Merchandise trade (% of GDP) — all countries

Merchandise trade (% of GDP) — Nepal

Merchandise trade (% of GDP) in Nepal in 2025 — 36.73%. Ranked 147 in the world out of 189. Since 1960, the indicator has risen by 25.91 pp.

2025 36.73% +5.25 pp vs 2024
World rank 147of 189
Period maximum 47.6%2021
Period minimum 4.89%1961

Trend over time

1960–2025 · % of GDP

Merchandise trade (% of GDP) — Nepal, 1960–2025020406019601967197419811988199520022009201620231960: 10.82%1962: 5.23%1964: 28.42%1966: 13.89%1968: 13.6%1970: 13.51%1972: 13.96%1974: 16.42%1976: 17.97%1978: 19.45%1980: 21.69%1982: 20.16%1984: 21.08%1986: 21.12%1988: 24.92%1990: 24.15%1992: 33.66%1994: 37.3%1996: 39.43%1998: 35.42%2000: 43.26%2002: 32.84%2004: 37.26%2006: 36.82%2008: 36.1%2010: 37.43%2012: 32.15%2014: 37.3%2016: 39.27%2018: 40.77%2020: 32.04%2022: 36.5%2024: 31.48%2025: 36.73%
Change over the period: +25.91 pp Annual average: 0.4 pp

Comparison, 2025

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

Nepal 36.73%
World 43.89%
South Asia 30.04%
Southern Asia computed 30.86%
Merchandise trade (% of GDP) — Nepal, by year Nepal All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2025 36.73 +5.25 pp
2024 31.48 −0.58 pp
2023 32.06 −4.43 pp
2022 36.5 −11.1 pp
2021 47.6 +15.56 pp
2020 32.04 −6.89 pp
2019 38.93 −1.84 pp
2018 40.77 +2.5 pp
2017 38.27 −1 pp
2016 39.27 +9.01 pp
2015 30.27 −7.03 pp
2014 37.3 +3.68 pp
2013 33.62 +1.47 pp
2012 32.15 +1.12 pp
2011 31.02 −6.4 pp
2010 37.43 −3.08 pp
2009 40.51 +4.4 pp
2008 36.1 −2.54 pp
2007 38.64 +1.82 pp
2006 36.82 −1.87 pp
2005 38.69 +1.44 pp
2004 37.26 −0.91 pp
2003 38.16 +5.33 pp
2002 32.84 −3.95 pp
2001 36.79 −6.47 pp
2000 43.26 +3.05 pp
1999 40.21 +4.79 pp
1998 35.42 −7.26 pp
1997 42.67 +3.24 pp
1996 39.43 +1.31 pp
1995 38.13 +0.82 pp
1994 37.3 +2.49 pp
1993 34.81 +1.14 pp
1992 33.66 +8.32 pp
1991 25.35 +1.2 pp
1990 24.15 +3.13 pp
1989 21.02 −3.9 pp
1988 24.92 +0.51 pp
1987 24.41 +3.3 pp
1986 21.12 −2.28 pp
1985 23.4 +2.32 pp
1984 21.08 −1.69 pp
1983 22.76 +2.6 pp
1982 20.16 −2.25 pp
1981 22.41 +0.73 pp
1980 21.69 +2.08 pp
1979 19.61 +0.16 pp
1978 19.45 +1.44 pp
1977 18.01 +0.05 pp
1976 17.97 +0.7 pp
1975 17.26 +0.84 pp
1974 16.42 −0.76 pp
1973 17.18 +3.22 pp
1972 13.96 −1.1 pp
1971 15.07 +1.56 pp
1970 13.51 −4.11 pp
1969 17.63 +4.03 pp
1968 13.6 +0.41 pp
1967 13.18 −0.71 pp
1966 13.89 −8.55 pp
1965 22.44 −5.98 pp
1964 28.42 +4.88 pp
1963 23.54 +18.32 pp
1962 5.23 +0.34 pp
1961 4.89 −5.93 pp
1960 10.82

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.