Merchandise trade (% of GDP) — all countries

Merchandise trade (% of GDP) — Middle East & North Africa

Merchandise trade (% of GDP) in Middle East & North Africa in 2025 — 47.17%. Since 1960, the indicator has risen by 8.44 pp.

2025 47.17% −16.47 pp vs 2024
World rank
Period maximum 72.59%2008
Period minimum 31.66%1986

Trend over time

1960–2025 · % of GDP

Merchandise trade (% of GDP) — Middle East & North Africa, 1960–20252040608019601967197419811988199520022009201620231960: 38.73%1962: 37.78%1964: 41.53%1966: 39.83%1968: 37.43%1970: 38.84%1972: 41.44%1974: 61.01%1976: 57.25%1978: 57.13%1980: 64.28%1982: 56.85%1984: 44.8%1986: 31.66%1988: 41.28%1990: 39.33%1992: 49.72%1994: 49.21%1996: 51.63%1998: 45.68%2000: 51.07%2002: 51.84%2004: 60.97%2006: 66.15%2008: 72.59%2010: 63.32%2012: 66.62%2014: 64.09%2016: 52.14%2018: 57.9%2020: 51.43%2022: 63.17%2024: 63.64%2025: 47.17%
Change over the period: +8.44 pp Annual average: 0.13 pp

Comparison, 2025

How the value compares with the world and the groups this territory belongs to: Middle East & North Africa

Middle East & North Africa 47.17%
World 43.89%
Merchandise trade (% of GDP) — Middle East & North Africa, by year Middle East & North Africa All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2025 47.17 −16.47 pp
2024 63.64 +1.18 pp
2023 62.46 −0.71 pp
2022 63.17 +5.7 pp
2021 57.47 +6.04 pp
2020 51.43 −5.35 pp
2019 56.78 −1.12 pp
2018 57.9 +3.97 pp
2017 53.93 +1.79 pp
2016 52.14 −4.82 pp
2015 56.96 −7.13 pp
2014 64.09 −3.16 pp
2013 67.25 +0.63 pp
2012 66.62 +1.2 pp
2011 65.42 +2.1 pp
2010 63.32 +2.26 pp
2009 61.06 −11.53 pp
2008 72.59 +5.03 pp
2007 67.56 +1.41 pp
2006 66.15 +0.61 pp
2005 65.54 +4.57 pp
2004 60.97 +6.02 pp
2003 54.95 +3.11 pp
2002 51.84 +2.73 pp
2001 49.11 −1.96 pp
2000 51.07 +3.88 pp
1999 47.2 +1.52 pp
1998 45.68 −4.37 pp
1997 50.05 −1.57 pp
1996 51.63 +1.57 pp
1995 50.06 +0.85 pp
1994 49.21 −2.09 pp
1993 51.3 +1.58 pp
1992 49.72 +1.37 pp
1991 48.34 +9.01 pp
1990 39.33 −5.57 pp
1989 44.9 +3.62 pp
1988 41.28 +3.47 pp
1987 37.81 +6.16 pp
1986 31.66 −7.81 pp
1985 39.47 −5.33 pp
1984 44.8 −3.82 pp
1983 48.62 −8.23 pp
1982 56.85 −7.84 pp
1981 64.69 +0.41 pp
1980 64.28 +5.54 pp
1979 58.74 +1.61 pp
1978 57.13 −0.07 pp
1977 57.2 −0.05 pp
1976 57.25 −2.19 pp
1975 59.44 −1.57 pp
1974 61.01 +15.08 pp
1973 45.93 +4.49 pp
1972 41.44 −0.93 pp
1971 42.38 +3.53 pp
1970 38.84 +0.88 pp
1969 37.96 +0.53 pp
1968 37.43 −1.72 pp
1967 39.15 −0.68 pp
1966 39.83 +0.25 pp
1965 39.58 −1.95 pp
1964 41.53 +0.65 pp
1963 40.88 +3.11 pp
1962 37.78 +2.05 pp
1961 35.73 −3 pp
1960 38.73

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.