Merchandise trade (% of GDP) — all countries

Merchandise trade (% of GDP) — Kuwait

Merchandise trade (% of GDP) in Kuwait in 2025 — 72.31%. Ranked 58 in the world out of 189. Since 1962, the indicator has fallen by 2.19 pp.

2025 72.31% +1.95 pp vs 2024
World rank 58of 189
Period maximum 103.27%1977
Period minimum 53.12%1991

Trend over time

1962–2025 · % of GDP

Merchandise trade (% of GDP) — Kuwait, 1962–202540608010012019621969197619831990199720042011201820251962: 74.5%1964: 75.93%1966: 75.49%1968: 76.99%1970: 80.66%1972: 85.07%1974: 96.23%1976: 100.31%1978: 96.91%1980: 91.46%1982: 88.73%1984: 85.34%1986: 73.17%1988: 66.72%1990: 59.77%1992: 69.65%1994: 72.27%1996: 73.87%1998: 70.05%2000: 70.5%2002: 63.9%2004: 69.37%2006: 72.14%2008: 76.2%2010: 80.28%2012: 83.98%2014: 81.85%2016: 70.47%2018: 77.75%2020: 61.1%2022: 73.33%2024: 70.36%2025: 72.31%
Change over the period: −2.19 pp Annual average: -0.03 pp

Comparison, 2025

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

Kuwait 72.31%
World 43.89%
Western Asia computed 46.07%
High-income countries computed 44.15%
Merchandise trade (% of GDP) — Kuwait, by year Kuwait All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2025 72.31 +1.95 pp
2024 70.36 −3.05 pp
2023 73.41 +0.09 pp
2022 73.33 +9.28 pp
2021 64.05 +2.94 pp
2020 61.1 −8.51 pp
2019 69.61 −8.14 pp
2018 77.75 +4.35 pp
2017 73.4 +2.93 pp
2016 70.47 −3.79 pp
2015 74.25 −7.6 pp
2014 81.85 −1.06 pp
2013 82.91 −1.07 pp
2012 83.98 +1.41 pp
2011 82.57 +2.29 pp
2010 80.28 +10.54 pp
2009 69.74 −6.46 pp
2008 76.2 +2.87 pp
2007 73.32 +1.19 pp
2006 72.14 −2.95 pp
2005 75.09 +5.72 pp
2004 69.37 +3.22 pp
2003 66.14 +2.24 pp
2002 63.9 −5.09 pp
2001 68.99 −1.51 pp
2000 70.5 +4.83 pp
1999 65.67 −4.38 pp
1998 70.05 −3.99 pp
1997 74.04 +0.17 pp
1996 73.87 −1.81 pp
1995 75.68 +3.41 pp
1994 72.27 +0.07 pp
1993 72.19 +2.54 pp
1992 69.65 +16.53 pp
1991 53.12 −6.64 pp
1990 59.77 −13.32 pp
1989 73.09 +6.37 pp
1988 66.72 +5.22 pp
1987 61.5 −11.67 pp
1986 73.17 −4.25 pp
1985 77.41 −7.93 pp
1984 85.34 −5.11 pp
1983 90.45 +1.71 pp
1982 88.73 −3.14 pp
1981 91.87 +0.42 pp
1980 91.46 −3.92 pp
1979 95.38 −1.54 pp
1978 96.91 −6.36 pp
1977 103.27 +2.96 pp
1976 100.31 +4.06 pp
1975 96.25 +0.02 pp
1974 96.23 +6.31 pp
1973 89.93 +4.86 pp
1972 85.07 +3.66 pp
1971 81.41 +0.75 pp
1970 80.66 +1.72 pp
1969 78.94 +1.95 pp
1968 76.99 −2.8 pp
1967 79.78 +4.3 pp
1966 75.49 −3.72 pp
1965 79.2 +3.27 pp
1964 75.93 −0.88 pp
1963 76.81 +2.3 pp
1962 74.5

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.