Merchandise trade (% of GDP) — all countries

Merchandise trade (% of GDP) — Nicaragua

Merchandise trade (% of GDP) in Nicaragua in 2025 — 95.9%. Ranked 28 in the world out of 189. Since 1960, the indicator has risen by 36.49 pp.

2025 95.9% −0.52 pp vs 2024
World rank 28of 189
Period maximum 119.01%2022
Period minimum 28.56%1987

Trend over time

1960–2025 · % of GDP

Merchandise trade (% of GDP) — Nicaragua, 1960–202505010015019601967197419811988199520022009201620231960: 59.41%1962: 67.96%1964: 75.48%1966: 53.36%1968: 50.08%1970: 48.55%1972: 53.15%1974: 61.98%1976: 58.47%1978: 58.37%1980: 62.4%1982: 48.16%1984: 39.58%1986: 38.26%1988: 39.45%1990: 95.89%1992: 60.13%1994: 31.11%1996: 37.6%1998: 44.55%2000: 52.51%2002: 52.97%2004: 66.05%2006: 78.89%2008: 85.47%2010: 91.83%2012: 108.85%2014: 101.61%2016: 79.85%2018: 94.93%2020: 90.08%2022: 119.01%2024: 96.41%2025: 95.9%
Change over the period: +36.49 pp Annual average: 0.56 pp

Comparison, 2025

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

Nicaragua 95.9%
World 43.89%
Central America computed 69.64%
Merchandise trade (% of GDP) — Nicaragua, by year Nicaragua All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2025 95.9 −0.52 pp
2024 96.41 −6.33 pp
2023 102.74 −16.27 pp
2022 119.01 +1.76 pp
2021 117.26 +27.18 pp
2020 90.08 −5.27 pp
2019 95.35 +0.42 pp
2018 94.93 +1.52 pp
2017 93.41 +13.56 pp
2016 79.85 −13.43 pp
2015 93.28 −8.34 pp
2014 101.61 −2.93 pp
2013 104.54 −4.31 pp
2012 108.85 +1.55 pp
2011 107.3 +15.47 pp
2010 91.83 +15.67 pp
2009 76.16 −9.31 pp
2008 85.47 +2.28 pp
2007 83.18 +4.29 pp
2006 78.89 +5.96 pp
2005 72.93 +6.88 pp
2004 66.05 +8.12 pp
2003 57.93 +4.96 pp
2002 52.97 +2.52 pp
2001 50.45 −2.06 pp
2000 52.51 +2.94 pp
1999 49.57 +5.02 pp
1998 44.55 −1.62 pp
1997 46.17 +8.57 pp
1996 37.6 +2.8 pp
1995 34.8 +3.69 pp
1994 31.11 −26.44 pp
1993 57.56 −2.57 pp
1992 60.13 −8.58 pp
1991 68.71 −27.18 pp
1990 95.89 +4.5 pp
1989 91.39 +51.94 pp
1988 39.45 +10.89 pp
1987 28.56 −9.69 pp
1986 38.26 −8.92 pp
1985 47.17 +7.59 pp
1984 39.58 −6 pp
1983 45.58 −2.57 pp
1982 48.16 −12.74 pp
1981 60.9 −1.5 pp
1980 62.4 +3.26 pp
1979 59.13 +0.76 pp
1978 58.37 −4.45 pp
1977 62.82 +4.35 pp
1976 58.47 +2.07 pp
1975 56.4 −5.58 pp
1974 61.98 +6.63 pp
1973 55.36 +2.2 pp
1972 53.15 +5.24 pp
1971 47.91 −0.64 pp
1970 48.55 +3.75 pp
1969 44.8 −5.28 pp
1968 50.08 −4.09 pp
1967 54.17 +0.81 pp
1966 53.36 −1.39 pp
1965 54.76 −20.72 pp
1964 75.48 +2.16 pp
1963 73.32 +5.36 pp
1962 67.96 +11.02 pp
1961 56.93 −2.48 pp
1960 59.41

Central America, 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.