Merchandise trade (% of GDP) — all countries

Merchandise trade (% of GDP) — Latin America & Caribbean

Merchandise trade (% of GDP) in Latin America & Caribbean in 2025 — 44.2%. Since 1960, the indicator has risen by 21.48 pp.

2025 44.2% +0.77 pp vs 2024
World rank
Period maximum 50.04%2022
Period minimum 18.33%1966

Trend over time

1960–2025 · % of GDP

Merchandise trade (% of GDP) — Latin America & Caribbean, 1960–202510203040506019601967197419811988199520022009201620231960: 22.72%1962: 21.06%1964: 19.12%1966: 18.33%1968: 18.61%1970: 19.95%1972: 18.78%1974: 24.88%1976: 24.36%1978: 23.23%1980: 29.31%1982: 25.67%1984: 26.7%1986: 24.19%1988: 25.99%1990: 24.95%1992: 25.35%1994: 23.25%1996: 26.03%1998: 27.65%2000: 33.28%2002: 35.89%2004: 40.02%2006: 40.46%2008: 40.33%2010: 33.72%2012: 36.94%2014: 36.65%2016: 36.13%2018: 40.35%2020: 41.34%2022: 50.04%2024: 43.43%2025: 44.2%
Change over the period: +21.48 pp Annual average: 0.33 pp

Comparison, 2025

How the value compares with the world and the groups this territory belongs to: Latin America & Caribbean

Latin America & Caribbean 44.2%
World 43.89%
Merchandise trade (% of GDP) — Latin America & Caribbean, by year Latin America & Caribbean All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2025 44.2 +0.77 pp
2024 43.43 +0.53 pp
2023 42.9 −7.14 pp
2022 50.04 +2.09 pp
2021 47.95 +6.62 pp
2020 41.34 +1.43 pp
2019 39.91 −0.45 pp
2018 40.35 +4.43 pp
2017 35.92 −0.21 pp
2016 36.13 −1.5 pp
2015 37.64 +0.99 pp
2014 36.65 −0.4 pp
2013 37.05 +0.11 pp
2012 36.94 +0.34 pp
2011 36.6 +2.88 pp
2010 33.72 +0.89 pp
2009 32.83 −7.5 pp
2008 40.33 +0.77 pp
2007 39.56 −0.9 pp
2006 40.46 +0.57 pp
2005 39.89 −0.14 pp
2004 40.02 +2.45 pp
2003 37.57 +1.68 pp
2002 35.89 +2.9 pp
2001 32.98 −0.3 pp
2000 33.28 +2.16 pp
1999 31.12 +3.48 pp
1998 27.65 +0.28 pp
1997 27.37 +1.34 pp
1996 26.03 +0.92 pp
1995 25.11 +1.86 pp
1994 23.25 +0.07 pp
1993 23.18 −2.17 pp
1992 25.35 +0.8 pp
1991 24.55 −0.41 pp
1990 24.95 −0.88 pp
1989 25.83 −0.16 pp
1988 25.99 +1.06 pp
1987 24.93 +0.74 pp
1986 24.19 −1.87 pp
1985 26.06 −0.64 pp
1984 26.7 +0.65 pp
1983 26.05 +0.38 pp
1982 25.67 −1.99 pp
1981 27.66 −1.65 pp
1980 29.31 +3.09 pp
1979 26.23 +3 pp
1978 23.23 −2.16 pp
1977 25.39 +1.03 pp
1976 24.36 −0.34 pp
1975 24.7 −0.18 pp
1974 24.88 +5.59 pp
1973 19.3 +0.52 pp
1972 18.78 −0.13 pp
1971 18.91 −1.04 pp
1970 19.95 +1.4 pp
1969 18.54 −0.06 pp
1968 18.61 −0.18 pp
1967 18.79 +0.46 pp
1966 18.33 −0.39 pp
1965 18.72 −0.41 pp
1964 19.12 −0.62 pp
1963 19.74 −1.32 pp
1962 21.06 −0.17 pp
1961 21.23 −1.49 pp
1960 22.72

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.