Merchandise trade (% of GDP) — all countries

Merchandise trade (% of GDP) — Iceland

Merchandise trade (% of GDP) in Iceland in 2025 — 46.94%. Ranked 112 in the world out of 189. Since 1960, the indicator has fallen by 18.2 pp.

2025 46.94% −3.52 pp vs 2024
World rank 112of 189
Period maximum 66.18%2011
Period minimum 39.69%1967

Trend over time

1960–2025 · % of GDP

Merchandise trade (% of GDP) — Iceland, 1960–2025304050607019601967197419811988199520022009201620231960: 65.14%1962: 57.8%1964: 53.05%1966: 45.26%1968: 42.94%1970: 55.77%1972: 48.33%1974: 54.14%1976: 50.24%1978: 50.62%1980: 54.78%1982: 49.09%1984: 53.3%1986: 53.72%1988: 47.8%1990: 48.87%1992: 43.83%1994: 46.8%1996: 51.25%1998: 51.09%2000: 49.12%2002: 47.83%2004: 46.42%2006: 54.27%2008: 63.5%2010: 61.22%2012: 65.82%2014: 57.77%2016: 47.93%2018: 49.61%2020: 46.65%2022: 58.2%2024: 50.46%2025: 46.94%
Change over the period: −18.2 pp Annual average: -0.28 pp

Comparison, 2025

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

Iceland 46.94%
World 43.89%
Northern Europe computed 47.62%
High-income countries computed 44.15%
Merchandise trade (% of GDP) — Iceland, by year Iceland All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2025 46.94 −3.52 pp
2024 50.46 −0.8 pp
2023 51.26 −6.94 pp
2022 58.2 +5.58 pp
2021 52.62 +5.97 pp
2020 46.65 −0.54 pp
2019 47.19 −2.42 pp
2018 49.61 +2.35 pp
2017 47.26 −0.67 pp
2016 47.93 −8.74 pp
2015 56.67 −1.1 pp
2014 57.77 −3.9 pp
2013 61.67 −4.15 pp
2012 65.82 −0.36 pp
2011 66.18 +4.96 pp
2010 61.22 +3.24 pp
2009 57.98 −5.51 pp
2008 63.5 +11.03 pp
2007 52.46 −1.8 pp
2006 54.27 +7.2 pp
2005 47.07 +0.65 pp
2004 46.42 +1.39 pp
2003 45.03 −2.8 pp
2002 47.83 −3.68 pp
2001 51.52 +2.39 pp
2000 49.12 −0.5 pp
1999 49.63 −1.46 pp
1998 51.09 +0.95 pp
1997 50.14 −1.11 pp
1996 51.25 +2.96 pp
1995 48.29 +1.48 pp
1994 46.8 +4.23 pp
1993 42.57 −1.26 pp
1992 43.83 −2.44 pp
1991 46.27 −2.6 pp
1990 48.87 +1.42 pp
1989 47.45 −0.35 pp
1988 47.8 −4.1 pp
1987 51.9 −1.82 pp
1986 53.72 −1.98 pp
1985 55.69 +2.4 pp
1984 53.3 −1.13 pp
1983 54.43 +5.34 pp
1982 49.09 −3.97 pp
1981 53.06 −1.72 pp
1980 54.78 +0.7 pp
1979 54.08 +3.45 pp
1978 50.62 +1.75 pp
1977 48.87 −1.37 pp
1976 50.24 −4.02 pp
1975 54.26 +0.12 pp
1974 54.14 −0.18 pp
1973 54.32 +5.99 pp
1972 48.33 −3.57 pp
1971 51.9 −3.87 pp
1970 55.77 +2.74 pp
1969 53.02 +10.08 pp
1968 42.94 +3.25 pp
1967 39.69 −5.57 pp
1966 45.26 −3.09 pp
1965 48.35 −4.7 pp
1964 53.05 −4.06 pp
1963 57.1 −0.7 pp
1962 57.8 −1.07 pp
1961 58.87 −6.27 pp
1960 65.14

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.