Merchandise trade (% of GDP) — all countries

Merchandise trade (% of GDP) — Iran

Merchandise trade (% of GDP) in Iran in 2025 — 49.32%. Ranked 104 in the world out of 189. Since 1960, the indicator has risen by 20.83 pp.

2025 49.32% +11.01 pp vs 2024
World rank 104of 189
Period maximum 61.98%1993
Period minimum 8.46%1986

Trend over time

1960–2025 · % of GDP

Merchandise trade (% of GDP) — Iran, 1960–202502040608019601967197419811988199520022009201620231960: 28.48%1962: 28.83%1964: 35.78%1966: 33%1968: 37.86%1970: 37.03%1972: 24.53%1974: 29.94%1976: 32.08%1978: 28.35%1980: 26.05%1982: 25.73%1984: 20%1986: 8.46%1988: 16.38%1990: 31.75%1992: 38.18%1994: 46.22%1996: 32.11%1998: 24.88%2000: 38.91%2002: 37.98%2004: 39.24%2006: 44.35%2008: 42.13%2010: 34.23%2012: 25.72%2014: 32.51%2016: 24.23%2018: 37.09%2020: 30.5%2022: 37.06%2024: 38.31%2025: 49.32%
Change over the period: +20.83 pp Annual average: 0.32 pp

Comparison, 2025

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

Iran 49.32%
World 43.89%
Southern Asia computed 30.86%
Merchandise trade (% of GDP) — Iran, by year Iran All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2025 49.32 +11.01 pp
2024 38.31 +2.64 pp
2023 35.67 −1.39 pp
2022 37.06 +7.42 pp
2021 29.64 −0.86 pp
2020 30.5 −0.41 pp
2019 30.91 −6.18 pp
2018 37.09 +9.21 pp
2017 27.88 +3.65 pp
2016 24.23 −3.92 pp
2015 28.16 −4.35 pp
2014 32.51 +5.06 pp
2013 27.45 +1.73 pp
2012 25.72 −5.08 pp
2011 30.8 −3.43 pp
2010 34.23 +2.93 pp
2009 31.3 −10.83 pp
2008 42.13 +3.91 pp
2007 38.22 −6.12 pp
2006 44.35 +1.54 pp
2005 42.8 +3.56 pp
2004 39.24 +0.7 pp
2003 38.54 +0.56 pp
2002 37.98 +4.57 pp
2001 33.42 −5.49 pp
2000 38.91 +8.73 pp
1999 30.18 +5.29 pp
1998 24.88 −3.71 pp
1997 28.6 −3.52 pp
1996 32.11 −1.33 pp
1995 33.44 −12.78 pp
1994 46.22 −15.75 pp
1993 61.98 +23.8 pp
1992 38.18 +2.79 pp
1991 35.39 +3.64 pp
1990 31.75 +8.62 pp
1989 23.13 +6.75 pp
1988 16.38 +0.35 pp
1987 16.03 +7.57 pp
1986 8.46 −5.86 pp
1985 14.32 −5.68 pp
1984 20 −5.47 pp
1983 25.47 −0.26 pp
1982 25.73 −0.66 pp
1981 26.39 +0.34 pp
1980 26.05 +6.09 pp
1979 19.97 −8.38 pp
1978 28.35 −0.54 pp
1977 28.89 −3.18 pp
1976 32.08 −3.28 pp
1975 35.36 +5.42 pp
1974 29.94 +7.56 pp
1973 22.38 −2.15 pp
1972 24.53 −16.96 pp
1971 41.49 +4.45 pp
1970 37.03 −0.19 pp
1969 37.23 −0.64 pp
1968 37.86 −2.48 pp
1967 40.34 +7.34 pp
1966 33 −1.91 pp
1965 34.92 −0.86 pp
1964 35.78 +6.5 pp
1963 29.28 +0.45 pp
1962 28.83 −1.92 pp
1961 30.74 +2.26 pp
1960 28.48

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.