 +2.25 pp
1978 37.95 −1.27 pp
1977 39.23 −0.08 pp
1976 39.3 +2.71 pp
1975 36.59 −3.72 pp
1974 40.32 +6.54 pp
1973 33.78 +2.26 pp
1972 31.51 +0.14 pp
1971 31.37 −0.2 pp
1970 31.57 +1.29 pp
1969 30.28 +1.8 pp
1968 28.48 +1.44 pp
1967 27.04 −0.46 pp
1966 27.5 +0.24 pp
1965 27.26 +0.45 pp
1964 26.81 +0.43 pp
1963 26.39 +0.21 pp
1962 26.17 −0.59 pp
1961 26.76 −0.64 pp
1960 27.4

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.