Merchandise trade (% of GDP) — all countries

Merchandise trade (% of GDP) — Ghana

Merchandise trade (% of GDP) in Ghana in 2025 — 42.52%. Ranked 127 in the world out of 189. Since 1960, the indicator has fallen by 14 pp.

2025 42.52% +1.03 pp vs 2024
World rank 127of 189
Period maximum 93.2%2000
Period minimum 25.32%1991

Trend over time

1960–2025 · % of GDP

Merchandise trade (% of GDP) — Ghana, 1960–2025025507510019601967197419811988199520022009201620231960: 56.52%1962: 47.38%1964: 38.18%1966: 29.16%1968: 38.39%1970: 39.23%1972: 34.65%1974: 53.86%1976: 61.26%1978: 57.31%1980: 53.7%1982: 39.12%1984: 25.75%1986: 33.28%1988: 36.82%1990: 35.69%1992: 53.32%1994: 64.87%1996: 54.48%1998: 58.25%2000: 93.2%2002: 74.11%2004: 73.46%2006: 50.18%2008: 54.18%2010: 58.64%2012: 75.88%2014: 50.87%2016: 42.85%2018: 41.74%2020: 38.43%2022: 43.15%2024: 41.49%2025: 42.52%
Change over the period: −14 pp Annual average: -0.22 pp

Comparison, 2025

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

Ghana 42.52%
World 43.89%
Western Africa computed 43.23%
Merchandise trade (% of GDP) — Ghana, by year Ghana All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2025 42.52 +1.03 pp
2024 41.49 +3.36 pp
2023 38.13 −5.02 pp
2022 43.15 +7.49 pp
2021 35.66 −2.76 pp
2020 38.43 −4.12 pp
2019 42.54 +0.8 pp
2018 41.74 −2.11 pp
2017 43.85 +1 pp
2016 42.85 −5.26 pp
2015 48.11 −2.76 pp
2014 50.87 +0.99 pp
2013 49.89 −25.99 pp
2012 75.88 +3.11 pp
2011 72.76 +14.12 pp
2010 58.64 +5.34 pp
2009 53.31 −0.87 pp
2008 54.18 +4.82 pp
2007 49.36 −0.82 pp
2006 50.18 −25.66 pp
2005 75.84 +2.39 pp
2004 73.46 +0.95 pp
2003 72.5 −1.61 pp
2002 74.11 −17.52 pp
2001 91.63 −1.57 pp
2000 93.2 +25.83 pp
1999 67.37 +9.13 pp
1998 58.25 +0.77 pp
1997 57.48 +3 pp
1996 54.48 −1.68 pp
1995 56.15 −8.71 pp
1994 64.87 +5.41 pp
1993 59.46 +6.14 pp
1992 53.32 +28 pp
1991 25.32 −10.37 pp
1990 35.69 −7.93 pp
1989 43.62 +6.8 pp
1988 36.82 −5.21 pp
1987 42.03 +8.75 pp
1986 33.28 +0.36 pp
1985 32.92 +7.18 pp
1984 25.75 −33.55 pp
1983 59.3 +20.18 pp
1982 39.12 −12.29 pp
1981 51.42 −2.28 pp
1980 53.7 +7.76 pp
1979 45.94 −11.37 pp
1978 57.31 −7.03 pp
1977 64.34 +3.08 pp
1976 61.26 +4.07 pp
1975 57.19 +3.32 pp
1974 53.86 +16.98 pp
1973 36.88 +2.23 pp
1972 34.65 −3.49 pp
1971 38.14 −1.09 pp
1970 39.23 +4.88 pp
1969 34.35 −4.04 pp
1968 38.39 +3.48 pp
1967 34.91 +5.75 pp
1966 29.16 −8.14 pp
1965 37.3 −0.88 pp
1964 38.18 −5.3 pp
1963 43.48 −3.89 pp
1962 47.38 −8.05 pp
1961 55.42 −1.1 pp
1960 56.52

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.