Merchandise trade (% of GDP) — all countries

Merchandise trade (% of GDP) — Japan

Merchandise trade (% of GDP) in Japan in 2025 — 33.68%. Ranked 154 in the world out of 189. Since 1960, the indicator has risen by 16.03 pp.

2025 33.68% −0.94 pp vs 2024
World rank 154of 189
Period maximum 37.02%2022
Period minimum 13.04%1993

Trend over time

1960–2025 · % of GDP

Merchandise trade (% of GDP) — Japan, 1960–20251020304019601967197419811988199520022009201620231960: 17.65%1962: 15.9%1964: 16.36%1966: 16.72%1968: 16.2%1970: 17.22%1972: 15.96%1974: 23.47%1976: 21.62%1978: 16.85%1980: 23.56%1982: 22.81%1984: 22.26%1986: 15.63%1988: 14.17%1990: 16.08%1992: 14.1%1994: 13.17%1996: 15.14%1998: 16.1%2000: 17.03%2002: 17.76%2004: 20.65%2006: 26.37%2008: 29.92%2010: 25.19%2012: 26.59%2014: 30.13%2016: 24.51%2018: 28.84%2020: 24.6%2022: 37.02%2024: 34.62%2025: 33.68%
Change over the period: +16.03 pp Annual average: 0.25 pp

Comparison, 2025

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

Japan 33.68%
World 43.89%
Eastern Asia computed 41.12%
High-income countries computed 44.15%
Merchandise trade (% of GDP) — Japan, by year Japan All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2025 33.68 −0.94 pp
2024 34.62 +0.31 pp
2023 34.31 −2.71 pp
2022 37.02 +7.84 pp
2021 29.18 +4.58 pp
2020 24.6 −2.59 pp
2019 27.19 −1.65 pp
2018 28.84 +1.64 pp
2017 27.2 +2.69 pp
2016 24.51 −3.56 pp
2015 28.07 −2.06 pp
2014 30.13 +0.77 pp
2013 29.37 +2.77 pp
2012 26.59 −0.14 pp
2011 26.73 +1.54 pp
2010 25.19 +3.96 pp
2009 21.22 −8.7 pp
2008 29.92 +1.02 pp
2007 28.9 +2.53 pp
2006 26.37 +3.59 pp
2005 22.78 +2.14 pp
2004 20.65 +1.96 pp
2003 18.69 +0.93 pp
2002 17.76 +0.8 pp
2001 16.95 −0.08 pp
2000 17.03 +1.51 pp
1999 15.52 −0.59 pp
1998 16.1 −0.48 pp
1997 16.59 +1.45 pp
1996 15.14 +1.32 pp
1995 13.81 +0.64 pp
1994 13.17 +0.14 pp
1993 13.04 −1.07 pp
1992 14.1 −0.71 pp
1991 14.81 −1.26 pp
1990 16.08 +0.84 pp
1989 15.23 +1.06 pp
1988 14.17 −0.34 pp
1987 14.51 −1.12 pp
1986 15.63 −5.49 pp
1985 21.11 −1.14 pp
1984 22.26 +1.19 pp
1983 21.07 −1.74 pp
1982 22.81 −0.34 pp
1981 23.15 −0.41 pp
1980 23.56 +4.29 pp
1979 19.27 +2.43 pp
1978 16.85 −3.41 pp
1977 20.25 −1.37 pp
1976 21.62 +0.73 pp
1975 20.89 −2.57 pp
1974 23.47 +6.74 pp
1973 16.73 +0.77 pp
1972 15.96 −1.49 pp
1971 17.45 +0.22 pp
1970 17.22 +0.74 pp
1969 16.48 +0.28 pp
1968 16.2 −0.14 pp
1967 16.34 −0.38 pp
1966 16.72 −0 pp
1965 16.72 +0.37 pp
1964 16.36 +0.31 pp
1963 16.05 +0.15 pp
1962 15.9 −1.28 pp
1961 17.18 −0.47 pp
1960 17.65

Eastern Asia, 2025

The same indicator for neighboring countries — with links to their pages

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.